Tag Archives | algae

Time Magazine: The Next Big Biofuel, Jatropha Curcas?

Renewable energy, it turns out, does grow on trees. The fruit pods plucked from jatropha trees have seeds that produce clean-burning diesel fuel. But unlike corn and other biofuel sources, the jatropha doesn’t have to compete with food crops for arable land. Even in the worst of soils, it grows like weeds. Sound too good [...]

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Powering an Airplane on a Bunch of Nuts

An historical moment on December 30, 2008: Air New Zealand makes history via jatropha powered flight while General Motors plans to sign a pact for jatropha production. The flight was the first to use jatropha as part of a biofuel mix. HONG KONG: Despite plunging oil prices, airlines are intensifying their search for alternative fuels [...]

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A Tree Grows in Brooklyn? Nope, Myanmar.

Will a Small Nut Save the World? Picture Credit: C Mulvany I remember meeting with a research scientist last summer who’s background was biofuels and engineering. We talked about various feed stocks for biodiesel and when the topic came to Jatropha Curcas, he surprised me with the following statement: “Jatropha won’t make it because it [...]

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Is Jatropha Curcas Biodiesel Losing out to Algae Biodiesel?

Picture Credit: Benjamin Arseguel A recent post on Chemically Green “The Truth About Jatropha Curcas” lists the pros and cons for growing Jatropha Curcas. India, which has researched extensively in growing Jatropha, has been investing heavily in Jatropha Curcas for biofuel production for their own automobile transportation. Early reports on Jatropha Curcas stated this bush [...]

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