Title:
LCA of Biorefinery Systems: Environmental Impacts, Biogenic C Flows, Allocation Issues and Biodiversity Implications of a Norwegian Wood-Based Concept
Author(s):
Cherubini, F., Michelsen, O., Strømman, A.H.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Our strong dependence on fossil fuels results from the intensive use and consumption of fossil energy which, combined with diminishing fossil resources, causes environmental and political concerns. There is clear scientific evidence that emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), arising from fossil fuel combustion and land-use change as a result of human activities, are perturbing the Earth’s climate. Alternative solutions based on renewable energy and able to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels should be therefore promoted. Biorefinery systems represent a promising option to reduce our addiction to fossil fuels in the energy, transportation and chemical sectors. In biorefinery, similarly to oil refinery, biomass feedstocks can be converted to different classes of biofuels and chemicals through jointly applied conversion technologies. This work deals with a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a biorefinery system based on forest wood (location: central Norway). This system produces transportation biofuels, chemicals, electricity and heat. The assessment investigates some key methodological issues whose inclusion in LCA is very recent and their proper assessment is extremely important to ensure the sustainability of biomass systems. These issues are: • Climatic effect of biogenic CO2 emissions; • Allocation of environmental impacts to the different co-products using an innovative approach; • Potential impact of forest wood collection on biodiversity. Environmental performances of the biorefinery system are compared with those of a fossil reference system based on oil refinery and producing the same amount of products and services. Results show that the biorefinery system saves potential impacts in all environmental categories, besides eutrophication. However, any possible mitigation of climate change is lost if the climatic effect of biogenic CO2 emissions is considered: biorefinery and fossil reference systems have similar contribution to climate change.
Keywords:
biochemical, bioenergy, biorefinery, life cycle assessment (LCA)
Topic:
Policies and ensuring sustainability
Subtopic:
Sustainability criteria of biofuels (session 1)
Event:
18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
OC3.5
Pages:
2030 - 2034
ISBN-13:
978-88-89407-56-1
ISBN-10:
88-89407-56-5
Paper DOI:
10.5071/18thEUBCE2010-OC3.5
Price:
FREE
