Jatropha Curcas

Jatropha Curcas

Jatropha Curcas  

The Jatropha Curcas plant is a poisonous shrub that is being hailed as the next alternative fuel source.  The jatropha curcas is ideal for the town of Mole Saint-Nicholas, as it can thrive in the worst agricultural conditions.  The plant can essentially grow in a wasteland, and can even flourish between rock crevices.  With a germination period of only 9 days, the plant needs only 10 inches of rain a year (most important during the first two years), and can survive up to three years of droughts.  The plant produces seeds after its first year, and can survive up to fifty years.

Once seeds are produced, they are crushed.  The crushed seeds yield up to 40% oil per seed.  The oil can go right into a standard diesel car engine.  The residue of the plant can be converted into a biomass to power electricity plants.  In addition, the leaves dropped by the plant act as a fertilizer and enrich the soil, as well as prevent erosion.  Since the Jatropha curcas absorbs carbon dioxide, using the biodiesel fuel can reduce carbon emissions up to 80%.

British Helius Energy chief executive Lex Worrall says: “Every hectare can produce 2.7 tonnes of oil and about 4 tonnes of biomass. Every 8,000 hectares of the plant can run a 1.5 megawatt station, enough to power 2,500 homes.”  Although ingesting three uncultivated seeds can kill a human, the jatropha curcas is a promising alternative fuel source.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article2155351.ece

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jatropha_curcas