Palm oil biodiesel does not produce low GHG emissions. For fossil-based diesel replacements, biodiesel made from soybean, rapeseed or sunflower vegetable oils reduces GHG emissions more thanbiodieselmade from palm oil. (MYTH 2-05)
FACTS – Various studies both in Indonesia and in Europe show that using Life Cycle Analysis, diesel-fuel replacement with palm biodiesel will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from diesel engines by 50-60 percent.
Even according to the European Commission, if the palm oil biodiesel is produced from palm oil plantations with methane capture technology, the reduction of GHG emissions can reach 62 percent (Figure 2.4). The results of the studies made by Mathews and Ardyanto (2015) also support the European Union’s findings that the use of palm oil-based biodiesel as a substitute for diesel can lower GHG emissions by above 60 percent.
The reduction of GHG emissions caused by the use of biodiesel made from palm oil is higher than those from biodiesel made from rapeseed oil, soybean oil or sunflower oil. In other words, the use of palm oil-based biodiesel as a substitute for diesel can more greatly reduce GHG emissions than biodiesel made from soybeans, rapeseed or sunflower oil.
Source: Palm Oil Myths & Facts 2-05 | featured image/illustration via nakinoilpurification.blog.com