Preliminary considerations
Every industrial sub product of Acrocomia already has established consumer markets and nationally regulated quality control that guarantees its technical specifications. Thus they can be extrapolated for use in other regions securely.
Economically, with average market prices, only a third of revenues come from the industrialization of Acrocomia pulp oil for biodiesel and if eventually this use is not viable, there already exists alternative markets and uses for it.
If we add to this the other non industrial options for already described, in food and animal feed, and its facility to be combined with other crops and used for livestock, we find an alternative with potential and flexibility of use. There is no potential for loss in investment, if it is planned and executed properly.
Raw energy
Considering the sub products generated in the industrialization of one cultivated hectare of Acrocomia, the following quantities apply
| Industrial Subproducts₁ | % | Mass per Ha (Ton) | Lower Heating value LHV (Kcal/Kg) | Mcal | MJ | Distribution |
| Pericarp | 17,0% | 3,44 | 3425 | 11.785 | 49.331 | 13,15% |
| Pulp pellets | 23,0% | 4,66 | 3243 | 15.097 | 63.195 | 16,85% |
| Pulp oil | 10,9% | 2,22 | 9370 | 20.755 | 86.881 | 23,16% |
| Kernel | 36,0% | 7,29 | 4300 | 31.332 | 131.154 | 34,96% |
| Kernel oil | 4,9% | 1,00 | 8520 | 8.519 | 35.660 | 9,51% |
| Kernel pellets | 3,0% | 0,61 | 3516 | 2.135 | 8.937 | 2,38% |
| Waste | 5,0% | 1,01 | ||||
| Total | 100% | 20 | 89.622 | 375.157 | 100% | |
| 1 Based on the average composition of fruits in southern Paraguay | ||||||
As can be seen, the energy yield of Acrocomia is high, even without consideration of the annual biomass generated by leaves, roots, spadices etc, or even the crop yields owing to the selection of superior material and adequate care. Neither does the species yield toxic byproducts.
Studies of the energy balance in the production chain of Acrocomia have shown that all of the thermal energy requirements of the industrial processing can be easily met using only one part of the produced pericarp.
As has been described previously, all of the sub products have markets and thus their economic exploitation can be 100% guaranteed.
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Biodiesel (Article)
Considering that the main cost in the production of biodiesel is the raw material - vegetable oil or animal fat - it can be concluded that the correct selection of raw oil materials for a particular project is the most important and crucial element in determining the future competitiveness of a biodiesel venture.
The primary concern is in studying specific conditions such as crops, livestock, technical areas, economics and the environment for each project before taking a decision about the most suitable raw material.
Acrocomia presents various advantages that make possible its development:
1. Crops and Livestock: Its robustness and resistance to drought, fire, pests and disease; its ease of cultivation; simplicity of harvest and mechanization for whatever scale of production; and long life. It is easily combined with other crops and can be produced on land with little other traditional agricultural use. It has alternative domestic uses: food and animal feed.
2. Technical: Comprehensive use of the fruits; higher productivity per hectare; optimum composition of industrial sub products - food and animal feed; raw material for the cosmetics and chemical industries; solid, liquid and gas biofuels. It can help dispense with the use of fossil fuels.
3. Economics: A range of diverse sub products with domestic and industrial applications which avoid depending on only one product in order to be viable. Provides the cheapest raw material for the production of biodiesel (oil and pulp). Existing alternative uses for every sub product that is generated.
4. Social and Environment: Ideal balance between the generation of employment and economic viability; large capacity for trapping carbon and avoiding deforestation; avoids greenhouse gas emissions (an effect of the substituting solid, liquid and gas biofuels); complements the production of food.
Furthermore, it can be considered that some products can generate additional industry such as the production of pulp and kernel flour, ice-cream, briquettes or active carbon, biodiesel, and adds even further value by offering employment and investment in marginal areas.