A model for evaluating the economic feasibility of small-scale biodiesel production systems for on-farm fuel usage
dc.contributor.author | Pienaar, Johan | |
dc.contributor.author | Brent, Alan Colin | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2012-02-16T14:35:40Z | |
dc.date.available | 2012-02-16T14:35:40Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2012-03 | |
dc.description.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. | en_US |
dc.description.uri | http://www.elsevier.com/locate/renene | en_US |
dc.identifier.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. | en_US |
dc.identifier.issn | 0960-1481 (print) | |
dc.identifier.issn | 1879-0682 (online) | |
dc.identifier.other | 10.1016/j.renene.2011.08.048 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/18131 | |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.publisher | Elsevier | en_US |
dc.rights | © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. | en_US |
dc.subject | Bioenergy | en_US |
dc.subject | Biofuel | en_US |
dc.subject | Biodiesel | en_US |
dc.subject | Financial model | en_US |
dc.subject | Economic feasibility | en_US |
dc.subject | Farming | en_US |
dc.subject | Africa | en_US |
dc.title | A model for evaluating the economic feasibility of small-scale biodiesel production systems for on-farm fuel usage | en_US |
dc.type | Postprint Article | en_US |