Viabilidade da inserção do biodiesel no semi-árido da Bahia

Abstract

The production of biofuels has been approached as a good alternative to diversify the energy matrix and reduce the environmental impacts caused by automobiles. This study aims to evaluate the economic viability of biodiesel in Bahia, determining the most influential parameters. The methodology used was a bibliographic survey of the investment and unit cost of production of biodiesel production units. Then, the optimal production scale of the unit was determined, the cash flow was prepared, and finally, a sensitivity analysis was performed by varying the parameters of the simulated cash flow. Units with production capacities exceeding 50,000 tons per year have a great advantage due to the greater efficiency of the process, reducing costs. The tax exemptions provided by the social fuel seal of the National Biodiesel Production Program (PNPB) are also fundamental to the viability of the process, requiring a plant designed to obtain 30% of the raw material from family farming in the semi-arid Northeast. The price of biodiesel is the determining factor in the viability of the venture, followed by factory efficiency and the price of vegetable oil, which also have a strong influence.