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Adventures In Sustainability: Growing My Own Biofuel With Jatropha |
17 Comments |
| By Michael d'Estries in Biodiesel, Green Living, How To, Organic, Peak Oil | May 21, 2007 | ||
I just received a package from India. Yes, I know it was a terribly long distance to order something for a green living site; but my buying options were extremely limited in the U.S. So, turning to Ebay, I managed to find what I was looking for fairly quickly. And now, after traveling thousands of miles, I have my first jatropha seeds.
What’s jatropha? It’s a small shrub that is being planted by the millions throughout China, India, and Brazil as an alternative to oil. What makes it unique in the biofuel industry is its ability to produce a great deal of oil that needs very little refinement. A one-metre hedge will produce one kilogram of seeds with each seed containing about 1/3 of oil. 5 kilograms of seeds will give you roughly one litre. It yields more than four times as much fuel per hectare as soybean, and more than ten times that of corn. It’s extremely easy to grow, lives up to 50 years and produces seeds for its whole lifetime. Furthermore, the species is drought-resistant, can be grown at high altitudes and can withstand slight frosts. In the right conditions, each plant can grow eight or ten meters in height!
Unlike corn, Jatropha is not used as food (cattle and other animals dislike the leaves — so it’s also used as a natural fence) and its processing is fairly straight-forward: a hydraulic press to squeeze the oil from the seeds, and a chemical solution to create and filter the fuel. For some engines, the oil from the seeds can be sent straight into the system with no refinement. It’s also great for lamps and lanterns since it burns clean without emitting smoke.
Anyways, I’ve decided to see how easy it would be to grow my own jatropha and — hopefully — squeeze some oil from the seeds; enough, at least, to say power a lamp or even a small diesel engine. I know absolutely nothing about refinement, so I’m going to do the best I can to learn about the process. As with many of the topics on Groovy, it’s always our intention to introduce new ways to sustain yourself should the world go to hell tomorrow. Jatropha is simply another interesting alternative that, for all intents and purposes, looks pretty easy to milk some fuel from. We’ll see.
The seeds are planted. I’ll be providing updates here on their growth as we move forward. Any suggestions from experienced jatropha growers would be welcome for this little experiment!
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Hun Boon said,
Hi, will there be any adverse impact on the ecological system by introducing a foreign species of plant?
Also, can you provide us the link where you purchased the seeds from?
Looking forward to more updates on your project, cheers!
biotechnologist2020 said,
Are you sure that Jatropha wont cause any ecological or biodiversity problems?!!!
michael said,
Just to clear, this is going to be a controlled experiment. In other words, I’m not going to be planting this outside in the soil but will keep it contained greehouse-style. As I grow this plant, I will also be conducting research to share on its pro and cons; including any adverse ecological or biodiversity effects.
If you’re interested in a seed or two, please contact me. Unfortunately, there is no “link” to give because I bought mine at auction.
Best,
Michael
Tomas Ray Harner III said,
Not to worry Groovy Green…
Jatropha will not invade your indigenous plant population…
Jatropha grows into a small tree…
It is not a weed…
We have 15 acres of Jatropha trees on our Jatropha plantation in Honduras, C.A. …
The next time you need Jatropha seeds…
Look us up…
patucawarrior@gmail.com
Tomas Ray Harner III said,
I Thank those who have responded to my comment…
I thank Michael…
Our grass root Honduran Jatropha work can be followed at PATUCAWARRIOR.efx2.com
For now I am giving our seed away for free…
Honduras has been good to me…
There is a supposed frost free Jatropha seed in Brazil and Vietnam…
I would like to see how our Honduran seed fairs in Northern USA states…
Jatropha has been around for 70 million years…
Our seed is the first Jatropha seed to be planted in Cordoba, Spain…
“Cultivate Jatropha oil
No wars are needed”…
Paz contigo…
Green Media » Creating your own biodiesel, starting with the seeds said,
[...] Yeah, I know that some people make their own biodiesel, sometimes using fresh new vegetable oil and other times using used deep fryer oil. But, I personally don’t know anybody who actually grows their own crop, mashes up the seeds and uses the oils to make biofuel. I still don’t, because I don’t know the author of this post here, but I digress. The seeds that he is starting with are Jatropha seeds, which he sourced on eBay from outside the country. He lists the reasons that he chose that plant over other options, so check it out if you are interested. [...]
RONAK said,
Hi !!!
Along with everybody’s quest on Biodiesel…i too am researching on biodiesel made from Jatropha seeds……
I will be greatly obliged if anybody could pleeez send me the different methods of extracting JATROPHA OIL from Jatropha seeds and further converting it into BIODIESEL…
Thanking YOu,
Waiting for your reply as earliest as possible
RONAK SAKARIA
Kelvin said,
Hi, i’m an interested investor in planting Jatropha on a large scale but i need more information in this area. Could anyone of you guys provide me with some expertise in this area or we could collaborate and work on this together? Feel free to email me at blankman85@cheerful.com
Thanks.
Rachel said,
This seems to have been a one time post… I am interested in hearing about the outcome of the greenhouse growing and learning about the refinement. From what I have learned about the plant and the time this was posted there should have been harvests and I was hoping for trial and error in refinement of the oil. If you have any information, please e-mail at Jesemine@gmail.com
Thanks!
Rachel
kimary said,
Has anybody tried using Hydroponic to assist in the growing of Jatropha. Can you compare this any other oil seed that you have tried growing?
pho said,
hi, from your first planting it is going to be more or less 12 months, so if you don,t mind how is the production like and how do you harvest. I am trying to get into this interesting plant and hope you will help me out. thks regards
john bevan said,
hi-i have a 10 acre smallholding in spain-near to castellon de la plana on the med. coast. i am looking to talk to anyone who has had experience with planting jatropha in temperate climate-we get hot summers -short winters-occasional frost-fairly dry sandy soil. i would like to do a test planting-maybe put in some as hedges-and to see how the plants fare. any information appreciated-john.
Marcedew said,
I have 20 ha in the southern part of Honduras I would like to grow jatropha, is anyone interested on buying seeds when harvest time come? or where do I get information about the oil extractors to create our own biodiesel? Any non-profit org interested on joining me on this venture as to favor a good cause org to benefit the low income peasants?
john blount said,
Does anyone know of jatropha being planted in the highlands of Peru? I heard something about a large operation being started in Nazca. Worried somewhat about frost or the occassional freeze at those altitudes.
Armando Reneaum said,
I own land in Mexico, on the US border next to California, it is sandy soil, hot in the summer with mild winters, the water is of excellent quality.
I would like to plant 1 or 2 Has. to start with, and see how it turns out. I would appreciate any advice on where to buy some seeds of the best quality possible becouse I´ve read that the quality of the seed affects the yield in the long run.
Thank you
B Monaco said,
Please contact me for any information needed in Jatropha or tax credits for investing in Biofuel.
We currently are offering Venture partnerships in Jatropha farming in California and Costa Rica.
We hope you elect to join us in owning energy that you grow!
Cosmo Oil said,
We currently have Jatropha Oil and seed to sell here in Nigeria for more information you can contact us via email.