Nexus analysis and life cycle assessment of regional water supply systems: A case study from Italy

Arfelli, Francesco; Ciacci, Luca; Vassura, Ivano; Passarini, Fabrizio

doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106446

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…In some cases, the life cycle assessment (LCA) was integrated with the nexus because this combination was identified as a powerful tool for evaluating environmental impacts in the life cycle of products [49,50] and can provide sustainable alternatives for global food insecurity by developing sustainable production and consumption [50]. Numerous nexus studies used the LCA in order to analyze some environmental impacts, with the aim of finding effective solutions for coping with climate change and increasing resource security (e.g., [27,28,36,41,43,[51][52][53][54]). Some of the scholars used the LCA for the evaluation of carbon footprints [53,[55][56][57].…”

Section: Overview Of Different Nexus Approaches In the European Count...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Water–Energy–Food Nexus in European Countries: A Review and Future Perspectives

Kalvani

Celico

2023

Sustainability

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The interaction between water, energy, and food as the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus has drawn much attention recently to solve upcoming uncertainty in food security. The aim of this study is to investigate the status of the WEF nexus in European countries. It is indicated that the largest nexus studies (among 27 European countries) have been conducted in Spain and Italy. It is confirmed that there is a large number of nexus studies in water-stressed countries while there are few studies on water-abundant countries (Slovakia and Luxembourg). Based on existing research, the majority of nexus studies focused on energy production. It is highlighted that most of the nexus studies were focused on water quantity aspects (rarely related to quality aspects) and energy; however, other resources including land, climate, ecosystem, soil, and environment received little attention. The migration of people as a result of climate change in the WEF nexus is not considered. Moreover, there is a lack of common and standard frameworks for nexus assessment. Therefore, we suggest a standard approach for nexus studies and produce a cross-sectoral and holistic approach for the evaluation of a water (quantity and quality)–energy–food–land–climate (WqEFLC) nexus that takes into consideration the circular economy.

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Section: Overview Of Different Nexus Approaches In the European Count...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Italy (Turin) Urban WE L nexus Mini-hydro power plants [21] Italy (Emilia Romagna) WE nexus + LCA Drinking water supply The environmental impacts of different drinking water production systems were compared [52].…”

Section: Agriculture Tourism and Domesticmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Water–Energy–Food Nexus in European Countries: A Review and Future Perspectives

Kalvani

Celico

2023

Sustainability

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“…The sensitivity analysis was performed to test the robustness of the model created, enabling identification and quantification of the influence of certain parameters onto the environmental impact of the entire system. 27 Uncertainty evaluation was performed for the midpoint impact categories results. As discussed above, the LCA model for the LS was filled with primary data to ensure greater reliability of the outcomes.…”

Section: Sensitivity and Uncertainty Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Life cycle assessment of the LimoFish process for the full valorization of anchovy fillet leftovers

Arfelli,

Pizzone,

Cespi

et al. 2022

Preprint

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AnchoisFert and AnchoiOil are a new organic fertilizer and a new whole fish oil obtained via the circular economy “LimoFish” process based on extraction of the oil from anchovy fillet leftovers with agro-solvent limonene followed by mild drying of the solid residue. We apply the Life Cycle Assessment methodology to evaluate the environmental burdens associated to production of AnchoisFert and AnchoisOil via the aforementioned process at laboratory and industrial scale. Furthermore, we compare the environmental sustainability of AnchoiFert production with conversion of the solid residue into biomethane to produce electricity. The study fills a gap in the literature concerning the environmental soundness of this new circular economy process. Its outcomes will be instrumental to inform its broad evaluation en route to scale-up and industrialization.

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“…In addition, the unprecedented European energy crisis due to the Russo-Ukrainian conflict further stressed the need to convert energy systems toward decarbonization strategies [2]. Decarbonization, or more extensively, the reduction in the environmental impacts associated with the energy sources, highly depends on a successful replacement of fossil fuels in the electricity grid mix [3][4][5][6]. Several research activities have been published or are currently involved in the evaluation of the potential use of biomass, especially as a by-product or waste, to increase the renewable fraction in energy mixes [7][8][9][10][11][12].…”

Section: Introduction 1energy Biomass and Syngasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life Cycle Assessment of a Wood Biomass Gasification Plant and Implications for Syngas and Biochar Utilization

Arfelli,

Tosi,

Ciacci

et al. 2024

Energies

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The growing attention regarding the environmental challenges in the energy sectors pushes the industrial system toward the investigation of more sustainable and renewable energy sources to replace fossil ones. Among the promising alternatives, biomass is considered a valid source to convert the system and to reduce the fossil fraction of the national energy mixes, but its multiple potential uses need an environmental evaluation to understand the actual benefit when it is used as an energy resource. For this purpose, life cycle assessment (LCA) is applied to a wood biomass gasification system aimed to produce electricity and heat generated after the combustion of the produced syngas and the management of the biochar. The aim is to provide a quantitative comparison of (i) a baseline scenario where wood biomass is sourced from waste and (ii) a second scenario where wood biomass is drawn from dedicated cultivation. A further evaluation was finally applied to investigate the environmental implications associated with the biochar composition, assuming it was used on land. The proposed strategies resulted in an environmental credit for both the examined scenarios, but the outcomes showed a net preference for the baseline scenario, resulting in better environmental performances for all the examined categories with respect to the second one. It underlines the potentialities of using waste-sourced biomass. However, according to the Climate Change category, if on-site dedicated biomass cultivation is assumed for the second scenario, the baseline is considered preferable only if the biomass transportation distance is <600 km, which is estimated as a theoretical distance for scenarios to break even. Finally, biochar composition proved a particular concern for toxicity-related categories. This study highlights the importance of applying objective and standardized methodologies such as LCA to evaluate energy production systems based on alternative sources and to support decision-making toward achieving sustainability goals.

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Nexus analysis and life cycle assessment of regional water supply systems: A case study from Italy

Cited by 16 publications

References 56 publications

The Water–Energy–Food Nexus in European Countries: A Review and Future Perspectives

The Water–Energy–Food Nexus in European Countries: A Review and Future Perspectives

Life cycle assessment of the LimoFish process for the full valorization of anchovy fillet leftovers

Life Cycle Assessment of a Wood Biomass Gasification Plant and Implications for Syngas and Biochar Utilization

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