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

dc.contributor.authorPienaar, Johan
dc.contributor.authorBrent, Alan Colin
dc.date.accessioned2012-02-16T14:35:40Z
dc.date.available2012-02-16T14:35:40Z
dc.date.issued2012-03
dc.description.abstractFarming 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.en_US
dc.description.urihttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/reneneen_US
dc.identifier.citationPienaar, 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.en_US
dc.identifier.issn0960-1481 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1879-0682 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1016/j.renene.2011.08.048
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/18131
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherElsevieren_US
dc.rights© 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.en_US
dc.subjectBioenergyen_US
dc.subjectBiofuelen_US
dc.subjectBiodieselen_US
dc.subjectFinancial modelen_US
dc.subjectEconomic feasibilityen_US
dc.subjectFarmingen_US
dc.subjectAfricaen_US
dc.titleA model for evaluating the economic feasibility of small-scale biodiesel production systems for on-farm fuel usageen_US
dc.typePostprint Articleen_US

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