Review of methodological choices in <scp>LCA</scp> of biorefinery systems ‐ key issues and recommendations

Ahlgren, Serina; Björklund, Anna; Ekman, Anna; Karlsson, Hanna; Berlin, Johanna; Börjesson, Pål; Ekvall, Tomas; Finnveden, Göran; Janssen, Mathias; Strid, Ingrid

doi:10.1002/bbb.1563

Cited by 113 publications

(96 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The approach chosen to deal with multi‐input and multi‐output systems in LCA has a strong influence on the results and is, therefore, a debated issue . The lack of harmonization between standards and handbooks and their ambiguity generate inconsistencies when choosing a solution for multifunctionality problems.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A carbon footprint assessment of multi‐output biorefineries with international biomass supply: a case study for the Netherlands

Vera

Hoefnagels

Kooij³

et al. 2019

Biofuels Bioprod Bioref

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The efficient use of lignocellulosic biomass for the production of advanced fuels and bio‐based materials has become increasingly relevant. In the EU, regulatory developments are stimulating the mobilization and production of bio‐based chemicals / materials and biofuels from lignocellulosic biomass. We used an attributional life‐cycle assessment approach based on region‐specific characteristics to determine the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) performance of different supply‐chain configurations with internationally sourced lignocellulosic biomass (stem wood, forest residues, sawmill residues, and sugarcane bagasse) from the USA, the Baltic States (BS), and Brazil (BR) for the simultaneous production of lactide and ethanol in a biorefinery located in the Netherlands (NL). The results are compared with a biorefinery that uses locally cultivated sugar beets. We also compared GHG emissions savings from the supply‐chain configurations with the minimum GHG saving requirements in the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) and relevant fossil‐based counterparts for bio‐based materials. The GHG emissions ‘from cradle to factory gate’ vary between 692 g CO2eq/kglactide (sawmill residues pellets from the BS) and 1002 g CO2eq/kglactide (sawmill chips from the USA) for lactide and between 15 g CO2eq/MJethanol (sawmill residues pellets from the BS) and 28 g CO2eq/MJethanol (bagasse pellets from BR) for ethanol. Upstream GHG emissions from the conversion routes have a relatively small impact compared with biomass conversion to lactide and ethanol. The use of woody biomass yields better GHG emissions performance for the conversion system than sugarcane bagasse or sugar beets as result of the higher lignin content that is used to generate electricity and heat internally for the system. Only the sugar beet from the NL production route is able to comply with RED II GHG savings criteria (65% by 2021). The GHG savings from polylactide acid (a derivate of lactic acid) are high and vary depending on choice of fossil‐based counterpart, with the highest savings reported when compared to polystyrene (PS). These high savings are mostly attributed to the negative emission credit from the embedded carbon in the materials. Several improvement options along the conversion routes were explored. Efficient feedstock supply chains (including pelletization and large ocean vessels) also allow for long‐distance transportation of biomass and conversion in large‐scale biorefineries close to demand centers with similar GHG performance to biorefineries with a local biomass supply. © 2019 The Authors. Biofuels, Bioproducts, and Biorefining published by Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A carbon footprint assessment of multi‐output biorefineries with international biomass supply: a case study for the Netherlands

Vera

Hoefnagels

Kooij³

et al. 2019

Biofuels Bioprod Bioref

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“…The aim of this study was to assess alternative routes for utilizing biogas from AD of maize. For this type of research question, an input-based FU such as 1 ha or 1 ton of biomass is usually appropriate (Ahlgren et al, 2015). In this study, we also want to include the agricultural production systems, thus, the FU was defined as 1 ha land cultivated with maize during 1 year.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Novel Routes of Biomethane Utilization in a Life Cycle Perspective

Moghaddam

Ahlgren

Nordberg

2016

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

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Biomethane, as a replacement for natural gas, reduces the use of fossil-based sources and supports the intended change from fossil to bio-based industry. The study assessed different biomethane utilization routes for production of methanol, dimethyl ether (DME), and ammonia, as fuel or platform chemicals and combined heat and power (CHP). Energy efficiency and environmental impacts of the different pathways was studied in a life cycle perspective covering the technical system from biomass production to the end product. Among the routes studied, CHP had the highest energy balance and least environmental impact. DME and methanol performed competently in energy balance and environmental impacts in comparison with the ammonia route. DME had the highest total energy output, as fuel, heat, and steam, among the different routes studied. Substituting the bio-based routes for fossil-based alternatives would give a considerable reduction in environmental impacts such as global warming potential and acidification potential for all routes studied, especially CHP, DME, and methanol. Eutrophication potential was mainly a result of biomass and biomethane production, with marginal differences between the different routes.

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“…Therefore, the remaining burdens were attributed to the studied systems (Ahlgren et al. ; Pelletier et al. ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consequential Life Cycle Assessment of Pasture‐based Milk Production: A Case Study in the Waikato Region, New Zealand

Chobtang¹,

McLaren²,

Ledgard³

et al. 2016

J of Industrial Ecology

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Summary Farm intensification options in pasture‐based dairy systems are generally associated with increased stocking rates coupled with the increased use of off‐farm inputs to support the additional feed demand of animals. However, as well as increasing milk production per hectare, intensification can also exacerbate adverse impacts on the environment. The objective of the present study was to investigate environmental trade‐offs associated with potential intensification methods for pasture‐based dairy farming systems in the Waikato region, New Zealand. The intensification scenarios selected were (1) increased pasture utilization efficiency (PUE scenario), (2) increased use of nitrogen (N) fertilizer to boost on‐farm pasture production (N fertilizer scenario), and (3) increased use of brought‐in feed as maize silage (MS) (MS scenario). Twelve impact categories were assessed. The PUE scenario was the environmentally preferred intensification method, and the preferred choice between the N fertilizer and MS scenarios depended upon trade‐offs between different environmental impacts. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to test the effects of choice associated with: (1) the approaches used to account for indirect land‐use change (ILUC) and (2) the competing product systems (conventional beef systems) used to handle the co‐product dairy meat for the climate change (CC) indicator. Results showed that the magnitude of the CC indicator results was influenced by the ILUC accounting approaches and the choice associated with a global marginal beef mix, but the relative CC indicator results for the three intensification scenarios remained unchanged.

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Review of methodological choices in LCA of biorefinery systems ‐ key issues and recommendations

Cited by 113 publications

References 30 publications

A carbon footprint assessment of multi‐output biorefineries with international biomass supply: a case study for the Netherlands

A carbon footprint assessment of multi‐output biorefineries with international biomass supply: a case study for the Netherlands

Assessment of Novel Routes of Biomethane Utilization in a Life Cycle Perspective

Consequential Life Cycle Assessment of Pasture‐based Milk Production: A Case Study in the Waikato Region, New Zealand

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