Replanting the Earth with Renewable Green Energy Plants

 

 

Renewable Green Energy, Reforestation & Intercropping with Cash Food Programs on Deforested and Marginal Lands

Central Java, Indonesia Association and Joint Venture

116,000,000 Green Oil Trees are now Planted on Marginal & Deforested Lands

240,0000 Farmers are Employed Full Time on Sustainable Projects

The Local Deforestation Rate has been reduced by 90% 

Opportunity for Native Landowners to Succeed: The world’s current energy regime is unsustainable. This is the explicit conclusion of the International Energy Agency, and it is also the substance of a wide and growing public consensus ranging across the political and scientific spectrum. The low cost, freely available supplies of fossil fuels that spawned the Industrial Revolution to give an uncommon standard of living to many must eventually come to an end; is there an affordable solution to the demise of finite fossil fuels? In-depth analysis by RainTrust has identified realistic solutions. These solutions are now incorporated into the RainTrust Renewable Green Energy model as an attainable “Eco-Nomic” solution to provide to the world’s future energy needs. A future primary energy source can be defined as one that meets minimum standards including:

* It must be capable of providing a sufficient scale of energy;
* It must have a high net energy yield (EROEI);
* It must be economically feasible;
* It must have no, or little, environmental impact;
* It must be renewable;
* It must be sustainable; and
* It must not compete with food growing

Our research in numerous countries confirmed a focus on Oil Seed Trees (OST’s) provided the best solution. Grown in suitable conditions, OST’s are extraordinary generators of two forms of biomass. The first is the “primary energy source” – either a vegetable oil, starch or sugar - that can be chemically reacted to produce, in the case of oils, biodiesel and then further reacted to produce polyols and an extensive range of superior bioplastics; while the second is biomass residues that can be processed to a number of end energy uses including ethanol and electricity – energy produced from these sources is termed “Renewable Green Energy”.

Biomass to energy is attractive due to its many benefits, however there are limitations. It is clear that the Biomass Zone – the Zone within twenty degrees Latitude of the equator – is the ultimate generator of biomass as, within this zone, the photosynthetic process is accelerated with sunlight, warmth and rainfall to give maximum yields. Resources need to be directed to this zone to gain maximum returns.

Paradoxically, it is this zone that plays host to the world’s rainforests; and it is this fact that gives the ability to a number of third world and developing countries to become the “Saudi Arabia’s” of the future. Research dictated resources needed to be focused on:

* The absolute economic advantages provided by the Biomass Zone
* First level generation of green energy from OSTs
* Second level generation of energy generation from resulting residues
* Making these renewable green energy resources available in useable form to local people and seeking to build export industries
* Aggregating and applying proprietary technologies, biological fertilizers and mechanization, principally to Biomass Zone countries
* Seeking to best extend these advantages beyond the Biomass Zone to other countries in need

RainTrust Renewable Green Energy focuses on establishing plantations on already existing deforested and marginal lands with crops of maximum biomass producing biofuel feed stocks – Sweet Sorghum, Oil Palm, Jatropha curcas and Pongamia Pinnata. Many have promoted Jatropha curcas as the ultimate source of biodiesel as it produces non-edible oil and thus not competing as a food source, unlike many other biofuel crops. However, Oil Palm is the ultimate “factory” tree for oil and biomass and is the commercial stand out among biofuels. Sweet Sorghum, due to its versatility and ability to deliver grain, sugar and bagasse, is fast emerging as the crop most capable of providing maximum biomass across the widest range of environmental variable.

The RainTrust Model:

The RainTrust Renewable Green Energy model is the ultimate solution to appropriately provide energy from renewable sources, whilst addressing relevant needs. Forestry - including decimated forests - local indigenous people and other involved parties, environment, biodiversity, protection of wildlife, climate change impacts, generation of renewable green energy and economic factors are all addressed within the model.

The final result is one of all parties being advantaged; energy and food becoming more available, the beauty and majesty of rainforests protected in the long term, elevated incomes flowing to local people and economic returns secured by stakeholders.

