Using Biofuels for Highly Renewable Electricity Systems: A Case Study of the Jatropha curcas

Abstract

Recent movements for the decarbonization of the electricity sector have become a priority for many countries around the world and will inevitably lead to the sharp decline of fossil-fuel-based energy. Energy from fossil fuels is to be replaced by renewable energy sources (RES), although the transition will neither be cheap nor smooth. One sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels and which will take a considerable share in the increasing supply of renewable energy resources is biofuels. There are various types of biofuels used in practice; however, biodiesels represent one of the most popular and widespread ones. This paper focuses as a case study on the byproducts of Jatropha curcas, a crop and a plant that is already used for biofuel production and which is subsequently employed in electricity generation in Jatropha curcas producing regions. This paper identifies the limitations and prospects of Jatropha curcas utilization. Also, Jatropha curcas is compared to other materials suitable for biomass generation. An economic analysis for a 2 MW biofuel powerplant was conducted incorporating various market-related risks. The study shows that at current prices, net profitability can be achieved using Jatropha curcas byproducts for producing electricity.

A Technical Analysis of Solid Recovered Fuel from Torrefied Jatropha Seed Residue via a Two-Stage Mechanical Screw Press and Solvent Extraction Process

“…Several energy conversion technologies have been used to transform Jatropha seed and J-cake into solid, liquid, and gaseous energy carriers. These technologies include anaerobic digestion, torrefaction, pyrolysis, combustion, and gasification [8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. In general, all biomass residues can be transformed into compost to be used as fertilizer or can be burned directly via combustion, gasification, or processes to create upgraded solid biofuels.…”

A GIS Approach Land Suitability and Availability Analysis of Jatropha Curcas L. Growth in Mexico as a Potential Source for Biodiesel Production

“…However, several efforts and production projects in countries such as Mexico, India, China, Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Ghana have failed or were truncated due to factors affecting levels of productivity like soil requirements, agroclimatic conditions, agronomic practices and supply chain network challenges, among others [14,15]. Despite setbacks and inherent risks, there is persistent focus to take advantage of JCL multi-dimensional capacity to primarily produce biodiesel, in addition to other products [16][17][18].…”