A model for evaluating the economic feasibility of small-scale biodiesel production systems for on-farm fuel usage

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Authors

Pienaar, Johan
Brent, Alan Colin

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Elsevier

Abstract

Farming operations in Africa have, in general, not adopted small-scale biodiesel production technology well for on-farm fuel usage. This is mainly due to the lack of an acceptable method to assess the economic feasibility of constructing small-scale biodiesel production facilities, and the impact of such operations on existing farming production processes. The research study summarised in this paper subsequently set out to develop a model, termed the Biodiesel Production System Optimisation Model (BPSOM), which predicts the cost of producing biodiesel on a smallscale, and optimises on-farm production processes to maximise profits. The model was validated using a South African case study to evaluate the predicted cost of biodiesel per litre produced, and the economic impact of a small-scale facility on the production profits of a farm. A proxy indicator, profit per hectare cultivated land, is introduced to measure the impact. BPSOM predicts a positive profit increase of 33% for the specific farm case study, which proves the economic potential of small-scale biodiesel production facilities for fuel usage at farm level in Africa.

Description

Keywords

Bioenergy, Biofuel, Biodiesel, Financial model, Economic feasibility, Farming, Africa

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Pienaar, J & Brent, AC 2012, 'Model for evaluating the economic feasibility of small-scale biodiesel production systems for on-farm fuel usage', Renewable Energy, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 483-489.