IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i3p649-d1580680.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Strategic Dynamics and Decision-Making Models in the Maritime Trade of Biofuels in Spain: Insights into Port Operations and Energy Transition Policies

Author

Listed:
  • Nicoletta González-Cancelas

    (Department of Transport, Territorial and Urban Planning Engineering, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Calle Profesor Aranguren, 3, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Javier Vaca-Cabrero

    (Department of Transport, Territorial and Urban Planning Engineering, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Calle Profesor Aranguren, 3, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Alberto Camarero-Orive

    (Department of Transport, Territorial and Urban Planning Engineering, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Calle Profesor Aranguren, 3, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Diego Alfonso Álvarez Garzón

    (Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Caminos, Canales y Puertos, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Calle Profesor Aranguren, 3, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

This study examines the maritime trade of biofuels in Spain, focusing on its contribution to the global energy transition and sustainable development. Using data from Spain’s 28 port authorities, the research identifies key trends, trade dynamics, and port-specific roles. This study reveals that Spain is a net biofuel exporter, maintaining a positive balance of 5.20 million tons throughout the study period. Export volumes peaked in 2021 at 1.63 million tons, while imports have shown steady growth over the past seven years. Barcelona and Bilbao emerge as strategic ports with robust connections to the Netherlands, Italy, and Belgium, reinforcing Spain’s role in the international biofuel market. This study incorporates hierarchical decision models, including classification trees, to analyze sustainability and efficiency factors in biofuel trade. These models unveil key interactions between variables such as cargo type, origin country, and port characteristics, offering actionable strategies to optimize port operations and enhance Spain’s standing in the global biofuels sector. This research highlights the importance of sustainable port infrastructure and international collaboration to strengthen Spain’s position as a pivotal player in the global energy transition.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicoletta González-Cancelas & Javier Vaca-Cabrero & Alberto Camarero-Orive & Diego Alfonso Álvarez Garzón, 2025. "Strategic Dynamics and Decision-Making Models in the Maritime Trade of Biofuels in Spain: Insights into Port Operations and Energy Transition Policies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:3:p:649-:d:1580680
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/3/649/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/3/649/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hainsch, Karlo & Löffler, Konstantin & Burandt, Thorsten & Auer, Hans & Crespo del Granado, Pedro & Pisciella, Paolo & Zwickl-Bernhard, Sebastian, 2022. "Energy transition scenarios: What policies, societal attitudes, and technology developments will realize the EU Green Deal?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PC).
    2. Moioli, Emanuele & Schildhauer, Tilman, 2022. "Negative CO2 emissions from flexible biofuel synthesis: Concepts, potentials, technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    3. Marzena Smol & Paulina Marcinek & Joanna Duda & Dominika Szołdrowska, 2020. "Correction: Smol, M., et al. Importance of Sustainable Mineral Resource Management in Implementing the Circular Economy (CE) Model and the European Green Deal Strategy. Resource 2020, 9 , 55," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-3, June.
    4. Brynolf, Selma & Taljegard, Maria & Grahn, Maria & Hansson, Julia, 2018. "Electrofuels for the transport sector: A review of production costs," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 1887-1905.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Adam Dominiak & Artur Rusowicz, 2022. "Change of Fossil-Fuel-Related Carbon Productivity Index of the Main Manufacturing Sectors in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-14, September.
    2. Leszek Dziawgo, 2024. "Support for the European Green Deal by Individual Investors:Research Results," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 486-496.
    3. Ralf Peters & Maximilian Decker & Janos Lucian Breuer & Remzi Can Samsun & Detlef Stolten, 2024. "Ramping-Up Electro-Fuel Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-47, April.
    4. Navas-Anguita, Zaira & García-Gusano, Diego & Iribarren, Diego, 2019. "A review of techno-economic data for road transportation fuels," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 11-26.
    5. Christoph Sejkora & Johannes Lindorfer & Lisa Kühberger & Thomas Kienberger, 2021. "Interlinking the Renewable Electricity and Gas Sectors: A Techno-Economic Case Study for Austria," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-38, October.
    6. Tinta, Abdoulganiour Almame, 2023. "Energy substitution in Africa: Cross-regional differentiation effects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PA).
    7. Østergaard, Poul Alberg & Andersen, Anders N., 2021. "Variable taxes promoting district heating heat pump flexibility," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    8. Jafri, Yawer & Wetterlund, Elisabeth & Mesfun, Sennai & Rådberg, Henrik & Mossberg, Johanna & Hulteberg, Christian & Furusjö, Erik, 2020. "Combining expansion in pulp capacity with production of sustainable biofuels – Techno-economic and greenhouse gas emissions assessment of drop-in fuels from black liquor part-streams," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    9. Paris, Bas & Papadakis, George & Janssen, Rainer & Rutz, Dominik, 2021. "Economic analysis of advanced biofuels, renewable gases, electrofuels and recycled carbon fuels for the Greek transport sector until 2050," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    10. Hoelzen, J. & Silberhorn, D. & Schenke, F. & Stabenow, E. & Zill, T. & Bensmann, A. & Hanke-Rauschenbach, R., 2025. "H2-powered aviation – Optimized aircraft and green LH2 supply in air transport networks," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 380(C).
    11. Paul Calanter, 2023. "Assessing the Energy State of the EU under Green Deal Objectives," Global Economic Observer, "Nicolae Titulescu" University of Bucharest, Faculty of Economic Sciences;Institute for World Economy of the Romanian Academy, vol. 11(1), pages 16-23, May.
    12. Joalland, Olivier & Mahieu, Pierre-Alexandre, 2023. "Developing large-scale offshore wind power programs: A choice experiment analysis in France," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(PA).
    13. Lester, Mason Scott & Bramstoft, Rasmus & Münster, Marie, 2020. "Analysis on Electrofuels in Future Energy Systems: A 2050 Case Study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    14. Svitnič, Tibor & Sundmacher, Kai, 2022. "Renewable methanol production: Optimization-based design, scheduling and waste-heat utilization with the FluxMax approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).
    15. Nwani, Chinazaekpere & Usman, Ojonugwa & Okere, Kingsley Ikechukwu & Bekun, Festus Victor, 2023. "Technological pathways to decarbonisation and the role of renewable energy: A study of European countries using consumption-based metrics," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    16. Andrew William Ruttinger & Miyuru Kannangara & Jalil Shadbahr & Phil De Luna & Farid Bensebaa, 2021. "How CO 2 -to-Diesel Technology Could Help Reach Net-Zero Emissions Targets: A Canadian Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-21, October.
    17. Egerer, Jonas & Farhang-Damghani, Nima & Grimm, Veronika & Runge, Philipp, 2024. "The industry transformation from fossil fuels to hydrogen will reorganize value chains: Big picture and case studies for Germany," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 358(C).
    18. Izabela Jonek-Kowalska, 2022. "Assessing the energy security of European countries in the resource and economic context," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 13(2), pages 301-334, June.
    19. Chao Jin & Xiaodan Li & Teng Xu & Juntong Dong & Zhenlong Geng & Jia Liu & Chenyun Ding & Jingjing Hu & Ahmed El ALAOUI & Qing Zhao & Haifeng Liu, 2023. "Zero-Carbon and Carbon-Neutral Fuels: A Review of Combustion Products and Cytotoxicity," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-29, September.
    20. Bellocchi, Sara & De Falco, Marcello & Gambini, Marco & Manno, Michele & Stilo, Tommaso & Vellini, Michela, 2019. "Opportunities for power-to-Gas and Power-to-liquid in CO2-reduced energy scenarios: The Italian case," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 847-861.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:3:p:649-:d:1580680. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.