GHG emission factors for bioelectricity, biomethane, and bioethanol quantified for 24 biomass substrates with consequential life-cycle assessment

Abstract

Document Version Peer reviewed version Link back to DTU Orbit Citation (APA):Tonini, D., Hamelin, L., Alvarado-Morales, M., & Astrup, T. F. (2016). GHG emission factors for bioelectricity, biomethane, and bioethanol quantified for 24 biomass substrates with consequential life-cycle assessment. Bioresource Technology, 208, 123-133. DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016 AbstractGreenhouse gas (GHG) emission savings from biofuels dramatically depend upon the source of energy displaced and the effects induced outside the energy sector, for instance land-use changes (LUC). Using consequential life-cycle assessment and including LUC effects, this study provides GHG emission factors (EFs) for bioelectricity, biomethane, and bioethanol produced from twenty-four biomasses (from dedicated crops to residues of different origin) under a fossil and a non-fossil energy system. Accounting for numerous variations in the pathways, a total of 554 GHG EFs were quantified. The results showed that, important GHG savings were obtained with residues and seaweed, both under fossil and non-fossil energy systems. For high-yield perennial crops (e.g. willow and Miscanthus), GHG savings were achieved only under fossil energy systems. Biofuels from annual crops and residues that are today used in the feed sector should be discouraged, as LUC GHG emissions exceeded any GHG savings from displacing conventional energy sources.

Bioenergy production and environmental impacts

“…Qin et al (2018) stated that substituting fossil fuels with biofuels could also significantly reduce the air pollution (e.g., particulate matter) in China. Moreover, LCA studies have also demonstrated the environmental benefits of agro-residue based bioenergy production (Guerrero and Muñoz 2018; Soam et al 2017;Tonini et al 2016). Soam et al (2017) reported that the electricity production from rice straw produced a higher GHGs emission reduction than the traditional way in India.…”

“…Soam et al (2017) reported that the electricity production from rice straw produced a higher GHGs emission reduction than the traditional way in India. Tonini et al (2016) reported that biofuel production from the agricultural residues without involving land use change is a promising emission reduction option from the perspective of life cycle. According to Parajuli et al (2017), cultivating willow and alfalfa as feedstocks for bioenergy can potentially sequestrate more soil organic carbon and thus lead to a lower carbon footprint.…”

A PESTLE Analysis of Biofuels Energy Industry in Europe

“…If a fossil system is an alternative to using residues for energy production, the use of food waste for biofuel production can show overall negative GHG emission effect since the loss of energy will be compensated with fossil fuels. This relation will develop on the long-term as sources for the electricity and heat sector will be less pollutive for the environment [135].…”

Ocena wpływu czynników występujących na etapie uprawy na emisję GHG w cyklu życia bioetanolu

“…Stąd przy rosnących celach redukcji GHG pojawia się konieczność prowadzenia obliczeń autentycznych wartości emisji GHG w cyklu życia biopaliw; w wielu przypadkach będą one dużo korzystniejsze niż wartość standardowa. Wartości liczbowe przedstawione w dyrektywie [14] i zobrazowane na rysunku 1 stanowią dane uśrednione, natomiast dane rzeczywiste, uzyskane w wyniku indywidualnych kalkulacji czy wyprowadzone dla różnych ścieżek, będą się znacząco między sobą różniły [13]. W Polsce dominującym surowcem do produkcji etanolu jest kukurydza [11].…”