IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v7y2017i4p32-d94382.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Global Biofuels at the Crossroads: An Overview of Technical, Policy, and Investment Complexities in the Sustainability of Biofuel Development

Author

Listed:
  • Kathleen Araújo

    (Department of Technology and Society, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
    Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA)

  • Devinder Mahajan

    (Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center, and Materials Science and Chemical Engineering Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA)

  • Ryan Kerr

    (Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center, and Materials Science and Chemical Engineering Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA)

  • Marcelo da Silva

    (Faculdade Anhanguera-Pitágoras, Votorantim, São Paulo 18110-008, Brasil)

Abstract

Biofuels have the potential to alter the transport and agricultural sectors of decarbonizing societies. Yet, the sustainability of these fuels has been questioned in recent years in connection with food versus fuel trade-offs, carbon accounting, and land use. Recognizing the complicated playing field for current decision-makers, we examine the technical attributes, policy, and global investment activity for biofuels (primarily liquids). Differences in feedstock and fuel types are considered, in addition to policy approaches of major producer countries. Issues with recent, policy-driven trade developments are highlighted to emphasize how systemic complexities associated with sustainability must also be managed. We conclude with near-term areas to watch.

Suggested Citation

  • Kathleen Araújo & Devinder Mahajan & Ryan Kerr & Marcelo da Silva, 2017. "Global Biofuels at the Crossroads: An Overview of Technical, Policy, and Investment Complexities in the Sustainability of Biofuel Development," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-22, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:7:y:2017:i:4:p:32-:d:94382
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/7/4/32/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/7/4/32/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sumathi, S. & Chai, S.P. & Mohamed, A.R., 2008. "Utilization of oil palm as a source of renewable energy in Malaysia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(9), pages 2404-2421, December.
    2. Harry Gorter & Dusan Drabik & David R. Just, 2015. "The Economics of Biofuel Policies," Palgrave Studies in Agricultural Economics and Food Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-137-41485-4, June.
    3. Kumar, G. & Bakonyi, P. & Periyasamy, S. & Kim, S.H. & Nemestóthy, N. & Bélafi-Bakó, K., 2015. "Lignocellulose biohydrogen: Practical challenges and recent progress," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 728-737.
    4. Gbadebo Oladosu & Siwa Msangi, 2013. "Biofuel-Food Market Interactions: A Review of Modeling Approaches and Findings," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-19, February.
    5. Paul B. Thompson, 2012. "The Agricultural Ethics of Biofuels: The Food vs. Fuel Debate," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 2(4), pages 1-20, November.
    6. Ji, Xi & Long, Xianling, 2016. "A review of the ecological and socioeconomic effects of biofuel and energy policy recommendations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 41-52.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Chamkalani, A. & Zendehboudi, S. & Rezaei, N. & Hawboldt, K., 2020. "A critical review on life cycle analysis of algae biodiesel: current challenges and future prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    2. Ram N. Acharya & Rafael Perez-Pena, 2020. "Role of Comparative Advantage in Biofuel Policy Adoption in Latin America," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-13, February.
