Renewable Energy
Jatropha: the multi-purpose energy crop
Klaus Tropf explains why it makes much sense to invest in Jatropha cultivation and utilisation.
I
n 2013, mineral oil represented about one third of the global energy consumption. Te burning of fossil fuels has a major share in global CO2
emissions. Currently, these emissions are estimated to amount
to 34.5 billion tonnes per year. By 2050, they are expected to reach 50 billion tonnes per year. Tese numbers, combined with rising prices and a shrinking availability of conventional oil, have led to a worldwide renewed interest in biofuels. Jatropha plants have been identified to be a viable
source of natural oil, which is perfectly suited to provide the renewable component of biodiesel and bio-kerosene. Te production of biodiesel especially is estimated to almost triple from 21 billion litres per year today to about 61 billion litres per year in 2021. Te European aviation industry has set itself the goal of using a 10% quota of bio-kerosene in its total fuel consumption by 2025. In this context, aireg (the Aviation Initiative for Renewable Energy in Germany) has identified plant oils to be best suited for this task. Tis has even been demonstrated in dozens of test flights. Te prospects for biofuel production therefore
look promising, and Jatropha is one of the most encouraging solutions to the challenges. Regrettably, due to throwbacks in early commercialisation projects, the plant has suffered from some loss of reputation. Harvesting yields have been disappointing, the agronomic management turned out to be more difficult than originally expected. And the toxicity of the plant’s fruit prohibited additional uses such as livestock feeding. However, the biofuels industry still remains confident about the huge potential of Jatropha plants and is continuing to invest into additional research and improvements of the involved processes and improving the plant’s genetics. After all, Jatropha plants still excel with their ability to grow on meagre soils and under limited moisture conditions. Above that, the USA’s CAAFI (Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative) confirms that Jatropha achieves the highest Feedstock Readiness Level (FSRL) among all plant oils. Tis classification tracks and evaluates the development and availability of the raw materials required to produce alternative jet fuels.
40
www.engineerlive.com
Today, Jatropha experts, such as JatroSolutions, are convinced that many of Jatropha’s past failures can be explained by the wrong conditions and assumptions. Much of the cultivation efforts have been made in areas that turned out to be ultimately unsuitable for Jatropha growing, such as too dried- out soils. Also, some early attempts failed because they only relied on wild plants instead of cultivars. Today, it has been established that Jatropha plants thrive in tropical or sub-tropical climates as well as in low- elevated regions that provide a minimum of rainfall and a temperature optimum mean between 23°C and 26°C. In the past years JatroSolutions has made considerable improvements of the agronomic processes and
genetics of the plant, providing higher as well as more consistent yields. Additionally, the company holds a patent on a method for detoxifying Jatropha seed cake, kernel meal and protein isolate. Tis is a widely tested method that has been upscaled to pilot plant dimensions, processing 60kg batches. Now, JatroSolutions is actively looking for engineering partners to take the next step and implement up to industrial levels. Te detoxification method enables the
production of nutritious Jatropha by-products that can be used as a high-protein supplement in feed for fish, shrimp, pig, poultry, cattle, sheep or other livestock species. Te seed cakes, kernel meal and protein isolates have been found to provide a protein content even higher than soybean meal. Other improvements to the Jatropha value chain
are the production of bio-pesticides and cosmetic raw materials such as soaps. Furthermore, shed-off leaves, branches and twigs as well as shells and seed
Fig. 1. Jatropha plants thrive in tropical or sub-tropical climates.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52