Assessments of suitability, energy capacity and environment impact on biodiesel from Jatropha curcas L.

To provide the basis for the development of biodiesel from Jatropha curcas L. (JCL), marginal land suitable for JCL planting and their spatial distribution, suitability degrees were investigated, then total net energy production potential and GHG emission reduction potential derived from large-scale planting of JCL in southwest of China were estimated. Multi-factor comprehensive analysis method was used to identify marginal land resources suitable for JCL cultivation, make suitability assessment, and obtain their spatial distribution, suitability degree and total amount. Then, using life cycle analysis (LCA) method, the life cycle net energy and greenhouse gas emission reduction capacity of marginal land resources with different suitability degrees for biodiesel production was calculated. The life cycle model was expanded to obtain the potentiality of total net energy production and greenhouse gas emission reduction of JCL plantation. The results showed that the areas of suitable and moderate suitable land resources for cultivating JCL were1 994 500 and 5 572 800 hm2, respectively. Using these land resources, the maximum net production potential of biodiesel produced from JCL and the total greenhouse gas emission reduction capacity in each year would be 150 991 940 GJ and 15 916 550 t, respectively. The results can provide reference for biodiesel industry.