SG Biofuels teams With JETBIO and aviation stakeholders to deploy Jatropha for biojet fuel in Brazil
14 September 2011
SG Biofuels (SGB) has teamed with JETBIO, leader of a multi-stakeholder initiative including Airbus, the Inter-American Development Bank, Bioventures Brasil, Rio Pardo Bioenergia, Air BP and TAM Airlines, to accelerate the production of crude Jatropha oil as a source for aviation biojet fuel in Brazil.
SGB will work with Bioventures Brasil, an energy crop project developer, and other program partners on a multi-phased program leading to the deployment of 75,000 acres of intercropped Jatropha plantations in the Central-west region of Brazil using SGB’s JMax hybrid seeds. The crude Jatropha oil produced will be converted into biokerosene to supply customer airlines.
The addition of SG Biofuels is a critical piece of the value chain, as their ability to develop high performing Jatropha plants will enable the production of large volumes of cost-effective feedstock for biofuels in Brazil.
—Rafael Davidsohn Abud, managing partner at JETBIO
Over the initial phase of the program, SGB will develop hybrid varieties of Jatropha adapted to growing conditions in the Central-west region, and work with Bioventures Brasil and Rio Pardo Bioenergia to select, test and scale the highest yielding hybrids for the planned deployment of the commercial project. The Central-west region was selected because of the large availability of under utilized pastureland presenting an opportunity for intercropping Jatropha with cattle husbandry activities.
Jatropha has proven to be the most cost-effective and sustainable feedstock for renewable jet fuel but the challenge lies in scaling production to meet the demand. SGB’s ability to adapt hybrid varieties of Jatropha specifically for the growing conditions in Central-west Brazil is a significant step in generating the much-needed supply and another step to supporting the Airbus strategy of one biofuel commercialization project in each continent and attaining the aviation targets of Carbon Neutral growth by 2020.
—Paul Nash, head of new energies at Airbus
JETBIO has adopted a multi-feedstock approach for aviation biofuel production, focusing on the development of cost-efficient and sustainable sources such as Jatropha and sugar-cane derived biomass. Funding of the initial phase of the program include contributions from Airbus and the Inter-American Development Bank.
Airbus is pushing for sustainable production and commercialization of biofuels in order to reach global aviation targets (to reduce GHG emissions by 2020 and beyond). It acts as a catalyst by developing sustainable Value-Chain Projects (at least one per continent). In November 2010, TAM Airlines and Airbus conducted a successful test flight using a Jatropha-based biofuel blend—the first biofuel test flight aboard a commercial aircraft in Latin America. Jatropha is now being used for commercial flights by Lufthansa, Interjet and Aeromexico.
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