The Estimation of CO2 Emissions Avoided through the Use of Biodiesel in the Brazilian Road System

Abstract

For several years, the use of oil to move vehicles, generate energy and other activities necessary for social life, made the world quite dependent on this input. However, this non-renewable source of energy is becoming increasingly scarce, while the demand for it grows periodically. Various researches have been carried out in order to search for alternative sources of fuels, which preferentially reduce the aggressions to the environment, provided by fossil fuels. Among these alternative fuels, biodiesel stands out, a fuel obtained through the process of transesterification of vegetable oils or animal fats, which has become a potential substitute for petroleum diesel. Among the advantages of using this fuel, the following stand out: being renewable, reducing the country's dependence on oil, in addition to having lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions than petrodiesel. Among these gases, CO₂ stands out, which contributes to the warming of the planet and which will be the target of this study. From the calculations carried out taking into account the consumption of petrodiesel in Brazil, it is intended to quantify the emissions from its use by 2025 and in parallel to calculate the emissions avoided with the use of methyl soy biodiesel in the percentages established by the Brazilian Government in same period.