The jatropha plant emerges as viable alternative to fossil fuels in the medium term, energy and environmental interest.
In recent years, advances occur in the field of biofuels, despite the difficult economic situation worldwide. The difficulties of ensuring the financing of certain projects with an interesting long-term returns, failed to stop the interest in developing viable alternatives at the expense of fossil fuels.
Jatropha Plant
Over the global economic situation, the main obstacle that had to deal these projects has been produced significant fluctuations on the price of certain crops, like wheat or corn. As a result of this rise, global organizations like the UN, FAO and IFAD have issued numerous messages of concern, warning of growing hunger in the world in areas already impoverished and marginalized.
The jatropha plant, promising crop for use as biofuel
However, in relatively recent years have discovered the excellent properties of a plant, jatropha, for the creation of biofuels. Also known as jatropha, this plant is the bet of the vast majority of projects today, because it is not used for food consumption (seeds are toxic), and their properties allow for growth in low-eroded land quality.
Moreover, a recent report published by the UN, this plant is defined as “a promising crop”. The arguments justifications made for very diverse and interesting. Planting can be done on degraded land with low water consumption, thus helping to reduce the desertification of the planet. It has been estimated that one hectare of jatropha can capture about 60 tonnes of CO2.
On the other hand, oil has generated more pure characteristics without sulfur content or matches. This fact, added to the cost price of a barrel of this oil, one third of the value of a oil barrel has motivated the great interest in areas such as aeronautics or automotive. Companies such as Japan Airlines, Continental Airlines and Boeing have already made some tests with this fuel, with positive results.
Mercedes Benz is a pioneer in the automotive sector in the use of jatropha in order to test the feasibility of this fuel in their latest models. The British company Viridesco, Has already launched its use in heavy vehicles, with very interesting results.
Asia, the leader in jatropha plantation. Spain leads the European projects
The plantations are developed almost entirely in Asia, ranking in second place the African continent and Latin America. In 2008, an estimate of the area devoted to this plantation, quantified some 900,000 hectares worldwide, was distributed in 760,000 in Asia, 120,000 in Africa and 20,000 in Latin America. There are some downsides, mostly related to abuses of power in relation to land use. Indonesia, Ghana and Brazil, leading the support of these projects in each of these territories, respectively.
Under this map production, major problems arise from this biofuel. Issues related to the abuse of power and corruption on the extensions of large-scale is a problem to slash as soon as possible. In this sense, cooperation is essential for global organizations and local governments to curb this illicit use only bring negative consequences for society.
The transport of these biofuels is the destination countries is an issue to be resolved in the medium term, with patience and hard work. In that sense, despite not having ideal conditions for planting, the European Union is considering the possibility of cultivation in its territory. The southern areas, and particularly Spain, have some locations where the development of these plantations would be feasible. The provinces of Andalucia, Almeria, Huelva and Cadiz, are positioned as interesting alternatives and autonomy of Castilla la Mancha, Murcia and the Canary Islands.
The alternatives to fossil fuels begin to emerge, just as they begin to open discussions on the possible depletion of these fuels, and terrible consequences that its use is bringing to the planet. The hydrogen or solar energy are positioned as interesting alternatives to unseat the oil from its dominant position in the energy market. In this group of alternatives may include the planting of jatropha, with promising initial results and major development projects worldwide.
