Title: Bio FT-diesel in the European maritime sector: a technical economic valuation of straw crops potential

Authors: Vinicius Andrade dos Santos; Antonio A.T.G. Portugal; Patrícia Pereira da Silva; Luis M.V. Serrano

Addresses: MIT-Portugal – The Energy for Sustainability Initiative (EFS), Sustainable Energy Systems, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3030-194 Coimbra, Portugal; Chemical Process Engineering and Forest Products Research Centre CIEPQPF), Chemical Engineering Department, University of Coimbra, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal ' Deceased; formerly of: University of Coimbra, Portugal ' Centre for Business and Economic Research (CeBER), Faculty of Economics of the University of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, Av Dias da Silva, 165 3004-512 Coimbra, Portugal; INESC-Coimbra and Energy for Sustainability Initiative Pólo II, 3030-290 Coimbra, Portugal ' School of Technology and Management, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rua Luís Reis Santos, Pólo II, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal

Abstract: The present study has as an objective on exploring the lignocellulosic residues from European agriculture as an energy source for the production of bio Fischer-Tropsch diesel (bio FT-diesel) as a low carbon alternative to be used in the European maritime sector, based on a techno-economic methodology of residue collection combined with the production yield of FT-Diesel available on literature. It permitted us to find a potential production of 8.5 million tons (Mton) of biofuel across 11 countries, and the reduction of 26 Mton of CO₂ annually. The study contributes to the understanding that the fuel could be only cost-competitive if the crude oil reaches values between 10.45-16.91 €/GJ. In addition, the low technology status of bio FT-diesel production and the lack of biofuel standards to the maritime sector are limitations that can only be addressed with effective regulations added to research and development from collection to production and consumption.

Keywords: maritime transportation; agriculture biomass; Fischer-Tropsch diesel; decarbonisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2022.126088

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2022 Vol.21 No.4, pp.427 - 455

Received: 25 Aug 2020
Accepted: 15 Feb 2021
Published online: 11 Oct 2022 *

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