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Jatropha Crude Oil has significantly better fuel characteristics with a higher calorific value – yielding more fuel per hectare – than most other tree borne oil seeds and is more sustainable as it can be grown on land that is unsuitable for other crops.

|Not all biofuels are created equal
|Land Use
|Fuel characteristics and advantages

Whatever the debate about the ultimate total physical hydrocarbon resources on this planet, using technology we have, equipment and infrastructure that exists or could be built under any scenario in a few years, 2010 probably marks “the peak” production of oil as we know it today. You don’t have to be an economist or expert to know the implications of demand continuing to grow against an essentially fixed supply base. With no short-term dramatic growth in oil production in sight, then all the world has to do to avoid the next oil price apocalypse is cut demand with technology-driven efficiency, or find appropriate alternatives such as sustainable biofuels.

Declining reserves of fossil fuels plus recognition that growing carbon dioxide emissions are driving climate change have focused world attention on the need to reduce fossil fuel dependence. In turn, this has increased interest in promoting bioenergy, including biofuels, as one of the prime renewable energy sources.

The sustainable production of biofuels, which is compatible and complementary to the production of ample, affordable and safe food supplies, is a valuable and necessary tool in stemming climate change; boosting local economies, particularly in lesser-developed parts of the world; and enhancing energy security for all. It’s a reality that is sometimes overlooked in the quest for the “perfect” fuel to support the quality of life we so often take for granted.

Biofuels have recently taken center stage at the Copenhagen summit. The two-week climate change event highlighted the critically important role biofuels can play in addressing the multiple challenges that must be addressed in a rapidly changing world. The Copenhagen summit underscored how renewable, clean fuels sustainably created from current and next generation bioenergy feedstocks can reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), improve food security, stimulate economic development and reduce global poverty.

The forecast world biodiesel production of 16.4 billion litres is calculated to result in a reduction of GHG emissions of 35.9 million tonnes. The combined biofuels GHG emission reduction is 123.5 million tonnes, an average reduction of about 57% compared to the emissions that would have occurred from the production and use of equivalent quantities of petroleum fuels. This is almost equal to the national GHG emissions of Belgium (131.3 million tonnes) or Greece (131.8 million tonnes).

Not all biofuels are created equal

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Compatible with many conventional engines and blendable with current transport fuels, biofuels have the potential to contribute to energy security by diversifying supply sources for transport and to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. However, the economic, environmental and social benefits of the current generation of biofuels vary enormously.

Though there are important uncertainties about their efficacy in reducing GHG emissions, biofuels can be classified on the basis of their well-to-wheel performance with respect to conventional fossil fuels.

“Second generation” biofuels, derived from non-food crops such as trees and perennial grasses, have the potential to dramatically expand the scope for very low-carbon biofuels production.
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Land Use

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The global potential of conventional biofuels is limited by the availability of suitable land. The availability of arable land represents a natural limitation to biofuel production. The type of land used for biofuel production naturally affects the environmental performance of these fuels. JATRO favors the use of tropical and subtropical areas not currently used for crop production, i.e. either degraded land or land with low nurture values. JATRO believes that the land availability and food needs will limit the growth in conventional European and US based biofuels production based on sugar, cereals (wheat, corn), soybeans, and seed crops (rape, sunflower). European biodiesel production based on rapeseed and sunflower seeds cultivated on arable land is not economically viable. However, Jatropha crude oil produced in tropical regions has a considerable comparative advantage over those biofuels derived from agricultural crops in temperate zones.
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Fuel characteristics and advantages

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The specific fuel properties of Crude Jatropha Oil (CJO) and Jatropha based biodiesel outperform most other oil seeds and make it highly suitable for unmodified diesel engines and combined heat and power plants. Jatropha oil is renewable and biodegradable and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 90% and sulphur dioxide emissions by 100%. The oil yield per ha is among the highest for any tree-borne oil seeds. Jatropha trees have their first harvest within the 2nd year of planting, taking approx. 5 years to reach maturity and are productive for at least 25 years.
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