The life cycle emission of greenhouse gases associated with plant oils used as biofuel

Reijnders, L.

doi:10.1016/j.renene.2010.07.003

Cited by 20 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Oil palm is productive, profitable, and expanding in area (Corley & Tinker, ), but its success as an agricultural commodity is reason for environmental concern. Current production of South‐East Asian palm oil and use as biofuel is far from C neutral (Reijnders & Huijbregts, ; Sheil et al ., ; Reijnders, ). Use of peat soils causes CO 2 emissions that exceed the amount sequestered in harvested products (Couwenberg et al ., ; Hooijer et al ., ; Hergoualc'h & Verchot, ); 5% of peat soils in the portfolio of a palm oil production facility is sufficient to reduce the average ‘emissions saving’ ratio to values below the standards set by the EU Renewable Energy Directive (Khasanah et al ., ).…”

Section: Tropical Case Study 3: Oil Palmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management swing potential for bioenergy crops

et al. 2013

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Bioenergy crops are often classified (and subsequently regulated) according to species that have been evaluated as environmentally beneficial or detrimental, but in practice, management decisions rather than species per se can determine the overall environmental impact of a bioenergy production system. Here, we review the greenhouse gas balance and 'management swing potential' of seven different bioenergy cropping systems in temperate and tropical regions. Prior land use, harvesting techniques, harvest timing, and fertilization are among the key management considerations that can swing the greenhouse gas balance of bioenergy from positive to negative or the reverse. Although the management swing potential is substantial for many cropping systems, there are some species (e.g., soybean) that have such low bioenergy yield potentials that the environmental impact is unlikely to be reversed by management. High-yielding bioenergy crops (e.g., corn, sugarcane, Miscanthus, and fast-growing tree species), however, can be managed for environmental benefits or losses, suggesting that the bioenergy sector would be better informed by incorporating management-based evaluations into classifications of bioenergy feedstocks.

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Section: Tropical Case Study 3: Oil Palmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management swing potential for bioenergy crops

et al. 2013

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“…It has generally been argued that greenhouse gas releases from land use change and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions from the use of fertilizers can potentially be significant enough to change the environmental profile of biodiesel. , …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of ‘Carbon Hot-Spots’ and Quantification of GHG Intensities in the Biodiesel Supply Chain Using Hybrid LCA and Structural Path Analysis

Acquaye

Wiedmann

Feng

et al. 2011

Environ. Sci. Technol.

150

114

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16It is expected that biodiesel production in the EU will remain the dominant contributor as part 17 of a 10% minimum binding target for biofuel in transportation fuel by 2020 within the 20% 18 renewable energy target in the overall EU energy mix. Life cycle assessments (LCA) of 19 biodiesel to evaluate its environmental impacts have, however, remained questionable, 20 mainly because of the adoption of a traditional process analysis approach resulting in system 21 boundary truncation and because of issues regarding the impacts of land use change and N 2 O 22 emissions from fertiliser application. In this study, a hybrid LCA methodology is used to 23 evaluate the life cycle CO 2 equivalent emissions of rape methyl ester (RME) biodiesel. The 24 methodology uses input-output analysis to estimate upstream indirect emissions in order to 25 complement traditional process LCA in a hybrid framework. It was estimated that traditional 26 LCA accounted for 2.7 kg CO 2 -eq per kg of RME or 36.6% of total life cycle emissions of 27 the RME supply chin. Further to the inclusion of upstream indirect impacts in the LCA 28 system (which accounted for 23% of the total life cycle emissions), emissions due to direct 29 land use change (6%) and indirect land use change (16.5%) and N 2 O emissions from fertiliser 30 shown, for instance, that inputs from the 'Other Chemical Products' sector (identified as 34 phosphoric acid, H 3 PO 4 ) into the biodiesel production process represented the highest carbon 35 emission path (or hot-spot) with 5.35% of total upstream indirect emissions of the RME 36 biodiesel supply chain. 37 38

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“…The scientific literature is full of LCA studies on biofuels, which show differing results according to the different inputs used or the different boundaries taken for the analysis [38], [105], [116][117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124][125][126]. Two of the major strengths of biofuels are their carbon neutral characteristic and renewable aspect, while generating new income for farmer and providing security energy supply.…”

Section: Life Cycle Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

State of the art of biofuels from pure plant oil

Russo

Dassisti

Lawlor

et al. 2012

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

109

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The pollution caused by fuel combustion either for mechanical or electrical energy generation purposes is nowadays one of the most important environmental issues. It has been proven that combustion emissions, particularly those from cars and trucks, are linked with severe damages to the environment and human health. Along with the environmental problems, is necessary to consider that fossil resources are declining and their exploitation is getting more and more expensive. Bioenergy represent a sustainable solution for energy generation. Bioenergy is renewable energy made from plant-derived organic matter, collectively termed "biomass". Biomass-based energy sources are potentially carbon dioxide neutral and recycle the same carbon atoms. Life cycle assessments are reported to evaluate the net environmental impacts of biofuels. The term biofuel refers to liquid or gaseous fuels for the internal combustion engines that are predominantly produced from biomass. Biofuel policy might capitalize on the production of biofuels supporting rural economic development and sustainable agriculture. Amongst biofuels pure plant oil (PPO) has been investigated. This paper sets out to review the state of the art for PPO use as fuel in diesel engines, based on a wide literature review.

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The life cycle emission of greenhouse gases associated with plant oils used as biofuel

Cited by 20 publications

References 10 publications

Management swing potential for bioenergy crops

Management swing potential for bioenergy crops

Identification of ‘Carbon Hot-Spots’ and Quantification of GHG Intensities in the Biodiesel Supply Chain Using Hybrid LCA and Structural Path Analysis

State of the art of biofuels from pure plant oil

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