van Duren, Iris and Voinov, Alexey and Arodudu, Dunsin and Firrisa, Melese Tesfaye
(2015)
Where to produce rapeseed biodiesel and why? Mapping European rapeseed energy efficiency.
Renewable Energy, 74.
pp. 49-59.
ISSN 0960-1481
Abstract
Rapeseed is widely used to produce biodiesel, especially in Europe. In several studies, it has been shown that there is a good potential for growing this crop across the continent. However there is still little awareness that the energy efficiency of biofuel production from rapeseed is very low. Energy efficiency can be expressed in terms of Energy Return for Energy Invested (EROEI). We mapped EROEI values for all EU countries plus Switzerland based on expected yields derived from rapeseed suitability maps. We find that EU countries produce rapeseed biofuel with EROEI values of 2.2 and lower. We suggest that plans for biofuel cropping have to be supplemented by maps of EROEI. It is not only relevant to show where rapeseed can be grown, but we should also look at where its use for bioenergy can be efficient. In the area theoretically suitable for growing rainfed rapeseed (excluding unsuitable areas and water), 37.6% of the area can produce rape methyl ester (RME) biofuel only with an energy loss. We conclude that the energy efficiency of rapeseed biodiesel is low and spatially heterogeneous, and unless there are major technological improvements in the production process, replacing fossil fuels by biofuels from rapeseed is hardly a feasible option.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Keywords: |
Biomass feedstock;
EROEI;
GIS;
Energy policy;
Sustainable yield;
Zoning; |
| Academic Unit: |
Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography |
| Item ID: |
12272 |
| Identification Number: |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2014.07.016 |
| Depositing User: |
Dunsin Arodudu
|
| Date Deposited: |
22 Jan 2020 17:58 |
| Journal or Publication Title: |
Renewable Energy |
| Publisher: |
Elsevier |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| URI: |
|
| Use Licence: |
This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available
here |
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