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Thermoeconomic Analysis of Biodiesel Production from Used Cooking Oils

Author

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  • Emilio Font de Mora

    (Centre of Research for Energy Resources and Consumption – CIRCE, University of Zaragoza, Mariano Esquillor 15, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain)

  • César Torres

    (Centre of Research for Energy Resources and Consumption – CIRCE, University of Zaragoza, Mariano Esquillor 15, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain)

  • Antonio Valero

    (Centre of Research for Energy Resources and Consumption – CIRCE, University of Zaragoza, Mariano Esquillor 15, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain)

Abstract

Biodiesel from used cooking oil (UCO) is one of the most sustainable solutions to replace conventional fossil fuels in the transport sector. It can achieve greenhouse gas savings up to 88% and at the same time reducing the disposal of a polluting waste. In addition, it does not provoke potential negative impacts that conventional biofuels may eventually cause linked to the use of arable land. For this reason, most policy frameworks favor its consumption. This is the case of the EU policy that double-counters the use of residue and waste use to achieve the renewable energy target in the transport sector. According to different sources, biodiesel produced from UCO could replace around 1.5%–1.8% of the EU-27 diesel consumption. This paper presents an in-depth thermoeconomic analysis of the UCO biodiesel life cycle to understand its cost formation process. It calculates the ExROI value (exergy return on investment) and renewability factor, and it demonstrates that thermoeconomics is a useful tool to assess life cycles of renewable energy systems. It also shows that UCO life cycle biodiesel production is more sustainable than biodiesel produced from vegetable oils.

Suggested Citation

  • Emilio Font de Mora & César Torres & Antonio Valero, 2015. "Thermoeconomic Analysis of Biodiesel Production from Used Cooking Oils," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(5), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:5:p:6321-6335:d:50001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Tsoutsos, T.D. & Tournaki, S. & Paraíba, O. & Kaminaris, S.D., 2016. "The Used Cooking Oil-to-biodiesel chain in Europe assessment of best practices and environmental performance," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 74-83.
    2. Amelio, A. & Van de Voorde, T. & Creemers, C. & Degrève, J. & Darvishmanesh, S. & Luis, P. & Van der Bruggen, B., 2016. "Comparison between exergy and energy analysis for biodiesel production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 135-145.
    3. Whiting, Kai & Carmona, Luis Gabriel & Sousa, Tânia, 2017. "A review of the use of exergy to evaluate the sustainability of fossil fuels and non-fuel mineral depletion," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 202-211.
    4. Kai Whiting & Luis Gabriel Carmona & Angeles Carrasco & Tânia Sousa, 2017. "Exergy Replacement Cost of Fossil Fuels: Closing the Carbon Cycle," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-21, July.
    5. Chun Hsion Lim & Wei Xin Chua & Yi Wen Pang & Bing Shen How & Wendy Pei Qin Ng & Sin Yong Teng & Wei Dong Leong & Sue Lin Ngan & Hon Loong Lam, 2020. "A Diverse and Sustainable Biodiesel Supply Chain Optimisation Model Based on Properties Integration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-18, October.
    6. Grigore Cican & Daniel Eugeniu Crunteanu & Radu Mirea & Laurentiu Constantin Ceatra & Constantin Leventiu, 2023. "Biodiesel from Recycled Sunflower and Palm Oil—A Sustainable Fuel for Microturbo-Engines Used in Airside Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-16, January.
    7. Foteinis, Spyros & Chatzisymeon, Efthalia & Litinas, Alexandros & Tsoutsos, Theocharis, 2020. "Used-cooking-oil biodiesel: Life cycle assessment and comparison with first- and third-generation biofuel," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 588-600.

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