Abstract
Characteristics specific to remote drought communities make fossil
fuel based energy systems extremely expensive. Affordability and
sometimes availability of petroleum diesel for meeting energy needs
of such communities is an ever occurring daily problem. Coupled
with this, is the highly volatile price of petroleum diesel. It has been
argued that the Jatropha Curcas, an energy crop that grows on marginal
soils that can be exploited effectively in combating desertification,
addressing local energy needs and the attainment of socio-economic
development. The Jatropha biodiesel, currently being promoted
in some developing countries can be a suitable substitute for petroleum diesel. A simple technology has been developed in Ghana for the
extraction of Jatropha biodiesel at the rural level using a manual
bridge press. This paper examines the physico-chemical properties of
Jatropha oil that makes it a cleaner and locally available diesel fuel
substitute. The study assesses the potential impacts of the biodiesel
on a rural economy and presents a conceptual development model for
a sustained Jatropha biodiesel enterprise aimed at rural economic empowerment
in drought prone remote communities.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Forum der Forschung |
| Issue number | 18 |
| Pages (from-to) | 74-78 |
| ISSN | 0947-6989 |
| Publication status | Published - 2005 |
| Externally published | Yes |
