Sustainability tensions and opportunities for aviation biofuel production in Brazil

Mar Palmeros Parada, Wim H. van der Putten, Luuk A.M. van der Wielen, Patricia Osseweijer, Mark van Loosdrecht, Farahnaz Pashaei Kamali, John A. Posada

Research output: Chapter in book/volumeChapterScientificpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)
61 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Aviation biofuels are promising to reduce carbon emissions in the aviation sector. However, emerging concerns over biofuels indicate a need for sustainability analyses that take into consideration the context around biofuel production. Here, we present a novel ex-ante sustainability analysis of production alternatives for aviation biofuel in Southeast Brazil. Considering local stakeholders’ concerns, the analysis is focused on climate change, commercial acceptability, efficiency, energy security, investment security, profitability, social development, and soil sustainability. By identifying tensions between production alternatives and these sustainability aspects, we discuss opportunities for further developments, such as sugarcane ethanol-to-jet production in the short term, and in-house production of hydrogen and power with renewable energy. Additionally, producer–operator partnerships and opening the decision-making to stakeholder participation are suggested to stimulate social cohesion, and reconcile diverging interests with biobased production. Analyzing sustainability with consideration of the local context can contribute to identify opportunities for more sustainable decarbonization alternatives.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSustainable Alternatives for Aviation Fuels
PublisherElsevier
Chapter10
Pages237-262
Number of pages26
ISBN (Electronic)9780323857154
ISBN (Print)9780323857154
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Publication series

NameSustainable Alternatives for Aviation Fuels

Keywords

  • Biofuels
  • Ethanol-to-jet
  • Integral sustainability assessment
  • Life cycle assessment
  • Renewable jet fuel
  • Sustainable aviation fuel

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