#South Korea #Biodiesel #Life Cycle Assessment #Chonnam University #Gwangju

Chonnam National University’s Innovative Research on Biodiesel Life Cycle Sustainability

In the quest to combat climate change and limit global warming to within 1.5 °C, the importance of scaling up renewable energy production cannot be overstated. Among various alternatives, biodiesel stands out as a promising solution, particularly for the transportation sector, due to its compatibility with existing diesel infrastructure and the relative ease of implementation. However, the sustainability of biodiesel can greatly differ based on the feedstock employed and the production methods adopted, making it essential for policymakers and stakeholders to conduct comprehensive life-cycle assessments (LCAs).

Recent research spearheaded by Professor Boreum Lee and Mr. Sanghyuk Koh from the Department of Environment and Energy Engineering at Chonnam National University, South Korea, aims to fill a significant gap in existing assessments of biodiesel pathways. The research was made publicly available online on July 1, 2026, and subsequently published in Volume 422 of Applied Energy on November 1, 2026. The study provides a multi-dimensional framework based on the GREET model, examining the life cycle sustainability of five distinct biodiesel feedstock types, contributing valuable insights for biofuel producers.

Methodology

The researchers analyzed three plant-derived feedstocks—soy oil, carinata oil, and palm oil—alongside two waste-derived feedstocks—used cooking oil and beef tallow. To ensure a thorough analysis of emissions, a Well-to-Tank approach was implemented, focusing on the entire life cycle of biodiesel production. This was articulated into three scopes:
1. Scope 1 includes direct emissions resulting from biodiesel production.
2. Scope 2 accounts for indirect emissions connected with energy consumption.
3. Scope 3 incorporates emissions arising from significant upstream and downstream processes.

Findings

The findings were revealing. Waste-derived feedstocks consistently exhibited lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to their plant-based counterparts, primarily due to the absence of emissions linked to cultivation and land use. Among the plant-based options, carinata oil emerged as the most favorable, with significantly lower emissions attributed to its avoidance of indirect land use change impacts.

The dominant contributors to GHG emissions for plant-based feedstocks were largely attributable to Scope 3 farming processes, while for waste-derived varieties, both Scope 1 and the refining stage of Scope 3 were pivotal.

Professor Lee emphasized the potential of waste-derived pathways when synergistically combined with renewable energy sources in processing, suggesting that these pathways could even realize net-negative emissions. This implies they could extract more carbon from the atmosphere than they produce, with reductions ranging from 346% to 352% compared to their conventional production models.

Additionally, the team employed Monte Carlo simulation analysis to assess uncertainties, discovering that plant-based pathways exhibited broader emission ranges, whereas waste-derived feedstocks showed more defined emission distributions.

Crucially, their analysis revealed the best-case scenarios for GHG mitigation indicated potential emission reductions between 66% and 352%, with waste-derived feedstocks proving to have the greatest capacity for mitigation, demonstrating the ability to achieve net-negative GHG emissions through the implementation of renewable energy in the rendering and refining stages.

Implications

The research proposes a feedstock-specific and region-appropriate analytical framework, enabling policymakers to implement more intelligent strategies while promoting the broader biofuel industry, including aviation and maritime fuels. Ultimately, this study not only contributes to the ongoing discourse surrounding renewable energy but also lays the groundwork for more sustainable biodiesel production practices moving forward.

As the world seeks to navigate the complex challenges posed by climate change, studies such as these from Chonnam National University play a pivotal role in steering the industry toward a more sustainable future.

Reference

• - Koh, S., Choe, S., Kim, S., Kim, D., Lee, B. (2026). Decarbonizing biodiesel supply chains: a GREET-based life cycle assessment with Scope 1–3 emissions and best-case mitigation. Applied Energy, 422, 128326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2026.128326