J. Life Sci. Biomed. 6(3): 71-75, May 30, 2016  
JLSB  
© 2016, Scienceline Publication  
Journal of  
ISSN 2251-9939  
Life Science and Biomedicine  
Evaluation Energy Efficiency in Biodiesel Production from Canola; A  
Case Study  
  
Reza Abshar1 and Móslem Sami2  
1Independent researcher, Gotvand, Khuzestan, Iran.  
2Department of Biosystem Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 4111, Karaj  
Corresponding author's email: m.sami@ut.ac.ir; sami.moslem@gmail.com  
ABSTRACT: Today fossil fuels are the main source of energy; however, it is becoming increasingly unlikely  
that fossil fuel supply will be able to meet growth in demand of energy in nearly future. The production of  
biofuel from farms products has been promoted as a replacement for fossil fuels. Nevertheless the debate over  
the energy balance of biodiesel is ongoing. In this paper, we focus on analyses of energy efficiency of rapeseed  
biofuel production in a case study in Khuzestan province of Iran. Our results showed that, in term of energy,  
canola is a reliable source of energy as biodiesel. The energy ratio in this process was rather higher than one  
(1.08) and net energy was obtained as 2582.37 Mj per hectare of canola farming. However this value in not  
high, by considering byproducts of canola farming it can be suggested as a sources of future energy.  
Key words: Biodiesel, Canola, Energy analysis  
INTRODUCTION  
Fossil fuels are the main energy source that drives the world economy. However, for a number of reasons it is  
becoming increasingly unlikely that fossil fuel supply will be able to meet this growth in demand. Bioenergy is an  
important alternative source of energy. Energy is derived from plants and biomass can be converted into liquid  
fuel [1] and directly used in the existing transportation infrastructure, which is almost entirely run on fossil fuels  
(cars, buses, airplanes).  
It is claimed that Bioenergy produced from cultivation of plants could potentially provide a sustainable  
alternative to fossil fuels for transport. Recent policy-driven interests in renewable energy and carbon mitigation  
have contributed new resources and enthusiasm for production of bioenergy, in particular the strategy of  
regionally produced biofuels that can help meet a low carbon fuel standard.  
However, recent studies suggest that some combinations of cultivation processes and conversion  
technologies for bio- energy consume more energy than is produced. The production of bioenergy will have  
environmental impacts, including those associated with cultivation and the technologies used to process the crops  
into biofuel. The net benefits of biofuel production from energy, environmental, GHG, and economic perspectives  
is still debated. Some analyses report a negative energy balance in bioenergy production [e.g., 2]; others have  
reported net positive energy balances [3, 4, 5]. Most studies acknowledged that biodiesel energy balance for first-  
time vegetable oils depends mainly on the crop production system [6, 7].  
This study evaluated energy balance of bio-fuel production to estimate the sustainability of a number of  
combinations of production methods and conversion technologies for producing transport energy from canola.  
Energy efficiency is one of the most important elements of sustainability analysis [7]. Canola refers to a cultivar of  
either Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) or Field Mustard (Brassica campestris L. or Brassica Rapa var.). Its seeds are  
used to produce edible oil suitable for consumption by humans and livestock. The oil is also suitable for use as  
biodiesel. Canola production in Iran is 164000 tons in 2009 that 64.90% of irrigated farming and 35.10% of dry  
farming have been obtained.Also in this year, canola cultivation was about 86000 ha that 59.56% is irrigated  
farming and the rest of that was dry farming [8].  
MATERIALS AND METHODS  
Data used in this study were obtained from 10 large mechanized canola farms by using a face to- face  
questionnaire method in Gotvand County during production period of 2015-2016. The farms produce  
To cite this paper: Abshar R, and Sami M. 2016. Evaluation Energy Efficiency in Biodiesel Production from Canola; A Case Study. J. Life Sci. Biomed., 6 (3): 71-75.  
Journal homepage: www.jlsb.science-line.com  
71  
approximately more than 50 percent of canola produced in the county. Gotvand county is located in the  
Khuzestan province of Iran with an area 282 Km2 ꢀꢁꢂꢃꢁꢄ ꢅꢆ ꢇꢆꢅ  
ꢉꢄꢊ ꢅꢋ ꢇꢌꢍ North latiꢂꢎꢊꢏ ꢉꢄꢊ ꢆꢌꢇꢐꢅ ꢉꢄꢊ ꢆꢌꢇꢌꢑ  
ꢈ
ꢈ
́
ꢈ
East longitude). The study region represents semiarid and subtropical climatic conditions with very hot  
summers and fairly cool winters. The energetic efficiency of the agricultural system was evaluated by the energy  
ratio between output and input.  