With access to, deforested and marginal land for suitable plantations, RainTrust signed an agreement with Waterland to pursue large scale commercialization of Jatropha plantations. Waterland is a global leader in Jatropha research and development and, together with a number of there partners, have successfully established first class research and technology bases in Indonesia, The Netherlands, India, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Aside from selectively breeding Jatropha stock to increase quality and yield, Waterland has a focus on accelerating commercialization of next generation biofuels and renewable green energy.

In 2009 a Joint Venture was signed between RainTrust and Waterland and in 2010 the legal entity PT RainTrust Waterland was filed in Indonesia. It is anticipated that the Joint Venture will benefit from all aspects of Jatropha research and development of the Waterland model. This includes bio-engineering, high tech conversion technologies, commercialization of valuable by-products and the processing of high grade biodiesel.

The Waterland project is mandated by the Central Javan Indonesian Government to replant on 1.2 million hectares of degraded land to embrace sustainable techniques and plant different species of trees.  Already restoration of rainforests has commenced together with renewable green energy projects incorporating the generation of vegetable oil used to substitute for diesel and the commencement of a bioplastic industry.

The RainTrust joint venture with Waterland contributes to the RainTrust mission to actively participate in reforestation and the establishment of renewable green energy projects on deforested lands.

The PT RainTrust Waterland mission is to create ECO-Nomic value and sustainability of the local people in the bio diverse and threatened areas in the world. Waterland has made the adoption of new farming techniques in Central Java including jatropha intercropped with local food crops. This novel approach has proven highly successful and the project now produces biofuel, food, biogas and electricity. It is 100% organic and has zero waste as a result of recycling all cultivated crop plant residues by using them as fertilizer, feedstock or briquettes for community cooking stoves.

Currently, Waterland has established plantations on 72,000 hectares of marginal lands, providing income for over 240,000 farmers. Ultimately the project with the multitude of structured partnerships it already has is projected to support in excess of four million farmers in Central Java, Indonesia alone. It is anticipated that this initiative will significantly counter rural-urban migration as the indigenous people increasingly appreciate the opportunity to gain new skills and dignity with regular incomes.

Waterland has developed a vertically integrated “from seed to engine” model whereby the company maximizes value and economic benefits from jatropha-based biofuels and biomass residues by controlling every phase of production from seed selection and yield enhancement through best farming practice plantations to produce the maximum possible volumes of crude vegetable oil and biomass.  This plantation generated biomass can be value added in many ways in multiple industry applications.

Waterland has developed a vertically integrated “from seed to engine” model whereby the company maximizes value and economic benefits from jatropha-based biofuels and biomass residues by controlling every phase of production from yield enhancement and seed selection through best farming practice plantations to produce the maximum possible volumes of crude vegetable oil and biomass.  This plantation generated biomass can be value added in many ways in multiple industry applications.

Mindanao, Philippines

Supporting the Eco-Nomics of the region by creating multiple sustainable businesses

Typical of this sub-tropical region, the greater portion of Mindanao Philippines was once forested. Today Mindanao has been deforested by up to 97%. RainTrust seeks to assist specific preservation areas of the remaining rainforest.

Reforestation of Rainforest:

Portions of land previously logged for timber, is in such a degraded state that reforestation cannot be contemplated. It is on these lands that RainTrust seeks to introduce renewable green energy plantations and associated biodiversity programs.

Agricultural Objectives:

Certain lands are ideally suited to many agricultural pursuits; the missing factors include agricultural skills and knowledge, access to biological fertilizers, the plant varieties and genetics that generate quality and yield, and the all important financing.

With the land situated in the Biomass Zone it is perfect to develop Oil Seed Tree and related plantations capable of delivering renewable green energy. Mindanao is perfectly suited to plant:

Oil Palm:

The ultimate vegetable oil factory grows best in this environment and will be intercropped with various cash crops.

Project Support:

Progressively a team of appropriately qualified locals will be recruited and trained in the specifics of Oil Seed Trees, biofuels, climate change, green energy and farming best practices; with this team growing with the project and providing the education and support specific to generating agricultural success.

Community and Education: RainTrust Trust will engage with and enhance the local community during all phases of project planning, plantation establishment, growing phases, harvesting and product processing; ensuring projects meet expectations. Elevated skill levels and incomes lead to a sense of pride and achievement - factors currently missing and their presence inevitably leads to stronger social fabric within the community. RainTrust Trust will directly contribute to facilities including community areas, health and education.