Jatropha - a new energy crop
Jatropha curcas has the potential to become one of the world's key energy crops. Crude vegetable oil, extracted from the seeds of the jatropha plant, can be refined into high quality biodiesel.Under optimum conditions jatropha seeds can yield up to 40% oil content. Crude jatropha oil is inedible and its price is not distorted by competing food uses.
Jatropha grows in tropical and subtropical regions in a band around the earth between latitudes 30 degrees north and south of the Equator. Jatropha is hardy and relatively drought resistant. Trees have a lifespan of up to 30 years. Jatropha grows on a wide range of land types, including non-arable, marginal and waste land, and need not compete with vital food crops for good agricultural land.
Seeds are crushed to produce oil for refining into biodiesel. The residual meal (seedcake) left after oil extraction is excellent organic fertiliser and can be burnt for power generation. D1 is now developing commercial technology for the removal of anti-nutritional compounds, which make jatropha an inedible plant, from the jatropha meal after oil extraction. If the compounds that make jatropha inedible can be removed, jatropha meal has the potential to be a valuable animal feed. Efficient use of byproducts ensures that jatropha growing and processing is economically viable and energy efficient.
