The GHG-slashing potential of jatropha
The EU's goal of slashing greenhouse gases (GHGs) by 35% can be met through utilising jatropha, according to sustainability consultants Partners for Innovation and its independent report.
Designed by the Jatropha Alliance and Sun Biofuels, the study highlights how Sun Biofuels Mozambique could save 39% of GHGs compared to fossil fuels if the jatropha-derived biodiesel was produced in the UK.
The recently published GHG report also highlights the potential of jatropha biodiesel to achieve a GHG saving of up to 73%.
Partners for Innovation also conducted an independent GHG life cycle calculation for Sun Biofuels Mozambique in order to assess the impact on jatropha biofuels in Mozambique. The findings of this independent study have been reviewed by Robert Bailis, assistant professor at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and Pérez Domínguez from LEI Agricultural Economic Research in the Netherlands.
It was found that three factors influence the level of GHG saving achieved by jatropha. These are seed yield, oil yield and nitrogen fertiliser. For example, locally produced biodiesel from jatropha with a seed yield of 3 tonnes of seeds per hectare per year allows for a 39% GHG saving compared to traditional fuels.
If this biodiesel is consumed locally, the value increased to 48%. Sun Biofuels Mozambique is targeting seed yield of 6 tonnes per hectare per year, further raising this to 65%.
However the most influencing factor is nitrogen fertiliser. If Sun Biofuels Mozambique is able to substitute 100% of nitrogen fertilisers with organic
Fertiliser, for example jatropha seed cake, the GHG saving balance could go up to 73%.
The study also looked at the impact of land use change on GHG savings but using the default values from the European Commission. Sun Biofuels Mozambique perennial jatropha on former annual cropland realises a significant GHG saving potential of 380%. This is due to the fact that trees are planted in place of idle land or perennial crops fixing carbon in an addition CO2 sink.