Jatropha: Not evil, but an ideal biofuel source

A guest commentary by Stanley Wootliff of Viridas PLC

Jatropha doesn’t possess the best of reputations — not least because, due to its toxicity, it’s commonly known as the “black vomit nut.” But don’t be too quick to write off this Brazilian nut, which could become a vital source of tomorrow’s biofuels.

When crushed and processed, the jatropha plant’s seeds produce a sustainable, eco-friendly biofuel that can be used in standard diesel engines without modifications. Within a mere three years, jatropha-based fuel could even be used to power our transatlantic flights, according to Boeing.

Meeting EU energy requirements

Here in the EU, the Renewable Energy Directive sets a binding goal of obtaining 10 percent of transport fuels from renewable sources by 2020. Of that 10 percent, nearly half will have to come from electricity or hydrogen from renewable sources, or from second-generation biofuels from waste crops or non-food crops.

With hydrogen power unlikely to be viable before 2030 (per the International Energy Agency) and waste-based biofuels still in development, that leaves non-food-based biofuels — jatropha in particular — as the only credible option. That’s especially true in light of recent legislation aimed at preventing biofuel production from competing with food production.

Furthermore, starting in 2010, biofuels will have to achieve greenhouse gas savings of 35 percent relative to fossil fuels (by 2017, that number rises to 50 percent). That eliminates feedstocks such as rapeseed, which accounts for 80 percent of EU biodiesel production but produces nitrous oxide emissions that offset its carbon dioxide emissions reductions by an estimated 1 to 1.7 times. Getting rid of rapeseed could lead to a major supply-side discontinuity … one that jatropha would be well-placed to address.

The humble crop

Jatropha is a perennial, non-food crop that’s poisonous to both animals and humans. Grown exclusively grown for its energy content, jatropha can also be cultivated in areas that are less suitable for food or animal feed crops. Growing the perennial jatropha tree helps with reforestation, reduces soil disturbance and erosion and improves carbon and nitrogen fixation and land hydration.

But what makes jatropha really special now is its role for Europe. Europe currently accounts for almost 80 percent of global biodiesel demand, but — with new limitations on first-generation biofuels like rapeseed and palm oil — could soon find itself unable to comply with its own carbon reduction requirements for transport.

Legislation is the catalyst

Why does the EU put such a focus on transport emissions rather than, say, industry emissions? Because annual emissions from transport are expected to grow by 77 million tonnes between 2005 and 2020 — three times as much as any other sector. Biofuels are the only available, large-scale substitute for petrol and diesel in transport, and they’re also the easiest to implement.

In the UK, the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RED) proposes a doubling of our biofuel obligation to 5 percent from 2008 to 2010, and a doubling again from 2010 to 2020 to meet EU targets.

In order for any biofuel to take a meaningful place in our energy supply, a good mixture of government legislation and private sector innovation is required. The EU has put in place the best structure yet to make biofuel a viable alternative to fossil fuels in transport and, though it won’t replace the incumbent energy source anytime soon, biofuel can certainly go some way in making us all more environmentally responsible.

That means a feedstock like jatropha, in this case, might not be too hard to swallow after all.

Stanley Wootliff is Chairman and CEO of Viridas plc, a jatropha oil agronomy business in Brazil.