Fossil fuel shortage is a major challenge worldwide. Therefore, research is currently underway to investigate potential renewable energy sources. Biodiesel is one of the major renewable energy sources that can be obtained from oils and fats by transesterification. However, biodiesel obtained from vegetable oils as feedstock is expensive. Thus, an alternative and inexpensive feedstock such as waste cooking oil (WCO) can be used as feedstock for biodiesel production. In this project, techno-economic analyses were performed on the biodiesel production in Hong Kong using WCO as a feedstock. Three different catalysts such as acid, base, and lipase were evaluated for the biodiesel production from WCO. These economic analyses were then compared to determine the most cost-effective method for the biodiesel production. The internal rate of return (IRR) sensitivity analyses on the WCO price and biodiesel price variation are performed. Acid was found to be the most cost-effective catalyst for the biodiesel production; whereas, lipase was the most expensive catalyst for biodiesel production. In the IRR sensitivity analyses, the acid catalyst can also acquire acceptable IRR despite the variation of the WCO and biodiesel prices.

Demand for biofuels is rapidly growing worldwide as petroleum based fuels are finite reserves. In this context, biodiesel and bioethanol are popular biofuels that are commercially available in various countries. Biofuels can be prepared from edible biomass. However, this is already generating food versus fuel debate among the members of civil societies. Therefore, there are needs to synthesize biofuels from nonedible waste materials. Food wastes can be utilized as resources for the production of biodiesel and bioethanol since they contain significant amount of lipids and carbohydrates. In future, industrial production of biodiesel and bioethanol from food waste can contribute to resolve the waste disposal, energy scarcity and energy security problems.