    3. Stanisław Bielski & Renata Marks-Bielska & Paweł Wiśniewski, 2022. "Investigation of Energy and Economic Balance and GHG Emissions in the Production of Different Cultivars of Buckwheat ( Fagopyrum esculentum Moench): A Case Study in Northeastern Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-24, December.
    4. Killol, Abhijeet & Reddy, Niklesh & Paruvada, Santosh & Murugan, S., 2019. "Experimental studies of a diesel engine run on biodiesel n-butanol blends," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 687-700.
    5. Moritz Von Cossel & Iris Lewandowski & Berien Elbersen & Igor Staritsky & Michiel Van Eupen & Yasir Iqbal & Stefan Mantel & Danilo Scordia & Giorgio Testa & Salvatore Luciano Cosentino & Oksana Maliar, 2019. "Marginal Agricultural Land Low-Input Systems for Biomass Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-25, August.
    6. Yan, Dan & Liu, Litao & Li, Jinkai & Wu, Jiaqian & Qin, Wei & Werners, Saskia E., 2021. "Are the planning targets of liquid biofuel development achievable in China under climate change?," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    7. Moritz von Cossel & Yasir Iqbal & Iris Lewandowski, 2019. "Improving the Ecological Performance of Miscanthus ( Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deuter) through Intercropping with Woad ( Isatis tinctoria L.) and Yellow Melilot ( Melilotus officinalis L.)," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-12, September.
    8. van Tol, M.C.M. & Moncada, J.A. & Lukszo, Z. & Weijnen, M., 2021. "Modelling the interaction between policies and international trade flows for liquid biofuels: an agent-based modelling approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    9. Tomasz Rokicki & Aleksandra Perkowska & Bogdan Klepacki & Piotr Bórawski & Aneta Bełdycka-Bórawska & Konrad Michalski, 2021. "Changes in Energy Consumption in Agriculture in the EU Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-21, March.
    10. Lin, Cherng-Yuan & Lu, Cherie, 2021. "Development perspectives of promising lignocellulose feedstocks for production of advanced generation biofuels: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    11. Roozbeh Feiz & Jonas Ammenberg & Annika Björn & Yufang Guo & Magnus Karlsson & Yonghui Liu & Yuxian Liu & Laura Shizue Moriga Masuda & Alex Enrich-Prast & Harald Rohracher & Kristina Trygg & Sepehr Sh, 2019. "Biogas Potential for Improved Sustainability in Guangzhou, China—A Study Focusing on Food Waste on Xiaoguwei Island," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-25, March.
    12. Kiefer, Katharina & Kremer, Jasper & Zeitner, Philipp & Winkler, Bastian & Wagner, Moritz & von Cossel, Moritz, 2023. "Monetizing ecosystem services of perennial wild plant mixtures for bioenergy," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    13. Usmani, Rahil Akhtar, 2020. "Potential for energy and biofuel from biomass in India," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 921-930.
    14. Shurooq T. Al-Humairi & Jonathan G. M. Lee & Musa Salihu & Adam P. Harvey, 2022. "Biodiesel Production through Acid Catalyst In Situ Reactive Extraction of Chlorella vulgaris Foamate," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-20, June.
    15. Jocelyn Alejandra Cortez-Núñez & María Eugenia Gutiérrez-Castillo & Violeta Y. Mena-Cervantes & Ángel Refugio Terán-Cuevas & Luis Raúl Tovar-Gálvez & Juan Velasco, 2020. "A GIS Approach Land Suitability and Availability Analysis of Jatropha Curcas L. Growth in Mexico as a Potential Source for Biodiesel Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-23, November.
    16. Yi Jie Tseng & Daniel Scott, 2018. "A Simple, Membrane-Free, Direct Glycerol Fuel Cell Utilizing a Precious Metal-Free Cathode and Gold-Plated Anode Surfaces," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-14, August.

