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EUBCE 2026 - Adriano ENSINAS - Life Cycle Assessment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel from Macaúba Cultivation on Degraded Pastures

Life Cycle Assessment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel from Macaúba Cultivation on Degraded Pastures

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Biofuels and GHG implications

Life Cycle Assessment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel from Macaúba Cultivation on Degraded Pastures

Short Introductive summary

The decarbonization of aviation, responsible for about 2% of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions, remains a major challenge in the energy transition. In this context, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) from energy crops represent a promising alternative to fossil-based Jet A-1. This study quantifies and compares the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of SAF produced from macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata) pulp oil in Brazil relative to conventional jet fuel, considering six technological scenarios. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) followed ISO 14040 and 14044 standards using SimaPro software. The functional unit was 1 ton of SAF consumed, with system boundaries defined as cradle-to-grave and impact assessment based on the ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) method. Emissions ranged from 1,380 to 374 kg CO2-eq per ton of fuel, corresponding to reductions of 64% to 90% compared to fossil jet fuel. The results highlight the potential of macaúba-based SAF to mitigate GHG emissions in aviation and support global decarbonization goals.

Presenter

Moderator portrait

Adriano ENSINAS

Federal University of Lavras, Engineering Dpt., BRAZIL

Presenter's biography

Associate Professor at UFLA with degrees from UNICAMP. He has conducted research in Spain and Switzerland (EPFL), taught at UFABC, and collaborates internationally. CNPq researcher since 2016, with numerous publications in high-impact journals.

Biographies and Short introductive summaries are supplied directly by presenters and are published here unedited


Co-authors:

A. Ensinas, Federal University of Lavras, BRAZIL
J.V. Oliveira, Federal University of Lavras, BRAZIL
T. Ribeiro, Federal University of Lavras, BRAZIL
M. Leme, Federal University of Lavras, BRAZIL

Session reference: 2CV.10.11