By carefully evaluating the ratios, it is possible to determine trends in the energy efficiency of agricultural  
production, and to explain these trends by attributing each change to various occurrences within the industry  
[9]. Chemical fertilizers (nitrogen, phosphate, potassium and sulphur), biocides (herbicides, fungicides and  
insecticides), diesel fuel, electricity, farmyard manure, irrigation water, human labor and machine power were  
the energy inputs while the outputs were the canola oilseed. For calculating the energy equivalents of inputs and  
output the energy conversion factors shown in Table 1 were used. The energy cost of inputs and practices were  
adapted from different sources of estimations that best fit Iran conditions. Based on the energy equivalents of  
the inputs and outputs, output-input energy ratio, energy productivity, specific energy and net energy gain were  
calculated.  
Table 1. Energy coefficients of inputs  
Energy equivalents  
(Mj/unit)  
Input/output  
Unit  
References  
Canola Seed  
N fertilizes  
kg  
25  
11  
10  
10  
10  
10  
10  
10  
12  
12  
13  
10  
14  
15  
16  
10  
17  
5
kg  
78.1  
17.4  
13.7  
8.8  
P fertiliser  
kg  
K fertiliser  
kg  
Sulfur  
kg  
Micro fertilisers  
Diesel fuel  
Kg or lit  
lit  
8.8  
46.3  
229  
430  
142.7  
2.2  
Insecticides  
Herbicides  
Kg or lit  
Kg or lit  
Kg h  
h
Machinery  
Human labor  
Water (transmission)  
Canola oil Seed  
Electricity  
m3  
0.63  
27.87  
12  
lit  
Kw h  
m3  
Natural Gas  
Methanol  
4.20  
30.1  
34.5  
lit  
Biodiesel (energy content)  
lit  
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION  
Inputs, used in the canola production in the farms and their energy equivalents, together with the energy  
equivalent of the yield were illustrated in Table 2. The results revealed that, total energy consumption during the  
production period of canola was 21062.27 MJ/ ha, from which fertilisers had the most share with 15.75%. The  
second highest energy consumer in canola farming was diesel fuel that consumed 8.43 % of total input energy  
followed by water energy, which consumes 7.30 % of total input energy. Other inputs have a relatively small  
share of input energy.  
Calculated energy indexes for canola farming are presented in Table 3. The average canola yield obtained  
was found to be 2418.84 kg/ ha. Accordingly, the total energy output from canola farming was calculated as  
60471.02 MJ /ha, in the enterprises that were analyzed. The total average energy requirement for producing of  
this yield was 21062.27 MJ/ha, which was smaller than the total output energy (60471.02 MJ/ha). Therefore  
energy ratio for canola farming (2.87) was higher than one and energy balance (39408.75MJ/ha) was positive,  
indicating that canola production in surveyed region was efficient in terms of energy. The average energy  
intensity of the studied farms was 8.71 Mj/ kg. This index shows that 8.71 Mj energy was used for production of  
one kilogram of canola seed. Energy productivity of farms was obtained as 0.15 kg/MJ. This means that 0.15 kg  
of canola seed was obtained per unit of input energy.  
To cite this paper: Abshar R, and Sami M. 2016. Evaluation Energy Efficiency in Biodiesel Production from Canola; A Case Study. J. Life Sci. Biomed., 6 (3): 71-75.  
Journal homepage: www.jlsb.science-line.com  
72  
Table 2. Input and outputs of farms and their related indexes in terms of energy  
Quantity  
(Unit/ ha)  
Total energy  
equivalent (MJ /ha)  
Percentage from  
total input  
Parameter  
Unit  
Seed  
Fertilisers  
N fertilizes  
P fertiliser  
K fertiliser  
Sulfur  
micro fertilisers  
Diesel fuel  
Pesticides  
Insecticides  
Herbicides  
kg  
--  
kg  
kg  
kg  
kg  
Kg or lit  
lit  
9.73  
--  
243.22  
9527.14  
7813.13  
1078.30  
483.96  
133.23  
18.53  
5098.03  
258.69  
49.24  
209.45  
1484.58  
40.61  
4410.00  
21062.27  
60471.02  
0.40  
15.75  
12.92  
1.78  
0.80  
0.22  
0.03  
8.43  
0.43  
0.08  
0.35  
2.46  
100.04  
61.97  
35.33  
15.14  
2.11  
110.11  
--  
0.22  
0.49  
10.40  
--  
Kg or lit  
Kg or lit  
Kg h  
h
m3  
--  
Machinery  
Human labor  
Water (transmission)  
Total in farm energy  
Canola yield  
18.46  
7000.00  
--  
0.07  
7.29  
100.00  
--  
--  
2418.84  
Table 3.In farm energy indexes  
Indexes  
Energy ratio  
Unit  
Quantity  
2.87  
Net energy  
Mj/ha  
Kg/Mj  
Mj/kg  
39408.75  
0.11  
Energy productivity  
energy intensity  
8.71  
Table 4 shows the total inputs and their energy equivalents in industrial process of biodiesel production  
(conversion of canola to biodiesel). Biodiesel is produced from oil. The energy for extraction, refining and  
Rapeseed Methyl Ester (biodiesel) production is dependent on the many factors. Canola seed is traditionally  
crushed and solvent extracted in order to separate the oil from the meal. The process usually includes seed  
cleaning, seed pre-conditioning and flaking, seed cooking, pressing the flake to mechanically remove a portion of  
the oil, solvent extraction of the press-cake to remove the remainder of the oil, and desolventizing and toasting  
of the meal. Molecule of oils is reduced by trans esterification, resulting in a liquid fuel similar to petroleum  
diesel, but with some differences. Oil is reacted with methanol in the presence of a catalyst to produce esters or  
biodiesel. The methanol is charged in excess to assist in quick conversion and recovered for reuse. The catalyst is  
usually sodium or potassium hydroxide, which has already been mixed with the methanol. Energy ratio for  
biodiesel production (1.08) was higher than one and energy balance (2582.37 MJ/ha) was positive, indicating  
that biodiesel production from canola oil in surveyed region was efficient in terms of energy. Energy  
productivity index showed that 0.05 liter of biodiesel was obtained per unit of input energy. The positive  
efficiency of biodiesel production from canola was also reported in many past studies. ‎Firrisa et al. [19]  
evaluated energy efficiency in different farming systems in European an resulted that production of energy from  
biodiesel is beneficial. Baquero et al. [20] and Smith et al. [21] also reported that biodiesel is a reliable energy  
sources in term of energy.  
