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Jatropha Bio
Diesel In India
Critics of biofuel point out the energy and water
necessary to produce the feedstock often can exceed the energy value of
the fuel produced. But these studies usually ignore the value of the plant
mass as animal feed or fertilizer, once the fuel has been extracted.
Another valid concern is the tradeoff between using land to grow food and
using land to grow fuel. But what if a plant used to extract biofuel grew
on marginal land, that was unable to support crops? What if this plant
required minimal water and fertilizer inputs?
Jatropha, also known as the Physic Nut, is a plant which may hold such
promise. Able to tolerate arid climates, rapidly growing, useful for a
variety of products, Jatropha can yield up to two tons of biodiesel fuel
per year per hectare. Put another way, Jatropha can yield about 1,000
barrels of oil per year per square mile. In such quantities, Jatropha,
like biofuels in general, cannot become a replacement for oil. But
Jatropha requires minimal inputs, stablizes or even reverses
desertification, and has use for a variety of products after the biofuel
is extracted. Moreover, diesel fuel with biodiesel additives causes far
less pollution.
Biofuel is not the ultimate solution to the energy challenges facing India
or the world. But it is part of the solution, especially when it not only
stretches finite supplies of conventional fuel, but restores the land it
grows on, does not displace more viable agricultural land, and requires
minimal water inputs.
As energy demand increases,
the global supply of fossil fuels decreases, causing inflation,
instability and war; the emissions from fossil fuels cause immediate harm
to human health and contribute to the greenhouse effect, and,
deforestation and the destruction of agricultural lands threaten to turn
this Earth into a desert, bit by bit. There is no doubt that the end of
the fossil fuel age is not far off.
Then what? How can we combat desertification, reduce the need for oil, and
help heal the present wounds in the environment, all in one stroke?
India is particularly well-suited for the honor of heralding in a green
alternative fuel because of its:
(1) Estimated 50 to 130 million hectares of wastelands-- saline lands
(from mining), degraded forests, and other land unavailable for
agricultural use due to overfarming;
(2) Resulting shifting sand dunes and continuing process of
desertification;
(3) Fastest growing population rate in the world -- increasing the need
for food, energy, and employment;
(4) Rural/agricultural population of over 70%: biofuel screw presses are
simple to make, and can be produced and maintained by a village blacksmith
(5) Huge national crude oil bill-- second only to defense spending;
(6) Constant battle with drought and shortages of water and electricity;
(7) Warm climate, agreeable both to growing biofuels and running engines
that use them.
The current rate of Indian development of biofuels, particularly biodiesel,
is just a drop in the bucket when compared to its potential. If 10 million
hectares (100,000 square kilometers or 38,000 square miles) of India's
vast and sometimes destructive wastelands were used for biodiesel
production, with a modest estimate of 1.5 tons of seeds per hectare, 4
million tons of biodiesel would be produced-- one tenth of the country's
annual oil requirement. If one person was employed per hectare, that would
mean 10 million new jobs. And, for use or sale, 11 million tons of organic
seedcake fertilizer or livestock feed and 0.4 million tons of technical
grade glycerol would be produced.
Ethanol is the most widely used biofuel in the world; technological
advances have lowered the cost of its production and processing. Brazil
boasts one of the largest green fuel programs in existence: petrol-only
engines have been banned and replaced by engines that use pure ethanol or
a 78-22 petrol-ethanol blend. The shift has greatly benefit Brazil
environmentally and economically, creating employment and reducing the
need for foreign oil. Its hot, wet climate is well-suited to the
production of sugarcane (from which ethanol is made), and farmers
especially have profited.
India is also one of the biggest worldwide producers of sugarcane, but its
constant struggle with water shortages in many areas makes growing this
crop problematic. However, due to overproduction, sugar prices crashed,
and there are actually stockpiles of sugar and spoilt food grain which
have no use. These can be used to make ethanol.
Since January 2003, a minimum 5% ethanol blend in petrol has been
mandatory in India in nine states and four Union territories. By 2005, the
ethanol content should reach 10%. Undoubtedly, ethanol is an important
biofuel for petrol engines, but its potential is limited in India due to
the high amounts of water required for its production.
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