Abstract
This paper discusses the assessment of various biofuel crop production alternatives on the island of Fuerteventura using Jatropha crops. It adopts an integrated approach by carrying out a multi-criteria assessment with the support of participatory techniques and geographical information systems. Sixteen production alternatives were analyzed for growing Jatropha, and the results suggest that the best alternative involves using typical torrifluvent soils irrigated with recycled urban wastewater using surface drip irrigation covering 100% evapotranspiration. It was also determined that a potential area of 2546 ha could be used for cultivation within a radius of 10 km from a wastewater treatment plant. This level of production would supply 27.56% of the biofuel needs of Fuerteventura, thereby contributing to the 2020 target of the European Commission regarding biofuels for land transport.
Highlights
The fuel used in the transport sector and in road transport represents approximately a third of the total energy consumption in Europe [1,2]. This consumption has special relevance given the requirement imposed by the European Directive regarding the use of energy from renewable sources [3], with reference to the 2020 objectives(article 16): “a mandatory 10% minimum target to be achieved by all Member States for the share of biofuels in transport petrol and diesel consumption by 2020”
This is mainly due to the fact that the transport sector is responsible for 21% of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GGE), according to the European Commission’s biofuels strategy [4]
For instance Spain’s Royal Decree 459/2011 established objectives of 6.1%, 6.5%, and 7.0% for biofuels for 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively. It will be extremely difficult for Spain to achieve the 20% target by 2020 imposed by the European Directive given that the current percentage of biofuel use is only 5%, unless studies like the one presented here on the feasibility and implantation of biofuels are encouraged
Summary
The fuel used in the transport sector and in road transport represents approximately a third of the total energy consumption in Europe [1,2]. Biofuels have emerged as one of the most strategically sustainable fuel sources and are considered an important step in limiting greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, and finding new energy resources [5] with the potential to create new industry, raise farmer incomes, and restore degraded lands, all while promoting independence from oil imports and contributing to climate change mitigation [6]. Some authors [36] suggest that Jatropha cultivation favors resource-rich farmers, while possibly reinforcing the existing marginalization of small farmers from fieldwork on Jatropha plantations in Tamil Nadu (India); further research is required to improve Jatropha crop productivity and commercial viability This is even more critical for feedstocks that are intended for use on marginal lands in the developing world [6]. The integrated assessment approach applied in this study is a holistic process in which knowledge about ecosystems, people, and public policies are linked with the aim of developing the tools and information necessary to improve decision-making processes [37]
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