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Does biodiesel make sense?

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  • Nogueira, Luiz A.H.

Abstract

In several countries biodiesel blending programs have been implemented looking for reduction in fossil fuel dependence and environmental benefits, including climate change mitigation. The current global biodiesel production, from different fatty raw materials, reaches about 6 billion liters per year and represents 10% of whole biofuel production. Nevertheless, in many cases the actual advantages of biodiesel production and usage are not clearly evaluated. Essentially, the feasibility of biodiesel production can be determined by its efficiency in solar energy conversion, as indicated by agro-industrial productivity and energy balance parameters, which expresses a relative demand of natural resources (land and energy) to produce biofuel. Taking into account the Brazilian conditions, in this paper an assessment of biodiesel production is presented, comparing four different productive systems. According to this evaluation, soybean and castor are limitedly feasible, whereas tallow and palm oil represent more suitable alternatives. The selection of an efficient productive system is crucial for the rationality of biodiesel production.

Suggested Citation

  • Nogueira, Luiz A.H., 2011. "Does biodiesel make sense?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 3659-3666.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:36:y:2011:i:6:p:3659-3666
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2010.08.035
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    1. Talens Peiró, L. & Villalba Méndez, G. & Sciubba, E. & Gabarrell i Durany, X., 2010. "Extended exergy accounting applied to biodiesel production," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(7), pages 2861-2869.
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    5. de Souza, Lorena Mendes & Mendes, Pietro A.S. & Aranda, Donato A.G., 2020. "Oleaginous feedstocks for hydro-processed esters and fatty acids (HEFA) biojet production in southeastern Brazil: A multi-criteria decision analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 1339-1351.
    6. Rafael Estevez & Laura Aguado-Deblas & Francisco J. López-Tenllado & Carlos Luna & Juan Calero & Antonio A. Romero & Felipa M. Bautista & Diego Luna, 2022. "Biodiesel Is Dead: Long Life to Advanced Biofuels—A Comprehensive Critical Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-39, April.
    7. Flórez-Orrego, Daniel & da Silva, Julio A.M. & Velásquez, Héctor & de Oliveira, Silvio, 2015. "Renewable and non-renewable exergy costs and CO2 emissions in the production of fuels for Brazilian transportation sector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 18-36.
    8. Gholami, Ali & Hajinezhad, Ahmad & Pourfayaz, Fathollah & Ahmadi, Mohammad Hossein, 2018. "The effect of hydrodynamic and ultrasonic cavitation on biodiesel production: An exergy analysis approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 478-489.
    9. Silalertruksa, Thapat & Gheewala, Shabbir H., 2012. "Environmental sustainability assessment of palm biodiesel production in Thailand," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 306-314.
    10. Boey, Peng-Lim & Ganesan, Shangeetha & Lim, Sze-Xooi & Lim, Sau-Lai & Maniam, Gaanty Pragas & Khairuddean, Melati, 2011. "Utilization of BA (boiler ash) as catalyst for transesterification of palm olein," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(10), pages 5791-5796.
    11. Singh, Bhaskar & Guldhe, Abhishek & Rawat, Ismail & Bux, Faizal, 2014. "Towards a sustainable approach for development of biodiesel from plant and microalgae," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 216-245.
    12. Schneider, T. & Graeff-Hönninger, S. & French, W.T. & Hernandez, R. & Merkt, N. & Claupein, W. & Hetrick, M. & Pham, P., 2013. "Lipid and carotenoid production by oleaginous red yeast Rhodotorula glutinis cultivated on brewery effluents," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 34-43.
    13. Baglivi, Antonella & Fiorese, Giulia & Guariso, Giorgio & Uggè, Clara, 2015. "Valuing crop diversity in biodiesel production plans," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(P2), pages 2351-2362.
    14. Aur lio Lamare Soares Murta & Marcos Vasconcelos de Freitas, 2018. "CO2 Emissions Avoided Through the use of Biodiesel in the Brazilian Road System," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 8(2), pages 59-68.
    15. Alves, Magno José & Nascimento, Suellen Mendonça & Pereira, Iara Gomes & Martins, Maria Inês & Cardoso, Vicelma Luiz & Reis, Miria, 2013. "Biodiesel purification using micro and ultrafiltration membranes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 15-20.
    16. Souza, Simone Pereira & Seabra, Joaquim E.A., 2013. "Environmental benefits of the integrated production of ethanol and biodiesel," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 5-12.
    17. Dedinec, Aleksandar & Markovska, Natasa & Taseska, Verica & Duic, Neven & Kanevce, Gligor, 2013. "Assessment of climate change mitigation potential of the Macedonian transport sector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 177-187.
    18. Rafael Henrique Mainardes Ferreira & Claudia Tania Picinin, 2018. "Bibliometric analysis for characterization of oil production in Brazilian territory," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 116(3), pages 1945-1974, September.

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