I remember as a child that my Italian-born grandmother used olive oil for all sorts of healing remedies. Today, while researching the origins of the modern oil industry, I came across some sites that are currently using olive oil [technically, olive-oil waste material] for electrical purposes! I had never heard of this approach to alternative energy before, although some very bright young alternative-fuel inventors have something in the works.
Nevertheless, I find this a very interesting alternative to pursue further so I am going to post links and additional information here as they become available to my research. At the moment, it appears to be a pliable enterprise; using a natural food bioproduct (olive waste) would solve a lot of “preemptive” wars and could actually play a part in building local community olive generators and generating a ground-up economy. The olive tree is apparently highly resistant to disease, which means less sprays of chemicals [see article below] and it grows in much of the world. From what I have seen so far, the USA seems to lag behind greatly in exploration of this energy alternative….for now.
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Electric Olives: “The plant turns olive residue into biomass — a type of fuel generated from animal waste and plant material such as wood and crops. This is then burnt to generate electricity and heat. The Palenciana plant currently produces enough green electricity for 27,000 households, and has since been joined by four others in the region. ”
Turning Waste Olive Stones Into Bioethanol: “The low cost of transporting and transforming olives stones make them attractive for biofuels,” said Sebastián Sánchez, a researcher in the Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering at the University of Jaén. “
Can Extra-Virgin Oil Be Extra Green?: “The farm began by introducing an electric station completely powered by clean energy to charge the farm’s electric vehicles. The electric scooters, light trucks and golf carts need no back-up energy.”
History of Olive Trees: “Olive trees are more resistant to diseases and insects than any other fruit tree and, therefore, are sprayed less than any other crop.”
“Even though commercial production of olives in the United States is only 2% of the world market, great interest in growing olives throughout the South has been stimulated by the recent introduction of promising cold hardy olive trees from European hybridizers.”
Olive Tree Growers: Olive trees being introduced to America ”Because it originates in a region of little rainfall, many assume that the olive tree will not thrive in other regions. This assumption, though perhaps intuitive, is not supported by the facts. Olive culture has now been introduced into North and South America, Australia, New Zealand and even China, as the world’s cultures move to secure for themselves the benefits of the world’s most healthy food oil. In the U. S., there are oil-producing olive groves in California, Arizona, Texas and Florida.”
Resource consumption and emissions from olive oil production: a life cycle inventory case study in Cyprus [Note: Abstract details require site registration]
:`We won`t have a society if we destroy the environment.` Margaret Mead, Anthropologist
