Jatropha as energy potential biofuel in Tanzania

Abstract

People living in the large part of the African, Asian and Latin American continents often lack access to energy sources in general. One approach to provide these people with energy to increase living standards is to enable them produce energy from local resources. A promising local renewable energy source for people living in tropical regions is Jatropha curcas (Linnaeus), in which biodiesel can be sourced from its fruits. The byproducts from biodiesel are of potential as well in renewable energy sources. Energy contribution from by products include the utilization utilization of fruit shells briquettes as an energy source, production of chemicals from biofuel byproducts such as gryceline, biogas production from the press cake.. Biomass serves as the major source of energy in Tanzania providing about 90% of the total energy consumed and energy from oil and gas provides about 7% of the consumed energy. The results from two scenarios in this study indicated a positive contribution of the Jatropha bioenergy system to the energy sector in Tanzania. Jatropha press cake biogas alone has a potential to contribute 25% to 134% of the national annual electricity per capita by the year 2015, while adding more than 50% oil obtained after pressing of Jatropha seeds. However, biofuel investment and production is a highly contentious issue. Critical aspects to consider on Jatropha cultivation in Tanzania include water distribution and usage, food security, environmental conservation and biodiversity, social impacts and economic issues. Lastly, this study concludes that biorefinery of Jatropha products will offer more energy contribution, wastes reduction and more value to Tanzania biofuel industry, particularly Jatropha bioenergy system.