GM to Study Biodiesel Potential from Jatropha

Automaker General Motors (Detroit, MI) has signed a five-year agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) to work together on exploring the biodiesel-production capability of jatropha, a non-food crop. According to research from Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, TX), the project aims to demonstrate the sustained biodiesel production capability from jatropha seed oil and develop new crop varieties tailored to specific global geographies and climatic conditions. The research will also develop new sources for biodiesel production.

As part of the jatropha research activities, GM and the DoE have identified two locations in India. The two sites include a 16-hectare site near Bhavnagar and a 38-hectare site near Kalol, both located in the western state of Gujarat. GM already operates a car-manufacturing facility near Kalol. The project will also manage an existing 30-hectare jatropha farm near Bhavnagar. Sources have indicated that selectively bred and laboratory-optimized jatropha seeds will be used to cultivate the crop on these farms. The Central Salt and Marine Chemical Research Institute (Bhavnagar, Gujarat), which works under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (New Delhi), will undertake cultivation at the farms. The project will analyze the complete lifecycle from cultivation to harvesting of the crop.

GM has also invested in green fuel projects in the United States. The company holds a stakes in the Mascoma Corporation (Lebanon, NH) and Coskata Incorporated (Warrenville, IL). Recently, Coskata announced that it would participate in the construction of Australia's first bioethanol plant. The project will use household and building waste as raw material.

Diesel is a major fuel choice for transportation in Europe and India. Experts are of the opinion that development of biodiesel fuel sources like jatropha will help countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. Several African countries, the Philippines, the U.S. and China are conducting experiments and research on jatropha.

Jatropha is a non-edible plant belonging to the Euphorbiaceous family. Originally found in Central America, the plant is now grown in North America, Africa and India. The seeds of this plant generally contain 27 percent to 40 percent oil, which can be used to produce energy. Jatropha can be grown in arid, eroded land and requires very minimal care. The ideal planting time for the crop is May in the northern hemisphere and November in the southern hemisphere. Research has shown that the oil-yield per hectare from jatropha in India is about 3,000 kg, compared to 1,000 kilograms from rapeseed in Europe and 375 kg from soybeans in the U.S. Cultivation of jatropha crops may also put an end to the food vs. fuel debate, as it will eliminate the need to grow food crops for biofuel production.

India has been focusing on developing cultivation techniques to improve the yield from jatropha crops. About 200 districts in 19 states, including Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Maharashtra have been identified for jatropha-cultivation projects.

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