ABSTRACT
Considering the progressive depletion of fossil resources and the rising concern of global warming, renewable energy resources like biofuels are becoming more attractive in recent years. Extensive research is going on around the world to improve the quality and yield of biofuels produced from different biomass feedstocks. Although, apparently, it seems that the biofuels are attractive over fossil fuels, the strategies for sustainability have to be thoroughly assessed at several levels, such as relevance of biofuels with respect to sustainable development, sustainable transport and its strategies, and alternative fuel strategy, to assess their suitability as transport fuels. Sustainability assessment is performed through different methodologies for analyzing the social, economic, and environmental impacts. Life cycle analysis (LCA, also known as life cycle assessment) determines the effects of any process/product throughout its life period. Multicriteria decision analysis method considers different alternative scenarios and ranks them to find out the most suitable one to achieve the targeted goal. It is very useful when the problem is complex in nature. Since biofuels can be generated from different feedstocks by using various routes, as well as there is large variation in vehicles types, traveling mode, and so on, the sustainability assessment for road transport biofuels deals with a complex problems. To assess the sustainability, a large number of scenarios have to be considered, and hence multicriteria decision analysis methods coupled with LCA practices seems to be more suitable. Many researchers have also applied integrated approach for sustainability analysis of transport systems and biofuel production chain in recent years.
