Examples of results of LCA of Examples of results of LCA of BiofuelsBiofuels

Paolo Masoni Paolo Masoni ENEA – LCA & Ecodesign Lab (ACS PROT – INN)ENEA – LCA & Ecodesign Lab (ACS PROT – INN)

paolo.masoni@bologna.enea.itpaolo.masoni@bologna.enea.it

UNESCOUNESCORome, 2007 18Rome, 2007 18thth January January

Table of Contents

• Research in progress on LCA methodology

• Main results of existing studies on LCA of Biofuels

• Conclusions

• Bibliography

Research on LCA methodology• LCA is the only sustainability decision-

supporting tool that has been standardised by ISO

• ISO-LCA with its simplifications has been the driving power for LCA diffusion, but it has limitations regarding empirical mechanisms, spatial/temporal aspects and economic/social parameters

• CALCAS Project (co-ordinated by ENEA): Research perspectives on a broadened and deepened LCA for more integrated sustainability assessments

CALCAS Objective• “deepening” the present models and tools to

improve their applicability in different contexts while increasing their reliability and usability

• “broadening” the LCA scope by better incorporating sustainability aspects and linking to neighbouring models, to improve their significance

• “leaping forward” by a revision/enrichment of foundations, through the crossing with other disciplines for sustainability evaluation.

LCA of biofuels: status

• A number of different studies• Two important review studies:

– IFEU: CO2 mitigation through biofuels in transport sector

– US EPA: a review of assessments conducted on bio-ethanol as a transportation fuel

• Only few studies on BTL and only for conversion path from lignocellulose

Main results from available studies (source: IFEU 2005)

• Existing LCA do not cover all biofuels for transportation

• Not all LCA studies are representative• Biofuels improve GHG and energy balances• Not many studies on other impacts are available• Different questions lead to different answers• Research need for Biomass To Liquid (BTL)

from residues• Different results for biofuels from energy crops

and from residues

LCA of Biomass To Liquid

• Few studies:– Küpers 2002; – L-B-Systemtechnik et al. 2002;– Marano & Ciferno 2001; – Mehlin et al. 2003; – Van den Broek et al. 2003.

Marano & Ciferno 2001• Objective: a full life-cycle inventory (LCI) of

GHG emissions for synthetic fuels produced using the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process derived from three types of feedstocks: coal, biomass and natural gas.

Fuel chain options

Mehlin (2003)• Investigated the use of poplar trees, miscanthus, and

wood residues for the production of synfuel. Comparison with other fuels

Results: GWP of fuel life cycle

SundieselSource: Volkswagen, 2005

Source: Volkswagen, 2005

Studied scenarios

Source: Volkswagen, 2005

Source: Volkswagen, 2005

Conclusions

• A good number of LCA studies on biofuels exists, but only few on BTL

• Good perspectives for BTL but additional analysis is required to optimise the system, to identify the best pathway and to reduce the uncertainties/data gaps

References• Küpers 2002 Küpers G. R. (2002) Climate neutral transport fuels from biomass; the BIG-

FiT concept.

• L-B-Systemtechnik et al. 2002 L-B-Systemtechnik, Choudhury R., Wurster R., Schindler J., Miller M., Brink-man N., Armstrong A., Rckead D., Jersey G., Kerby M., Khehgi H., Robbins J., Cadu J. and Breton D. L. (2002) GM Well-to-Wheel Analysis of Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Advanced Fuel/ Vehicle Systems - A European Study. L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH, Ottobrunn, DE, retrieved from: www.lbst.de/gm-wtw.

• Marano & Ciferno 2001 Marano J. J. and Ciferno J. P. (2001) Life-Cycle Greenhouse-Gas Emissions In-ventory For Fischer-Tropsch Fuels. U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Prepared by, Energy and Environmental Solutions, LLC, retrieved from: http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/others/techrpts/techrpts_toc.html.

• Mehlin et al. 2003 Mehlin M., Zauner M., Gühnemann A., Aoki R. and Vance C. (2003) Renewa-ble Fuels for Cross Border Transportation. ENV.CI/ETU/2001/0092. German Aerospace Center (Institute of Transport Research), Institute of Energy and En-vironment, University of Stuttgart (Department of Transportation Planning and Traffic Engineering) for European Commission, retrieved from: http://viewls.viadesk.com.

• van den Broek et al. 2003 van den Broek R., van Walwijk M., Niermeijer P. and Tijmensen M. (2003) Bio-fuels in the Dutch market: a fact-finding study. NOVEM, Utrecht.

References• Stephan Krinke (Volkswagen AG), 2005. SunDiesel - a new promising biofuel

forsustainable mobility• Guido A. Reinhardt, Nicolai Jungk IFEU, 2001. Pros and cons of RME

compared to conventional diesel fuel• KARL JONASSON, BJÖRN SANDÉN, 2004 Time and Scale Aspects in Life

Cycle. Assessment of Emerging Technologies. Case Study on Alternative Transport Fuels. CHALMERS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY. CPM-report 2004:6, Göteborg, Sweden

• Tomas Ekvall, 2002 Limitations of consequencial LCA. InLCA/LCM 2002 e-Conference 20-25 May 2002

• Harro von Blottnitz, Mary Ann Curran, 2006. A review of assessment conducted on bio-ethanol as a transportation fuel from a net energy, grenhouse gas, and environmental life-cycle perspective. Accepted for publication in the Journal of Cleaner Production (2006)

• Guido Reinardt IFEU, Comparison of Well-to Wheel Analysis of Biofuels. Synbios Second Generation Automotive Biofuel Conference. 18-20 May 2005, Stockholm Sveden.

• Summer School RENEW "LCA for biofuels" - 10 - ESU-services