Naturally occuring diesel

[Scotsman]

Australian Farmers Growing Trees That Produce Diesel Fuel

Farmers in North Queensland are doing their bit to be environmentally friendly by investing in a tree that produces diesel.Over 20,000 trees have been sold to farmers in the tropics by the man who introduced the diesel tree from Brazil.

The tree produces an oil that can be extracted, filtered and used to power vehicles and farm machinery.

Because, the Brazilian Copaifera langsdorfii can be tapped much like a rubber tree, but instead of yielding rubber it gives up a natural diesel. According to the nurseryman selling the trees, one acre will yield about 1250 gallons annually compared to about 30 gallons of ethanol produced from an acre of corn.

Once filtered no complex refining is required it can be placed straight into a diesel tractor or truck. A single Copaifera langsdorfii will continue to produce fuel oil for an impressive 70 years, with the only negative being that its particular form of diesel needs to be used within three months of extraction.

It is estimated a one-hectare crop could produce enough fuel for an average-sized family farm.

Mike Jubow, a former cane farmer and now a nursery wholesaler, says diesel-producing trees are a long-term investment.

"If I'm lucky enough to live that long enough - I'm 64 now - it is going to take about 15 to 20 years before they are big enough to harvest the oil so that I can use them in a vehicle," he said.

"Principally, they are an ideal plantation tree for a family farm where, from generation to generation, you will harvest this oil so that your grandson and your great-grandson can still be virtually getting free fuel from these trees 30 to 50 years in the future."

http://http://www.nextenergynews.com...ws4.3.08d.html

It's true guys:

Fuel: The balsamiferous wood, with density of 700-900 kg/cu m, burns readily, perhaps even when green. The hydrocarbon obtained from the trunk can be used directly by a diesel-powered car.

http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.o...asp?SpID=17961

Wow guys, I might just end up buying a diesel powered car next, watch out Camaro!

[DGthe3]

This stuff will encourage people to plant trees which don't need fertilization, or pesticides (well not as much anyway), and soak up more CO2 on a per acre basis. This is the greenest thing to happen to the auto industry since Coskata.

Imagine if the land which is used to grow corn for ethanol were used for these trees instead? there are ~5 billion gallons of ethanol used in cars each year. I think they are off for their ethanol production. I've read that an acre up to 300 gallons, not 30. Still, this stuff is 4x more productive than corn at that rate. that makes for 20 billion gallons of diesel using the same amount of land, around 50% of your national diesel consumption, potentially more. And its completely renewable.

[Power Junkie]

If it's true... it's win freakin win baby!!

[Camaro_Corvette]

i'd much rather see a field of trees than a field of corn...

[DGthe3]

After looking at the conditions that they need to grow in, it seems that Florida may be the best place in the US to grow them. Mississippi and Louisiana are good too. But it can't be grown in places where corn typically grows. It would be better in south and central America. Oh well. Anything that can reduce burning of fossil fuels is good. If nothing else, it will keep the price down.

[Power Junkie]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

If nothing else, it will keep the price down.

I love your optimism...

[DGthe3]

Well, prices are going up because of supply and demand. supply is going down, demand is going up, price goes through the roof. Increase the supply and things level off.

[The_Blur]

This is amazing news. For the car industry, this will promote more clean-burning diesel engines. For the greens, it keeps refining down so the benefits have less cons with which to deal.

[TAG UR IT]

Originally Posted by camaro_corvette

i'd much rather see a field of trees than a field of corn...

The only problem is getting folks to use valuable land that won't yield anything for 15-20 years. That's the biggest drawback. If we can get it started, I say go for it! "Win, win!!"

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by TAG UR IT

The only problem is getting folks to use valuable land that won't yield anything for 15-20 years. That's the biggest drawback. If we can get it started, I say go for it! "Win, win!!"

if farmers can be paid to not grow corn, then they can be paid to grow these

[Power Junkie]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Well, prices are going up because of supply and demand. supply is going down, demand is going up, price goes through the roof. Increase the supply and things level off.

Well i'm not sure how it works in Canada (yet) but in the UK fuel prices very rarely ever go down (due to the Government and their love of fuel tax... oh and the fact we have to pay tax on top of that tax too V.A.T what a laugh)... it may steady it out a bit.. but as long as the thieving bar stewards are still running Britain i can't see prices falling at all.

We only actually pay about 33-35 pence a litre for the fuel but because of the tax we end up paying around £1.08-£1.14 per litre.

Now they want to put another 2 pence a litre on fuel..... because of "climate change"... somehow i don't think that more money of fuel is going to help the situation!!

If the tree diesel catches on, i expect the PM and posse to initially bring it in cheap... but it'd only be a few years before they started closing the gap... things will never change here.