According to Table 5, 1130.55 liter of canola oil seed is obtained per hectare that present an energy of  
39003.81 Mj/ha. In the process of oil extraction 1422.28 Mjand 2418.84Mj energy for electricity and heating per  
hectare of canola farms were consumed respectively. This means that 3.40 Mj energy consumed for production  
of one liter of oil seed in the extraction process. Typically, 100 kg of oil is reacted with 10 kg of methanol plus  
the catalyst to produce 100 kg of biodiesel and 10 kg of glycerine. In other world 100 liter of canola oil produces  
104.54 liter of methyl ester [12]. In the process of transesterification 11.61 Mj per liter of output biodiesel was  
consumed. According to our results in the studied area 1032.96 liter (988.10 kg) biodiesel per hectare was  
obtained. Energy intensity index in biodiesel production shows that 32.00 Mj energy was used for production of  
one liter of biodiesel. Therefore according to this study, energy coefficient of biodiesel is estimated as 66.5 Mj/lit  
(32.0+34.5).  
To cite this paper: Abshar R, and Sami M. 2016. Evaluation Energy Efficiency in Biodiesel Production from Canola; A Case Study. J. Life Sci. Biomed., 6 (3): 71-75.  
Journal homepage: www.jlsb.science-line.com  
73  
Table 4. Input and outputs of industrial process of biodiesel  
Total energy  
equivalent  
(MJ/ha)  
Total energy  
equivalent (MJ/lite  
oil seed output)  
Total energy  
equivalent (MJ/lite  
output biodiesel)  
Quantity  
(Unit/ha)  
Parameters  
Oil extraction  
Electricity  
--  
--  
--  
1422.28  
2418.84  
3841.12  
31508.29  
1.26  
2.14  
3.69  
--  
1.38  
2.34  
3.72  
--  
Natural gas  
Oil extraction energy  
Output oil seed  
Biodiesel production  
Methanol  
1130.55  
--  
--  
3402.94  
4748.29  
--  
--  
3.29  
4.60  
Natural gas  
Biodiesel production  
energy  
--  
8151.23  
--  
7.89  
Total industrial energy  
Total energy  
Total output biodiesel  
--  
--  
11992.35  
33054.62  
35636.98  
--  
--  
--  
11.61  
32.00  
--  
1032.96  
Table 5. Industrial energy indexes  
Indexes  
Energy ratio  
Unit  
Quantity  
1.08  
Net energy  
Mj/ha  
Kg/Mj  
Mj/kg  
2582.37  
0.03  
Energy productivity  
Energy intensity  
32.00  
CONCLUSION  
This study analyzed the energy balances in the biodiesel production from canola. Our results showed that  
Canola biodiesel produces 1.08 unit of energy per unit of energy spent during processing for biodiesel production.  
Net energy per unit of hectare canola farms was obtained as 2582.37 Mj. By increasing the energy productivity in  
many processes of biodiesel production spatially farming practices and also by increasing the output farm yields,  
this energy balances can largely increase in benefit of output energies. Therefore this study suggests the canola as  
a source of biodiesel from energy aspect. However more studies need to perform on the other environmental  
impacts of biodiesel production especially in farm effects.  
Competing interests  
The authors they have no competing interests.  
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Journal homepage: www.jlsb.science-line.com  
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To cite this paper: Abshar R, and Sami M. 2016. Evaluation Energy Efficiency in Biodiesel Production from Canola; A Case Study. J. Life Sci. Biomed., 6 (3): 71-75.  
Journal homepage: www.jlsb.science-line.com  
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