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Biofuels for Maritime Transportation: A Spatial, Techno-Economic, and Logistic Analysis in Brazil, Europe, South Africa, and the USA

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  • Francielle Carvalho

    (Centro de Tecnologia, Energy Planning Program, Graduate School of Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-594, Brazil)

  • Joana Portugal-Pereira

    (Centro de Tecnologia, Energy Planning Program, Graduate School of Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-594, Brazil)

  • Martin Junginger

    (Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Alexandre Szklo

    (Centro de Tecnologia, Energy Planning Program, Graduate School of Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-594, Brazil)

Abstract

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/tCO 2 . 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Francielle Carvalho & Joana Portugal-Pereira & Martin Junginger & Alexandre Szklo, 2021. "Biofuels for Maritime Transportation: A Spatial, Techno-Economic, and Logistic Analysis in Brazil, Europe, South Africa, and the USA," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-27, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:16:p:4980-:d:614063
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    1. Nepomuceno de Oliveira, Maurício Aguilar & Szklo, Alexandre & Castelo Branco, David Alves, 2022. "Implementation of Maritime Transport Mitigation Measures according to their marginal abatement costs and their mitigation potentials," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    2. Vinicius Andrade dos Santos & Patrícia Pereira da Silva & Luís Manuel Ventura Serrano, 2022. "The Maritime Sector and Its Problematic Decarbonization: A Systematic Review of the Contribution of Alternative Fuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-30, May.
    3. Francisco Rosillo-Calle, 2022. "New Insights into Biomass and Biofuels in Rapidly Changing Energy Scenario," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-5, September.
    4. Alejandro Ortega & Konstantinos Gkoumas & Anastasios Tsakalidis & Ferenc Pekár, 2021. "Low-Emission Alternative Energy for Transport in the EU: State of Play of Research and Innovation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-22, November.

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