BioDieselNow - Renewable biodiesel fuel

 I know there’s a whole lot of buzz going around about Jatropha oil...Problem is, it’s not readily available in the US due to climatic conditions and intensive labor needed to grow it/harvest it.  My question is how many people out there are actually interested in or have used Jatropha oil as biodiesel feedstock?  If one could provide a large, steady, high quality supply of it here in the US, would there be a healthy market for it?

Any opinions on Jatropha Oil in general would be greatly appreciated.

 I'm a 20yr old student and have been doing a bit of research into the whole Jatropha topic...How do u guys feel about Jatropha oil being the future feedstock of choice for large and small-scale biodiesel producers?

Thanks in advance,

twofiftyeight,

I am not in USA so can't answer for your market other than to say that if you can produce a regular, large quantity, of quality oil, you will have absolutely no problem in selling it anywhere in the world.

Someone has designed a mechanical harvester to harvest seeds from the chinese tallow tree and I am certain this could be used for jatropha as well so the labour problem is reduced. 

Word of caution though, like the Chinese Tallow Tree, a lot of countries regard this plant as a weed and place restrictions on it's propogation. Here in Australia for instance it is an absolute no-no. Can import seeds as long as they are destined for 100% total destruction or are made infertile before importing.  Check with your local EPA office.

twofiftyeight:

If one could provide a large, steady, high quality supply of it here in the US, would there be a healthy market for it?

 At what cost of production & price delivered?

At $1.00 a gallon there would be huge market. You'd be a very busy for a long time.

At $2.00 a gallon there would be a good market. For now.

At $3.00 a gallon there would be a small current maket. Very risky business.

At $4.00 a gallon there would be no real market. Find something different to spend your time on.   

Martin 

Martin you understand markets. Who would touch it if there was something less expensive?

 Dereck,

Sometimes you & I do agree.

Myself, I am a manufacturer. When diesel hit $2.00 a gallon I did a market study(talked to target market) on making & selling bd equipment to crop/livestock producers. At the time they were growing beans, selling them & buying bean meal. The price ratio of beans-to-meal would have allowed for bd at less than $0.75 a gallon. They said it wasn't worth their time. When diesel went over $2.50 some of them called asking to buy the equipment(as proposed). 

I didn't even design the equipment then. I also read the EIA data for US fuel use. When gasoline is over $3.00 retail consumtion goes down. A lot of room for +/- use of personal use fuel. I don't see the same thing happening with needed(commercial) fuel. FWIW, in MN less gasoline is used now than in 1984.

So, for the personal elastic personal use market the price has to be less than $3.00 or one is getting into a declining market.

For the commercial market, one has to have fuel that is cheaper than the current price. The commerical market is very bottom line. No matter what the price is, it is always under the $ magnifying glass.

With business one has to go with the gut feeling, but to often people mistake emotion for a gut feeling.  

Martin   

twofiftyeight:

Any opinions on Jatropha Oil in general would be greatly appreciated.

Is there anything else that can be done, at a profit or break even, with jatropha oil? Less risk if there is.

Because you are asking for any opinions, I think a more Teutonic name for it would be a good idea. 

Martin   

Martin, personally I think we agree more times than not, and I do have respect for you as you. You understand market dynamics and seem to know the market will decide no matter what. You seem to uderstand the market will make your decisions for you, reward you when you make the right choice, and beat the tar out of you if you are wrong. I have learned the lesson the hard way by loosing a lot of money; how about you?