Biofuels for Transportation

Aim

Upon completion of the course the students will be able to:

• Describe the production processes of established and emerging biofuels at industrial scales, including feedstock selection, waste management, and byproduct utilization.
• Explain how infrastructures and contextual factors, such as geography, regulatory frameworks, energy systems, and actors’ relationships, impact biofuels production and use.
• Propose strategies for improving resource efficiency in biofuel systems, including the integration of material and energy flows, and collaboration among actors and stakeholders.
• Analyse the sustainability of biofuels, including their life-cycle environmental impact, economic performance, societal impact, and key trade-offs.

Content

Through this course students will learn about the characteristics of and challenges for the production and use of biofuels. The course will review the raw materials, production processes, application in vehicles, environmental impacts and the perspectives of different actors on the sustainability of biofuels. The course will consist of many aspects concerning biofuels production, development, and use. The content is diverse and relies on the theoretical and practical experience of experts from both the academia and the industry. Through lectures, seminars, study visits, and practical assignments students will learn more about:

• Feedstocks for biofuel production
• Production processes for biofuels
• Vehicles and infrastructural requirements for biofuels
• Environmental, economic and social aspects related to biofuel production and use
• Drivers and conditions for biofuel development and markets