Life Cycle Assessment of the Macaúba Production Chain for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production

The decarbonization of the aviation sector, responsible for approximately 2% of global anthropogenic CO2-eq emissions, represents one of the main challenges for mitigating climate change within the context of the global energy transition. In this scenario, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) derived from energy crops emerge as promising technological alternatives to fossil-based jet fuel (Jet A-1). This study aims to quantify and compare the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the life cycle of SAF produced from macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata) pulp oil in the Brazilian context, relative to conventional jet fuel, considering six distinct technological scenarios. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted in accordance with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards, using the SimaPro software. The functional unit adopted was 1 ton of SAF consumed during combustion, with system boundaries defined as “cradle-to-grave.” Impact assessment was performed according to the ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint(H) method. Total emissions varied significantly across the six scenarios analyzed. The scenario with the highest emission intensity recorded 1,260 kg CO2-eq per ton of fuel burned, representing a 66,5% reduction compared to conventional jet fuel, while the scenario with the lowest emission intensity showed 401 kg CO2-eq, corresponding to a 89,42% reduction. These results highlight the potential of macaúba-derived SAF as a promising technological route for GHG mitigation in the civil aviation sector, positioning it as a strategic alternative for achieving global decarbonization targets and strengthening the worldwide energy transition.