Techno-Economic Analysis of Biodiesel Production for Remote Communities in the Arctic Region

• Grant number: 25/14181-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 15, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal Investigator: Ana Lúcia Gabas
• Grantee: Larissa Miyuki Katsumata
• Supervisor: Sudip Kumar Rakshit
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de Lorena (EEL). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Lorena , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Lakehead University, Canada
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/23461-8 - Evaluation of the Reuse of Niobium Oxide Catalyst for Sustainable Biodiesel Production, BP.IC

Abstract

This project proposes a technical and economic feasibility study to produce biodiesel using a heterogeneous catalyst in remote communities in the Canadian Arctic, a context that faces logistical and energy security challenges. Biodiesel production is emerging as a sustainable and strategic alternative, taking advantage of local raw material to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The innovation of the research lies in the application of a process simulation model in the Aspen Plus software, which will allow detailed analysis of different production configurations. The study will evaluate critical economic parameters such as the minimum selling price (MSP), payback period and operating costs. It is hoped that the research will not only identify the most economically viable production route for the region but will also enable the scholar to develop skills and knowledge in process modeling that can contribute significantly to their scholarship in her home country. The expected impact goes beyond the economy, promoting energy autonomy, waste reduction and the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, aligning the technological solution with the sustainable development of local communities.