SG Biofuels Teams With JETBIO, Aviation Leaders To Accelerate
Production
JETBIO, the leader of a multi-stakeholder initiative including
Airbus, the Inter-American Development Bank, Bioventures Brasil,
Rio Pardo Bioenergia, Air BP and TAM Airlines, has added SG
Biofuels to its effort to accelerate the production of crude
Jatropha oil as a source for aviation bio jet 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," said Rafael Davidsohn Abud,
managing partner at JETBIO, a Brazil-based company specializing in
biofuels projects.
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 underutilized pastureland presenting an excellent 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," said Paul Nash, head of
new energies at Airbus. "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
commercialisation project in each continent and attaining the
aviation targets of Carbon Neutral growth by 2020."
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.
"The favorable growing conditions in Central-west Brazil combined
with our hybrid varieties provide the strongest platform to develop
a successful Jatropha project," said Kirk Haney, president and
chief executive officer of SG Biofuels. "We are very supportive of
efforts that address the complete value chain and are excited to be
working with JETBIO and its partners."
Airbus says it is pushing for sustainable production and
commercialization of Biofuels in order to reach global aviation
targets to significantly reduce GHG emissions by 2020 and beyond.
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.