LAPSE:2023.33917
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.33917
Biofuels for Maritime Transportation: A Spatial, Techno-Economic, and Logistic Analysis in Brazil, Europe, South Africa, and the USA
April 24, 2023
Low or zero carbon fuels are crucial for maritime transportation decarbonization goals. This paper assesses potential localities for maritime biofuels (biobunkers) production in Brazil, Europe, South Africa, and United States considering geographical, logistic, and economic aspects. This assessment combines georeferenced and techno-economic analyses to identify suitable fuel production hotspots based on not only plant performance and costs but also on logistic integration and biomass seasonality. Five technology pathways were considered: Straight vegetable Oils (SVO), Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils (HVO), Fischer−Tropsch Biomass-to-liquids (FT-BTL), Alcohol oligomerization to middle distillates (ATD), and Hydrotreated Pyrolysis Oil (HDPO). Findings reveal that biomass concentration in Brazil makes it the region with highest biobunker potential, which are mostly close to coastal areas and surpasses regional demand. Although other regions registered more limited potentials, hotspots proximity to ports would enable fossil fuel replacements in these areas. For all cases, biobunker costs (USD 21−104/GJ) are higher than conventional marine fuels prices (USD 11−17/GJ). Only 15% of the hotspots’ carbon prices that would allow its competitiveness are lower than USD 100/tCO2. Alternatives to incentivize biobunker production would be, first, to establish mandatory fuel blends and second, to join forces with other sectors that would be benefited from the co-production of advanced biofuels.
Keywords
biomass residues, GIS, IMO, logistics, maritime biofuel, transport fuels
Suggested Citation
Carvalho F, Portugal-Pereira J, Junginger M, Szklo A. Biofuels for Maritime Transportation: A Spatial, Techno-Economic, and Logistic Analysis in Brazil, Europe, South Africa, and the USA. (2023). LAPSE:2023.33917
Author Affiliations
Carvalho F: Centro de Tecnologia, Energy Planning Program, Graduate School of Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-594, Brazil [ORCID]
Portugal-Pereira J: Centro de Tecnologia, Energy Planning Program, Graduate School of Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-594, Brazil
Junginger M: Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands [ORCID]
Szklo A: Centro de Tecnologia, Energy Planning Program, Graduate School of Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-594, Brazil [ORCID]
Journal Name
Energies
Volume
14
Issue
16
First Page
4980
Year
2021
Publication Date
2021-08-13
Published Version
ISSN
1996-1073
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Original Submission
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PII: en14164980, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.33917
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doi:10.3390/en14164980
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Apr 24, 2023
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