Crops
Oil can be obtained from a vast array of plants and almost every dining table in the developed world will be graced by some vegetable oil or other. Olive oil, sunflower oil and corn oil are some of the best known and are essentially produced by pressing the oil out of the fruit or grain. All of those oils will burn, but are also edible and as a result cost can be determined by demand for food. There are, however, other plants which can produce oil in significant quantities which cannot be consumed for food such as jatropha curcas and neem.
Jatropha
Sun Biofuels has selected jatropha curcas as the preferred feedstock for biofuel production. Jatropha oil can be burnt directly or can be thermochemically converted to biodiesel. Jatropha curcas is of particular interest as it grows indigenously in Africa. Whilst jatropha can withstand marginal conditions, improved conditions will provide higher oil yields. Jatropha has many advantages: propagation is easy and it can survive long periods of drought. Jatropha trees can produce oil seeds for up to fifty years and typically have their first harvest within two years of planting. Jatropha seeds can contain 20% to 40% of non-edible oil - jatropha trees have high yields which can be as high as 1.5 litres of oil per year. Chemical analysis carried out by international oil companies and technical institutes has indicated that jatropha biodiesel can comply with the current EU standards for biodiesel.
Alternatives to Jatropha
The main alternative feedstock sources to Jatropha include the following:
Rapeseed oil is the predominate feedstock in Europe and currently dominates the supply market. It has a relatively high oil yield of more than 1100 litres per hectare.
Sunflower oil yields are lower compared to rapeseed, also sunflower oil is only a viable option in countries with warm and dry climatic conditions as the oil coagulates (waxes) in cold climates.
Soy oil is the feedstock of choice in the Americas. Although it reaches USA standards, in order to achieve European standards, soy oil needs to be blended with other feedstocks.
Palm oil is produced mainly in Asia. Like sunflower oil, palm faces a major obstacle in colder climatic conditions, but may be used in multi-feedstock blends.
Recycled oils and animal fats are used as a feedstock source in some countries, as they are relatively cheap and promise high profitability. Careful recycling practices are required to achieve the required quality.
News
Sun Biofuels hosts open day26 - Mar - 2009
Sun Biofuels celebrated the establishment of the first 1,000 hectares of Jatropha today by hosting an open day at the project site in Manica. Vice Minister of Energy Jaime Himede and Presidential Advicer Carlos Simango attended with other dignitaries from the central and provincial government.
Read articleFirst one thousand hectares planted in Mozambique
31 - Jan - 2009
Sun Biofuels has successfully completed the planting of 1,000 hectares with Jatropha Curcas
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