All publications

Sustainability Assessment of a Biorefinery Complex in Thailand

Shabbir H. Gheewala, Sébastien Bonnet, Kritana Prueksakorn, Pariyapat Nilsalab

Sustainability · 2011

In this paper, a biorefinery complex in Thailand was assessed vis-à-vis sustainability. The complex studied includes plantations of sugarcane and a biorefinery system composed of several units including, a sugar mill, power plant, ethanol factory and fertilizer plant. The assessment aimed at evaluating the environmental and socio-economic implications relating to molasses-based ethanol production and use, and maximized utilization of the biomass materials produced as part of the biorefinery complex. Global warming potential, human development index and total value added are the three indicators that were selected to perform the assessment. The results obtained revealed that the maximization of biomass utilization at the level of the biorefinery complex provide greenhouse gases emissions reduction benefits, enhanced living conditions for sugarcane farmers and employees of the biorefinery, and economic benefits, particularly with regard to profit and income generation. These results could serve as a first step to further improve and design indicators for sustainability assessment of biomass utilization.

Energy analysis of Jatropha plantation systems for biodiesel production in Thailand

Kritana Prueksakorn, Shabbir H. Gheewala, Pomthong Malakul, Sébastien Bonnet

Energy Sustainable Development/Energy for sustainable development · 2010

Exergy analysis: Another imperative aspect for life cycle assessment on biomass energy system

Kritana Prueksakorn, Gheewala Shabbir, 定道 有頂, 工藤 祐揮

Medical Entomology and Zoology · 2010

Full Chain Energy Analysis of Biodiesel from Jatropha curcas L. in Thailand

Kritana Prueksakorn, Shabbir H. Gheewala

Environmental Science & Technology · 2008

Biodiesel production from Jatropha curcas Linnaeus (JCL) has been considered for partial substitution of diesel fuel for transportation in Thailand. The aim of this study is to investigate the energy consumption for long-term investment (20 years) of Jatropha Methyl Ester (JME) production in Thailand using a life cycle approach. Apart from the average result, two scenarios--best and worst case--are set up to illustrate the range of results due to the variety of management practices. The main contributors to the energy use are JCL cultivation, transesterification, and transportation process. The net energy gain (NEG) and net energy ratio (NER) of biodiesel and coproducts from the life cycle of JCL are 4720 GJ/ha and 6.03, respectively. Even if only biodiesel is considered without coproducts, the NER is 1.42, still higher than 1. The study will support decision makers in the energy policy sector to make informed decisions vis-a-vis promotion of JCL plantations for biodiesel.

Energy and Greenhouse Gas Implications of Biodiesel Production from Jatropha curcas L.

Kritana Prueksakorn, Shabbir H. Gheewala

2006

Biodiesel production from Jatropha is one of the options being considered for partially substituting diesel fuel for transportation in Thailand. However, several issues such as food versus energy, energy and environmental benefits need to be addressed. Biodiesel from Jatropha meets the requirement for the first consideration because it is inedible and can be grown in waste land. However, the energy and environmental issues need further consideration. This study aims to investigate the energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Jatropha Methyl Ester (JME) production in Thailand using a life cycle approach. The selected study site for cultivation and oil extraction phase is Faculty of Agriculture, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Kasetsart University where Jatropha is grown as an annual crop. Functional unit (FU) of this LCA study is 1 GJ equivalent of liquid fuel. Per FU, energy consumption for producing biodiesel is 0.88 GJ. The main contributors to the energy use are transesterification, irrigation, and fertilization process contributing approximately 40%, 23% and 22% respectively. The dominant global warming potential came from the production-use of fertilizer and irrigation process, about 31% and 26% respectively. Main co-products from the whole process are Jatropha residues which can be used for energy purposes and have a calorific content of about 17.88 GJ. GHG emissions from the production phase of JME are allocated based on energy content of the co-products. Compared to the production and use of diesel, GHG emissions from JME are about 77% lower.