These trees will grow to maturity in about 4 - 5 years and will produce as much as 800-1100 gallons of oil per acre per year. So what is the benefit? These trees produce seed pods which consist of about 40% high grade lipid oil and 60% seedcake. The seeds are then crushed to be used for animal feed and fertilizer. The biofuel will be used by Johnson Utilities' Anthem Water Reclamation Plant to run a biofuel generator at night, while the solar field provides daytime energy - taking the plant entirely off the grid.
It only takes roughly one acre of Pongamia trees to provide enough energy to power one home for 50 years. Although the demonstration site is only about 15 acres, the goal over the next couple years is to plant and cultivate at least 2000 acres.
According to TerViva, all of this will lead to a new industry which will bring new jobs to the area and a sustainable biofuel that will decrease our dependence on foreign oil.
