Abstract
The seeds of Jatropha curcas L. (JCL) can be used to extract oil for direct blending with fossil diesel or be further processed into JCL methyl ester (JME) through transesterification reaction. This study assesses the economic, environmental and energy performance of the production of the two end products using a life cycle analysis method. The results show that at the current level of technology and management, the production of JCL biodiesel is financially and economically unfeasible but that JCL biodiesel has excellent environmental and energy performance. If the seed yield can be improved to above 2.46 tonnes per hectare, it would be economically feasible to produce any of the two end products. Also, the value of carbon emission reduction can justify giving producers a subsidy.
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Wang, Z. (2015). A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Jatropha Biodiesel Production in China. In: James, D., Francisco, H. (eds) Cost-Benefit Studies of Natural Resource Management in Southeast Asia. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-393-4_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-393-4_3
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-287-392-7
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