    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. Elena Claire Ricci & Massimo Peri & Lucia Baldi, 2019. "The Effects of Agricultural Price Instability on Vertical Price Transmission: A Study of the Wheat Chain in Italy," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Karel Janda & Ladislav Kristoufek, 2019. "The relationship between fuel and food prices: Methods, outcomes, and lessons for commodity price risk management," CAMA Working Papers 2019-20, Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis, Crawford School of Public Policy, The Australian National University.
    3. Wongwuttanasatian, Tanakorn & Jookjantra, Kittichai, 2020. "Effect of dual-frequency pulsed ultrasonic excitation and catalyst size for biodiesel production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 1220-1226.
    4. Scholz, Marco & Melin, Thomas & Wessling, Matthias, 2013. "Transforming biogas into biomethane using membrane technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 199-212.
    5. Norhisam Misron & Suhairi Rizuan & Aravind Vaithilingam & Nashiren Farzilah Mailah & Hanamoto Tsuyoshi & Yamada Hiroaki & Shirai Yoshihito, 2011. "Performance Improvement of a Portable Electric Generator Using an Optimized Bio-Fuel Ratio in a Single Cylinder Two-Stroke Engine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 4(11), pages 1-13, November.
    6. Johan Swinnen & Alessandro Olper & Senne Vandevelde, 2021. "From unfair prices to unfair trading practices: Political economy, value chains and 21st century agri‐food policy," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 52(5), pages 771-788, September.
    7. Yang, Guang & Wang, Jianlong, 2018. "Various additives for improving dark fermentative hydrogen production: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 130-146.
    8. Frazer Musonda & Markus Millinger & Daniela Thrän, 2020. "Greenhouse Gas Abatement Potentials and Economics of Selected Biochemicals in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-19, March.
    9. Khan, Mohd Atiqueuzzaman & Ngo, Huu Hao & Guo, Wenshan & Liu, Yiwen & Zhang, Xinbo & Guo, Jianbo & Chang, Soon Woong & Nguyen, Dinh Duc & Wang, Jie, 2018. "Biohydrogen production from anaerobic digestion and its potential as renewable energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PB), pages 754-768.
    10. Elhambakhsh, Abbas & Van Duc Long, Nguyen & Lamichhane, Pradeep & Hessel, Volker, 2023. "Recent progress and future directions in plasma-assisted biomass conversion to hydrogen," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    11. Johanna Choumert & Pascale Combes Motel & Charlain Guegang Djimeli, 2017. "The biofuel-development nexus: A meta-analysis," CERDI Working papers halshs-01512678, HAL.
    12. Łukajtis, Rafał & Hołowacz, Iwona & Kucharska, Karolina & Glinka, Marta & Rybarczyk, Piotr & Przyjazny, Andrzej & Kamiński, Marian, 2018. "Hydrogen production from biomass using dark fermentation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 665-694.
    13. Tse, H. & Leung, C.W. & Cheung, C.S., 2015. "Investigation on the combustion characteristics and particulate emissions from a diesel engine fueled with diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blends," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 343-350.
    14. Manolis, E.N. & Zagas, T.D. & Karetsos, G.K. & Poravou, C.A., 2019. "Ecological restrictions in forest biomass extraction for a sustainable renewable energy production," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 290-297.
    15. Ondřej Filip & Karel Janda & Ladislav Krištoufek, 2018. "Ceny biopaliv a souvisejících komodit: analýza s použitím metod minimální kostry grafu a hierarchických stromů [Prices of Biofuels and Related Commodities: an Analysis Using Methods of Minimum Span," Politická ekonomie, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2018(2), pages 218-239.
    16. Cheteni, Priviledge, 2017. "Sustainability development: Biofuels in agriculture," MPRA Paper 80969, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 24 Jun 2017.
    17. Choumert Nkolo, Johanna & Combes Motel, Pascale & Guegang Djimeli, Charlain, 2018. "Income-generating Effects of Biofuel Policies: A Meta-analysis of the CGE Literature," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 230-242.
    18. Bakonyi, Péter & Buitrón, Germán & Valdez-Vazquez, Idania & Nemestóthy, Nándor & Bélafi-Bakó, Katalin, 2017. "A novel gas separation integrated membrane bioreactor to evaluate the impact of self-generated biogas recycling on continuous hydrogen fermentation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 813-823.
    19. Monia El Akkari & Nosra Ben Fradj & Benoit Gabrielle & Sylvestre Njakou Djomo, 2023. "Spatially-explicit environmental assessment of bioethanol from miscanthus and switchgrass in France [Évaluation environnementale spatialement explicite du bioéthanol produit à partir de miscanthus ," Post-Print hal-04369771, HAL.
    20. Azim Baibagyssov & Niels Thevs & Sabir Nurtazin & Rainer Waldhardt & Volker Beckmann & Ruslan Salmurzauly, 2020. "Biomass Resources of Phragmites australis in Kazakhstan: Historical Developments, Utilization, and Prospects," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-25, June.

    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:jagris:v:7:y:2017:i:4:p:32-:d:94382. 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.