Biodiesel? a watery problem?
According to new research from the Netherlands’ University of Twente, 14,000 litres of water are needed to create 1 litre of biodiesel from rapeseed or soyabeans.
Researchers at the university analysed 13 crops to determine the optimal production regions for each based on water consumption and climate date.
The water footprint for rapeseed in western Europe is significantly smaller than in Asia. For soyabeans, India has a large water footprint, while the figures for countries such as Italy and Paraguay are more favourable.
Jatropha, which is increasingly used for biomass production, has an even less desired water footprint of 20,000 litres of water on average for one litre of biodiesel.
Researchers at the university analysed 13 crops to determine the optimal production regions for each based on water consumption and climate date.
The water footprint for rapeseed in western Europe is significantly smaller than in Asia. For soyabeans, India has a large water footprint, while the figures for countries such as Italy and Paraguay are more favourable.
Jatropha, which is increasingly used for biomass production, has an even less desired water footprint of 20,000 litres of water on average for one litre of biodiesel.
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