{"query_echo":{"q":"","filters":{"analysis_type":["network optimisation"]},"warnings":[{"code":"facet_value_not_in_vocabulary","message":"Value 'network optimisation' for facet 'analysis_type' is not in the controlled vocabulary."}]},"total":{"value":1,"relation":"eq"},"page":1,"page_size":20,"self":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/api/v1/search?analysis_type=network+optimisation","stability":"beta","ai_marking":{"digital_source_type":{"uri":"http://cv.iptc.org/newscodes/digitalsourcetype/trainedAlgorithmicMedia","name":"Created using Generative AI"},"notice":"Summary and key insights are generated using artificial intelligence."},"results":[{"id":"wwfza-000200","url":"https://climateinsightsdirectory.org/document/wwfza-000200","title":"Technical and economic pre-feasibility of biomass waste utilization for production of sustainable aviation fuel by PetroSA","publisher":{"name":"WWF South Africa","organization":"wwf-south-africa"},"document_type":"report","language":"en","date_published":"2021-02","source_url":"https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/petrosa_ethanol_supply_pre_feasibility.pdf","generator":"Climate Insights Directory","generated_fields":["summary","key_insights","climate_tags","geography_discussed","analysis_type"],"summary":{"text":"The study evaluates the feasibility of supplying 300 million litres of ethanol annually to PetroSA's Conversion of Olefins to Distillate (COD) plant. It compares three primary feedstock pathways: first-generation (1G) molasses, second-generation (2G) lignocellulosic biomass (primarily invasive alien plants and garden waste), and third-generation (3G) industrial off-gases. The analysis finds that molasses-based ethanol is the most cost-effective and carbon-efficient option, while lignocellulosic ethanol is the most expensive due to high acquisition and processing costs. However, the report suggests that a diversified sourcing strategy incorporating invasive alien plants (IAPs) could meet broader socio-economic goals, such as job creation and drought resilience, at an additional cost of approximately R1 billion per year.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwfza-000200#summary","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},"key_insights":[{"text":"Molasses-based ethanol is the most economically and carbon-efficient single-feedstock option, with a total annual cost of approximately R2.86 billion and the lowest transport carbon emissions at 0.063 kg per litre.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwfza-000200#insight-1","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Lignocellulosic ethanol, primarily from invasive alien plants (IAPs), is the most expensive supply chain, costing approximately R5.77 billion annually, which is nearly double the cost of the molasses option.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwfza-000200#insight-2","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Industrial off-gas fermentation is a mid-cost option with a total annual cost of R4.48 billion; its economic performance is hindered by high electricity demands in energy self-sufficient configurations.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwfza-000200#insight-3","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"There is significant availability of invasive alien plant (IAP) biomass in the Western and Eastern Cape, with 37.1 million tonnes easily accessible (slopes up to 20%) and 26.7 million tonnes fairly accessible (slopes 20-35%).","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwfza-000200#insight-4","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The identified easily accessible IAP biomass in the Western and Eastern Cape alone is sufficient to meet PetroSA's annual demand of 1 to 1.5 million tonnes of lignocellulosic feedstock for 300 million litres of ethanol.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwfza-000200#insight-5","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"A sustainability risk assessment identifies molasses and bagasse as high risk due to potential GHG impacts, IAPs as medium risk due to ecological and labour concerns, and garden waste and industrial off-gasses as low risk.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwfza-000200#insight-6","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"The minimum ethanol selling price (MESP) at the factory gate varies significantly by technology, ranging from R8.27/l for 1G molasses to as high as R38.31/l for 2G gasification-fermentation in self-sufficiency mode.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwfza-000200#insight-7","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"A diversified sourcing strategy combining one IAP-based facility in Ceres, two molasses-based facilities in KwaZulu-Natal, and one to two industrial off-gas facilities could meet multiple socio-economic objectives at an additional cost of roughly R1 billion per year.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwfza-000200#insight-8","date_modified":"2026-10-23"},{"text":"Industrial off-gasses from stainless steel and ferroalloy smelters have the potential to produce 410 million litres of ethanol annually, exceeding PetroSA's 300 million litre requirement.","ai_generated":true,"unit":"wwfza-000200#insight-9","date_modified":"2026-10-23"}],"climate_tags":["Sustainable Aviation Fuel","carbon dioxide emissions","greenhouse gas","bioenergy"],"geography_discussed":["Western Cape","Eastern Cape","KwaZulu-Natal","Mpumalanga","Ceres","Queenstown","Mthatha"],"frame_perspective":[],"analysis_type":["techno-economic analysis","pre-feasibility study","network optimisation","sustainability risk assessment"]}]}