Biofuel Plants
Jatropha
Grows in the tropical and sub-tropical regions 25 to 40 per cent of each seed is made up of oil Oil can be turned into biodiesel for transport and can also replace firewood for cooking in rural areas.
Green
Can grow on semi-arid land and degraded soils, which means it does not compete with food crops.
Not so green
An efficient method for commercial production has not been found.
To maximise its yield, up to 20,000 litres of water are required for each litre of biodiesel, making it the most water-
hungry of the plants.
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Algae
Grow in water.
Oil can make up more than 50 per cent of its mass.
Enzymes produced by algae are naturally occurring and pose no danger to humans.
Green
Do not compete with food crops for land.
Fresh water is produced as a by-product when algae convert carbon dioxide, water and minerals into oil ^Dead algae can be composted into nitrogen-rich fertiliser, replacing fossil fuel fertiliser.
Not so green
Require carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, to produce oil.
Estimates put algae's carbon footprint at four times that of corn.
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Oil Palm
Production of palm oil in 2009 was almost 43m tonnes, mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia
Green
Crop Oil Yield per hectare (tonnes)
Oil palm 5
Jatropha 2
Rapeseed 1.5
Soya bean 0.5
Not so green
Palm oil production has led to widespread deforestation in Indonesia and elsewhere
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Rapeseed
Frequently combined with fossil fuel to make a more environmentally friendly blend.
Can also be used for cooking.
Up to 40 per cent of a seed is made up of oil.
Green
By-product from oil production can be used to feed animals
Also used as a winter crop to protect soil.
Not so green
May produce up to 70 per cent more greenhouse gases tahn fossil fuels because of how it is processed.
Not so green
May produce up to 70 per cent more greenhouse gases than fossil
fuels because
of how it
is processed
