The use of palm oil biodiesel blends in locomotives: An economic, social and environmental analysis

Aurélio Lamare Soares Murta, Marcos Aurélio Vasconcelos De Freitas, Carla Guimarães Ferreira and Mariana Marinho Da Costa Lima Peixoto

Renewable Energy, 2021, vol. 164, issue C, 521-530

Abstract: The biofuels identified as the most appropriate for use in existing internal combustion engines are bioethanol (for Otto engines) and biodiesel (for diesel engines). Supply of these fuels requires planting energy crops with high yield and photosynthetic efficiency in large tracts of land. The two most efficient crops are sugarcane (for bioethanol) and palm oil (for biodiesel), both of which have high energy densities and the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions if produced in sufficient quantities. This study seeks to show the economic, social and environmental advantages of palm cultivation in relation to others oilseeds. It also describes a pioneering project using palm oil biodiesel blend (B20: 20% biodiesel with fossil diesel) in railway locomotives used for ore transport. The B20 blend performed satisfactorily and promoted a significant change in the company’s fuel mix. It was found that there is a strong ecological appeal in the production of palm oil because of its low environmental impact, high energy balance density and high carbon sequestration by the trees. Besides, it was identified that bio-fuels can significantly replace liquid fossil fuels, the ethanol can be produced from cellulosic biomass, there are advantages of palm cultivation is relation to other oil seeds are demonstrated and the development of this segment in Brazil are guided by the National Biodiesel Production Plan (PNPB).

Keywords: Palm oil; Biofuels; Agroenergy; Sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:164:y:2021:i:c:p:521-530

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.08.094

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