Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Land Use Change from Jatropha Curcas-Based Jet Fuel in Brazil

Abstract

This analysis presents a comparison of life-cycle GHG emissions from synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) produced as jet fuel substitute from jatropha curcas feedstock cultivated in Brazil against a reference scenario of conventional jet fuel. Life cycle inventory data are derived from surveys of actual Jatropha growers and processors. Results indicate that a baseline scenario, which assumes a medium yield of 4 tons of dry fruit per hectare under drip irrigation with existing logistical conditions using energy-based coproduct allocation methodology, and assumes a 20-year plantation lifetime with no direct land use change (dLUC), results in the emissions of 40 kg CO₂e per GJ of fuel produced, a 55% reduction relative to conventional jet fuel. However, dLUC based on observations of land-use transitions leads to widely varying changes in carbon stocks ranging from losses in excess of 50 tons of carbon per hectare when Jatropha is planted in native cerrado woodlands to gains of 10-15 tons of carbon per hectare when Jatropha is planted in former agro-pastoral land. Thus, aggregate emissions vary from a low of 13 kg CO₂e per GJ when Jatropha is planted in former agro-pastoral lands, an 85% decrease from the reference scenario, to 141 kg CO₂e per GJ when Jatropha is planted in cerrado woodlands, a 60% increase over the reference scenario. Additional sensitivities are also explored, including changes in yield, exclusion of irrigation, shortened supply chains, and alternative allocation methodologies.

Soil Organic Matter Quality in Jatropha spp. Plantations in Different Edaphoclimatic Conditions

“…range from losses of 34 to 50 Mg ha -1 of C when shifting from Caatinga and Cerrado native vegetation to Jatropha spp., respectively, to gains of 10 to 15 Mg ha -1 of C when changing to Jatropha spp. from agropastoral systems (Bailis and Baka, 2010;Bailis and McCarthy, 2011).…”

The Emerging Global Tourism Geography—An Environmental Sustainability Perspective

“…However, there are doubts about the life cycle reductions to be achieved with alternative fuels and problems such as space use, conflicts with food production, and potential loss of biodiversity [106]. It also appears that initially promising biofuels as Jatropha seeds [103], depend greatly on where the seeds are planted [107] and may have serious environmental, social and economic problems associated with them [108][109][110][111][112]. Some researchers recommend using caution when suggesting biofuels such as Jatropha will contribute to large scale greenhouse gas emission reductions [111,113].…”

Prospect of bioactive molecules from Jatropha curcas to improve soil and microbial quality for sustainable agriculture

“…Huge amount of C additions and root activity favours microbial population, respiration rate and microbial biomass C and N in soil. Average of J. curcas biomass 4000 kg ha −1 year −1 recycled into the soil results net 85.5 kg nitrogen, 7.67 kg phosphorus, 43.9 kg potassium, 5.20 kg sulphur, 0.11 kg boron, 0.12 kg zinc and other nutrients (Bailis and Baka, 2010;Wani et al, 2012).…”