A study commissioned by the Jatropha Alliance and Sun Biofuels shows that the European Union’s 35% greenhouse gas (GHG) decrease can be met via jatropha. The biofuel feedstock is currently planted by Sun Biofuels in Mozambique, saving 39% compared to fossil fuels if biodiesel is produced in the UK. The report also highlights the potential of the biofuel feedstock to achieve a GHG saving of up to 73%.
With the sustainability assessment on jatropha biofuels in Mozambique, the Jatropha Alliance commissioned Partners for Innovation to conduct an independent greenhouse gas life cycle calculation for Sun Biofuels Mozambique SA.
The amount of GHG savings achieved by Jatropha mainly depend on three factors: seed yield, oil yield and nitrogen fertilizer. A conservative base case scenario for locally produced jatropha biodiesel assuming a seed yield of 3 tons of seeds per hectare, an oil yield of 0.24 tons of oil per ton of seed, and 44 kg of nitrogen fertilizer per ha per year already allows for 39% of GHG savings compared to fossil fuels. In case the biodiesel is used locally, this value goes up to 48%. Sun Biofuels Mozambique is targeting seed yield of 6 tons per hectare each year, this raises the GHG savings to 65%. However the most influencing factor is nitrogen fertilizer.
If Sun Biofuels Mozambique achieves to completely substitute nitrogen fertilizers by organic fertilizer the GHG saving balance could go up to 73%.
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