Large Scale Growing of Energy Crops - Hydrocarbon (energy) producing plants include a large number of Euphorbia and Asclepias species.

These species bear latex and 35% of their dry weight can be extracted as organic extracts.

After the water is removed, the latex gives rise to a liquid oil.

Chemical analyses of extracts from E. lathyris show that 5% of its dry weight is a mixture of terpenoids and 20% is a simple sugar (hexose).

The terpenoids can be converted into a gasoline like product and hexoses may be fermented to ethanol.

The conversion of certain biomass derived gasoline-like materials into high quality transportation fuels has also been demonstrated.

Consequently, 8-12% of its dry weight can be obtained as oil, giving 20 barrels of oil/acre/year.

Similarly, E. tincalli can give upto 5-10 barrels of oil/acre/year

Technology has been developed to utilize this ethanol as fuel alcohol in motor cars. In Brazil, motorists fill their tanks with alcohol (95% pure) instead of petrol (motor engine can be modified at a small price, so that it can use alcohol).

In other cases, a mixture of petrol and alcohol called gasohol can be used, without altering the engines. The 'gasohol programme' in Brazil, which started in 1975, showed tremendous success and is the world's largest single biotechnology programme.

Many countries of the world are now trying to substitute alcohol for petrol (partially or fully). These countries include USA, East Europian Countries and Several countries in Africa.