Life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of sustainable bioenergy production: a review

Abstract

The global expansion of the bioenergy industry raises concerns, emphasizing the need for careful evaluation and sustainable management. To facilitate this, life cycle assessments beyond greenhouse gas emissions and energy balance are essential, along with the standardization of assessment methodologies to enable meaningful comparisons. Here, we review life cycle assessment, chemical aspects, and policy implication of bioenergy production. We discuss life cycle assessment in terms of concepts, methods, impacts, greenhouse gases, land use, water consumption, bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas, and techno-economic analysis. Chemical aspects comprise reaction processes and means to improve efficiency. Concerning policies, tools, and frameworks that encourage sustainable energy production are presented. We found that carbon dioxide removal ranges from 45 to 99% in various bioenergy processes. The review also emphasizes the importance of chemistry in advancing sustainable bioenergy production for a more sustainable and secure energy future.

Review of Hydrogen Storage Technologies and the Crucial Role of Environmentally Friendly Carriers

“…Life cycle assessment is a method for quantifying and assessing the environmental burdens of energy and material use throughout the entire life cycle. 144 Compressed hydrogen storage typically relies on highpressure hydrogen tanks, which are usually made of metal or composite materials. The manufacturing process of highpressure hydrogen tanks is highly energy-intensive, especially when using carbon fiber composite materials.…”

“…Therefore, evaluating hydrogen storage technology from the perspective of life cycle assessment is essential. Life cycle assessment is a method for quantifying and assessing the environmental burdens of energy and material use throughout the entire life cycle …”

From Trash to Treasure: The Prospect of Producing Bioethanol from Wastepaper through Pretreatment with Sulphuric Acid

“…Annually, millions of tons of wastepaper are discarded worldwide as part of municipal solid waste, constituting a significant environmental burden (Nanda and Berruti, 2021). Repurposing wastepaper as a feedstock for biofuel production alleviates this burden and reduces reliance on finite fossil fuels, thereby contributing to efforts aimed at mitigating climate change (Osman et al, 2024). Moreover, the utilization of wastepaper for bioethanol production encourages a circular economy to reduce landfill waste (Igbokwe et al, 2022).…”