Life cycle assessment of palm biodiesel production in Thailand: Impacts from modelling choices, co-product utilisation, improvement technologies, and land use change

Prapaspongsa, Trakarn; Musikavong, Charongpun; Gheewala, Shabbir H.

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.03.130

Cited by 42 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…On the other hand, owing to higher yield and lower farming inputs, soya bean biodiesel produced in Brazil, the USA and Argentina achieve more than 60% GHG savings relative to the fossil fuels [ 50 ]. Studies on palm [ 51 , 52 ], rapeseed [ 53 , 54 ] and sunflower [ 55 ] biodiesel have also found the significant effect on GHG emissions of different locations, farming practices and usage of fertilizers. In the case of palm oil, the emissions vary with the options for handling of methane emissions from the treatment of palm oil milling effluent [ 56 ].…”

Section: Environmental Impacts Of Biofuelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…MJ −1 [ 64 , 69 , 70 , 124 ]. On the other hand, studies on palm oil in Colombia and Thailand considered increase in the carbon stock due to LUC, assuming that the expansion of oil palm cultivation would occur in shrublands, savannahs, paddy fields and other agricultural lands [ 52 , 56 , 71 ]. In the case of sugarcane, molasses and soy, LUC emission reported in the literature varied from 30 to 200 g CO 2 eq.…”

Section: Environmental Impacts Of Biofuelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Environmental sustainability of biofuels: a review

2020

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Biofuels are being promoted as a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels as they could help to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the related climate change impact from transport. However, there are also concerns that their wider deployment could lead to unintended environmental consequences. Numerous life cycle assessment (LCA) studies have considered the climate change and other environmental impacts of biofuels. However, their findings are often conflicting, with a wide variation in the estimates. Thus, the aim of this paper is to review and analyse the latest available evidence to provide a greater clarity and understanding of the environmental impacts of different liquid biofuels. It is evident from the review that the outcomes of LCA studies are highly situational and dependent on many factors, including the type of feedstock, production routes, data variations and methodological choices. Despite this, the existing evidence suggests that, if no land-use change (LUC) is involved, first-generation biofuels can—on average—have lower GHG emissions than fossil fuels, but the reductions for most feedstocks are insufficient to meet the GHG savings required by the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED). However, second-generation biofuels have, in general, a greater potential to reduce the emissions, provided there is no LUC. Third-generation biofuels do not represent a feasible option at present state of development as their GHG emissions are higher than those from fossil fuels. As also discussed in the paper, several studies show that reductions in GHG emissions from biofuels are achieved at the expense of other impacts, such as acidification, eutrophication, water footprint and biodiversity loss. The paper also investigates the key methodological aspects and sources of uncertainty in the LCA of biofuels and provides recommendations to address these issues.

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Section: Environmental Impacts Of Biofuelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Environmental Impacts Of Biofuelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental sustainability of biofuels: a review

2020

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“…The regenerated catalyst achieved 66% conversion after the 5 th cycle successive 30 hr run in the reactor. The potential environmental impact of palm-based biodiesel production via life cycle assessments can vary greatly, depending on model choices (consequential and or attributional), coproduct utilisation, technology improvements, and land use change (direct and indirect) (Prapaspongsa et al, 2017).…”

Section: Biomass and Bioenergymentioning

confidence: 99%

OIL PALM ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE IN MALAYSIA AND R&D PROGRESS IN 2017 – Review Article

Kushairi¹

2018

JOPR

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Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) has emerged as a major economic crop feeding the world today. This article aims to capture the more recent progress made by the oil palm industry and to discuss the possible path research and development will take in the coming years. In 2017, palm oil and palm kernel oil production recorded close to one-third (75.17 million tonnes) of world total oils and fats production from a planted area of 19.04 million hectares, mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia. Malaysian palm oil alone fetched RM 46.12 billion export revenue from its India and European Union markets. The continuous growth of the industry is made possible through implementation of key strategies covering the whole process chain, from upstream to downstream. Intensified mechanisation, integrated pest and Ganoderma management, advanced breeding and biotechnology as well as good agricultural practices help boost oil palm yields for both plantations and smallholdings. In the palm oil milling sector, focus such as by-products valorisation, biogas (productivity, trapping and utilisation as a form of energy) and wastewater management, i.e. palm oil mill effluent for final discharge compliance ensures that the industry meets its sustainable goals. Palm oil is generally used for edible purpose, however about 20% goes into higher value non-food applications such as palm biodiesel.The beneficial nutritional aspects of palm oil are evident based on its positional distribution and fatty acids composition, while its quality enhanced via technology integration/mitigation and analytical elucidations.Facing strong competition from petrochemicals, palm-based oleochemicals are strategically aimed at producing value-added products for niche and new markets. It is apparent that synergising conventional and disruptive technologies at every level of the palm oil supply chain is desirable and essential to thrust the industry forward. As a commodity, palm oil has not only emerged as an important food source, but has proven to be effectively utilised for feed, fuels and chemicals, to name a few, in developing a sustainable and balanced circular economy.

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“…Several studies have assessed the energy impacts of palm oil-based biofuel, for example, Nutongkaew et al (2019), Prueksakorn et al (2010), Pleanjai and Gheewala (2009) Prueksakorn and Gheewala (2008) and Keson et al (2015) have focused specifically on resource potential assessment of palm oil-based biofuel production. Several research works have been carried out an analysis of palm oil-based biofuel production implications on the environment including Lecksiwilai and Gheewala (2020), Prapaspongsa et al (2017), Permpool et al (2016), Wibul et al (2012), Silalertruksa and Gheewala (2012) and Raghareutai et al (2010). A number of studies have focused on the technological advancement of biodiesel production processes including the works of Somnuk et al (2019) and Roschat et al (2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Palm Oil-based Biofuel Utilization Promotion Policy in the Thai Transport Sector

Wattana

Purathanung

Wattana

2022

EREM

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This paper aims to provide an analysis of the impacts of the promotion policy of palm oil-based biofuel utilization in the Thai transport sector for the period 2020–2037. For this purpose, three scenarios are developed to represent different proportions of palm oil-based biofuel blending implemented in Thailand and their impacts are analyzed through the application of the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) model. The analysis reveals that an increase in the proportion of palm oil-based biofuel in a diesel mix would provide several noticeable benefits, for example, help reducing diesel consumption, decreasing crude oil requirement, and mitigating emissions of CO2 and PM2.5 – a major source of current environmental health problems. In addition, increased proportion of palm oil-based biofuel in the diesel mix would contribute to a growing demand for oil palm production and a plantation area to meet an increase in palm oil-based biofuel production. A high demand for oil palm production and plantation land requirement could, however, be emerging challenges. In order to address these challenges, the effective strategies could include a plan for agricultural crop zoning, crop breeding, the efficiency enhancement of biofuel conversion technology, the reduction of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and the support from the government for research and development of second-generation biofuels. The analysis will be useful for Thai planners and policy makers to design policies to overcome the issues of energy and food security as well as climate change problems.

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Life cycle assessment of palm biodiesel production in Thailand: Impacts from modelling choices, co-product utilisation, improvement technologies, and land use change

Cited by 42 publications

References 28 publications

Environmental sustainability of biofuels: a review

Environmental sustainability of biofuels: a review

OIL PALM ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE IN MALAYSIA AND R&D PROGRESS IN 2017 – Review Article

Impacts of Palm Oil-based Biofuel Utilization Promotion Policy in the Thai Transport Sector

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