Alternative Fuels for Transportation : A Sustainability Assessment of Technologies within an International Energy Agency Scenario

Abstract: Transport sector is an essential driver of economic development and growth, and at the same time, one of the biggest contributors to climate change, responsible for almost a quarter of the global carbon dioxide emissions. The sector is 95 percent dependent on fossil fuels. International Energy Agency (IEA) scenarios present different mixes of fuels to decrease both dependence on fossil fuels and emissions, leading to a more sustainable future. The main alternative fuels proposed in the Blue map scenario, presented in the Energy Technologies Perspective 2008, were hydrogen and second-generation ethanol. An assessment of these fuels was made using the tools SLCA (Sustainability Life Cycle Assessment) and SWOT Analysis. A Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development (FSSD) is the background used to guide the assessment and to help structure the results and conclusions. The results aim to alert the transport sector stakeholders about the sustainability gaps of the scenario, so decisions can be made to lead society towards a sustainable future.