Comparison of Biogas and Bioethanol for Sweden Transportation Fleet

Biofuels were recently seen as a solution for the predicaments of our age; the “energy crisis” and the” climate change”. Today biofuels derived from food crops are a subject of debate for food hunger of the world’s poor and one of the main reasons of increased food prices. Latest studies also show that biofuels have no significant reduction in energy consumption and emissions. Today many attentions have been focused on biofuels extracted from biomass of different residual material such as agriculture residuals. Sweden produces biogas from different sources and also is one of the main users of Brazil’s bioethanol. In this report we aim to study two biofuel alternatives for Sweden transportation fleet; biogas from sugar beet residues in Sweden and imported bioethanol from sugarcanes from Brazil. The study is based on a life-cycle assessment (LCA) of the two mentioned biofuels. Three main units of agriculture, industrial production process and transportation is studied in the life cycle of the mentioned fuels. Based on energy inputs and emissions biogas from sugar beets in Sweden is a better alternative for Sweden transportation fleet. Bioethanol from Brazil is a crop-based fuel and highly energy consuming in the agricultural operations and industrial production process. Biogas fuel production requires increase in production capacity and technological developments.

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