UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS IS THE BIOETHANOL AND BIODIESEL PRODUCED ENTIRELY IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY SUSTAINABLE?

The document evaluates the environmental sustainability of first-generation biofuels produced in the Basque Country using an innovative methodology that integrates the SIMSNIC agronomic model with life cycle analysis. The study focuses on bioethanol from wheat and biodiesel from rapeseed in the La Llanada Alavesa area. It finds that while biofuels are more energy efficient than fossil fuels, meeting the EU's mandatory 35% greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target is unlikely under current mineral fertilisation conditions, particularly in nitrate-vulnerable areas. Organic fertilisation increases the likelihood of meeting GHG targets but exacerbates water contamination, soil acidification, and land-use competition. The authors conclude that the agricultural stage, specifically nitrogen fertilisation and climatology, is the primary driver of the carbon footprint due to nitrous oxide emissions.

• The agricultural production stage is the most significant contributor to the environmental impact of biofuel production, with nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from soil being the primary driver of the carbon footprint. These emissions are heavily influenced by the type and dose of fertilisation and local climatology.
• Biofuels produced in the study area are consistently more energy efficient than fossil-fuel-based petrol or diesel, but their ability to reduce the carbon footprint depends on specific field handling and the climatological year.
• Under current mineral fertilisation conditions in areas vulnerable to nitrate contamination, it is unlikely that wheat-derived ethanol and rapeseed-derived diesel will meet the EU's sustainability requirement of at least a 35% reduction in greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels.
• Organic fertilisation increases the probability of meeting EU GHG sustainability standards compared to mineral fertilisation, but it results in higher water contamination, ecosystem acidification, and greater land-use requirements.
• Biofuel production in the Basque Country case study exhibits a significantly higher impact than fossil fuels regarding water contamination and competition for land use. The authors suggest energy crops should only be grown on land without ecological or agricultural interest to avoid competing with food production.

APA

del Prado, A., Gallejones, P., & Pardo, G. (2015). UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS IS THE BIOETHANOL AND BIODIESEL PRODUCED ENTIRELY IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY SUSTAINABLE? Basque Centre for Climate Change. https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201506091247561731132492.pdf

Chicago

del Prado, Agustin, Patricia Gallejones, and Guillermo Pardo. UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS IS THE BIOETHANOL AND BIODIESEL PRODUCED ENTIRELY IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY SUSTAINABLE? Basque Centre for Climate Change, 2015. https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201506091247561731132492.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=del Prado |first1=Agustin |last2=Gallejones |first2=Patricia |last3=Pardo |first3=Guillermo |title=UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS IS THE BIOETHANOL AND BIODIESEL PRODUCED ENTIRELY IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY SUSTAINABLE? |publisher=Basque Centre for Climate Change |date=2015 |url=https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201506091247561731132492.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{delprado2015under, author = {del Prado, Agustin and Gallejones, Patricia and Pardo, Guillermo}, title = {{UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS IS THE BIOETHANOL AND BIODIESEL PRODUCED ENTIRELY IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY SUSTAINABLE?}}, institution = {Basque Centre for Climate Change}, year = {2015}, url = {https://www.bc3research.org/h6T8Uy8Nm4gFs0O/201506091247561731132492.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }