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Background: This paper aims to evaluate the sustainability of biodiesel, a renewable fuel used as a blending component in diesel fuel. This study describes the current situation in Romania where the European Union (EU) settlement regarding the blending ratio of biodiesel and compliance with environmental protection specifications are applied. The evaluation covers the whole biodiesel value chain, from rapeseed production through biodiesel synthesis and combustion.Results: Our evaluation process takes into account three elements of sustainability: economic, environmental, and social. The overall result of this research is that, despite Romania’s high potential for biodiesel production and use, the sustainability of biodiesel is low as a result of the Romania’s government strategy, combined with biodiesel prices on the international market and the interests of Romanian refinery owners.Conclusions: Our prediction is that the current situation will remain over the next decade, owing to economic factors such as the decline in rapeseed crops, a key raw material for biodiesel manufacturing, and the higher cost of biodiesel produced in Romania. Another factor could be Romania's implementation of EU regulations aimed at replacing diesel engines with electric ones. If this decision is implemented, diesel fuel and, implicitly, biodiesel will be phased out of the vehicle fuel market. |
