Environmental footprint evaluation of Jatropha biodiesel production and utilization in Ethiopia: a comprehensive well-to-wheel life cycle analysis

Abstract

In Ethiopia, a Life Cycle Analysis of Jatropha-based biodiesel was conducted using the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation model to assess energy consumption, efficiency, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the well-to-tank (WTT) and well-to-wheel stages. The inventory analysis involved field surveys and scenarios to evaluate energy savings, emission reductions, and air pollutants in biodiesel-diesel blends. In the WTT analysis, the energy consumption for producing 1 MJ of Jatropha-based biodiesel was found to be 0.43 MJ under rain-fed and 0.68 MJ under irrigated conditions. The net energy value was positive, and the net energy ratio was higher compared to that in other countries. The results show that GHG emissions at 19.8 g CO2 eq/MJ during the WTT stage can reduce environmental impacts by up to 45–87% depending on the type of irrigation used. When examining the global warming potential, it was found that the cultivation of Jatropha accounted for the highest share of GHG at 57.58%, followed by the biodiesel production process at 23.88%. On the other hand, vehicles employing B20 blend could replace 14.78% of fossil energy use and reduce 13.95% of GHG emissions per km, compared to pure diesel vehicle.

Keywords:

• Jatropha biodiesel
• GHG emission
• Life cycle assessment
• Well-to-tank
• Well-to-wheel

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) for funding this research under the framework of the WESA-ITT project. Thanks are also due to the German Development Bank (KfW) for their support in the form of a scholarship to the corresponding author of this article through ExiST project.

Author contributions

Y.A., performed the data collection and literature review; R.B., V.R., and Y.A. developed the methodology, and performed the data analysis and simulation models; Y.A. and R.B. contributed to writing the paper; R.B. and V.R. reviewed and edited the manuscript; R.B., as a main supervisor, followed up all study steps and gave helpful advice. All authors discussed the results, and read and approved the manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data presented in this manuscript are available on request from the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

Germen Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) through its Project Management Agency (Pt-DLR) under the framework of WESA-ITT Project with grant No 01DG16010B, and Germen Development Bank (KfW) under ExiST Project with grant No. 51235 funded this research.