Analysis of allocation methods of bioethanol LCA Keiji Kodera

Analysis of allocation methods of bioethanol LCA-1-Analysis of allocation methods of bioethanol LCA-2-Foreword CML (Center of Environmental Science) in Leiden University is in charge of the scientific coordination of a project named " CALCAS " which stands for " Coordination Action for Innovation in Life-Cycle Analysis for Sustainability". CALCAS is funded within the 6th Framework Programme of the European Union. The objective of the project is to develop (ISO-) LCA by: "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, and "leaping forward" by a revision/enrichment of foundations, through the crossing with other disciplines for sustainability evaluation. I was involved in the project under the supervision of Dr. Gjalt Huppes and Dr. Jeroen B.Guinee from CML and Dr. Michiel van Drunen from IVM. My task in CALCAS project belonged to the first objective: deepening the present models and tools. Expected results of deepening the LCA are: critical review of the current research needs and limitations related to ISO-LCA practice, Standardization guidelines of deepened and broadened LCA, and Main R&D lines to improve reliability, significance and usability of the applications of standardized LCA. Particularly, I worked for the analysis of allocation methods in bioethanol LCA. The aim of my research was to figure out the current situation and problems of allocation procedures of LCA practice in bioethanol by looking at differences of studies and analyzing of them. The research started from understanding of LCA in general and allocation procedure. Then I collected literatures related to bioethanol LCA mainly from website. 35 literatures were collected in total. Summaries focused on allocation and relevant information of each literature were made by following suggestions of the supervisors. Having made summaries and collected data, analyses of the studies were carried out from several viewpoints. My personal purpose of the traineeship was to acquire deeper understanding of LCA through learning by doing research. Fortunately, I could be engaged in the suitable theme thanks to Dr. Huppes and Dr. Guinee. They kindly accepted me despite the fact that I am not a professional researcher of LCA. The research definitely gave me sufficient knowledge of LCA. In addition, I also learned how to approach environmental problems and reach its goals with scientific insight. I would like to thank Dr. Gjalt …

[1]  Björn A. Sandén,et al.  Time and Scale Aspects in Life Cycle Assessment of Emerging Technologies: Case Study on Alternative Transport Fuels , 2004 .

[2]  Ayhan Demirbas,et al.  Progress and recent trends in biofuels , 2007 .

[3]  Fausto Freire,et al.  Life cycle energy analysis for bioethanol: allocation methods and implications for energy efficiency and renewability , 2004 .

[4]  Harro von Blottnitz,et al.  A comparison of the environmental benefits of bagasse-derived electricity and fuel ethanol on a life-cycle basis , 2006 .

[5]  Carlos A Cardona,et al.  Fuel ethanol production: process design trends and integration opportunities. , 2007, Bioresource technology.

[6]  K. Paustian,et al.  Energy and Environmental Aspects of Using Corn Stover for Fuel Ethanol , 2003 .

[7]  E Gnansounou,et al.  Refining sweet sorghum to ethanol and sugar: economic trade-offs in the context of North China. , 2005, Bioresource technology.

[8]  Michael Q. Wang,et al.  The Energy Balance of Corn Ethanol: An Update , 2002 .

[9]  G. Rebitzera,et al.  Life cycle assessment Part 1 : Framework , goal and scope definition , inventory analysis , and applications , 2004 .

[10]  M. Curran,et al.  A review of assessments conducted on bio-ethanol as a transportation fuel from a net energy, greenhouse gas, and environmental life cycle perspective , 2007 .

[11]  André Faaij,et al.  Outlook for advanced biofuels , 2006 .

[12]  S. Slingerland,et al.  Drivers for an International Biofuels Market , 2005 .

[13]  Seungdo Kim,et al.  Allocation procedure in ethanol production system from corn grain i. system expansion , 2002 .

[14]  Ruediger Kuehr,et al.  Strategic sustainable development — selection, design and synergies of applied tools , 2002 .

[15]  M. Graboski.  Fossil Energy Use in the Manufacture of Corn Ethanol , 2002 .

[16]  Seungdo Kim,et al.  Environmental aspects of ethanol derived from no-tilled corn grain: nonrenewable energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions , 2005 .

[17]  B. Dale,et al.  Life cycle assessment of various cropping systems utilized for producing biofuels: Bioethanol and biodiesel , 2005 .

[18]  S. Polasky,et al.  Environmental, economic, and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and ethanol biofuels. , 2006, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

[19]  H. Hong,et al.  Fuel-cycle assessment of selected bioethanol production. , 2007 .

[20]  B. Bakshi,et al.  Comparative study of biofuels vs petroleum fuels using input-output hybrid life-cycle assessment , 2006 .

[21]  Mark A. J. Huijbregts,et al.  Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel demand and solar energy conversion efficiency in European bioethanol production for automotive purposes , 2007 .

[22]  J. Krozer,et al.  How to get LCA in the right direction , 1998 .

[23]  R. P. Beeharry,et al.  Carbon balance of sugarcane bioenergy systems , 2001 .

[24]  Heather L. MacLean,et al.  Investigating the sustainability of lignocellulose-derived fuels for light-duty vehicles , 2006 .

[25]  A. Dufey.  Biofuels production, trade and sustainable development: emerging issues. , 2006 .

[26]  J. Olsen,et al.  The European Commission , 2020, The European Union.

[27]  B. Weidema.  Market aspects in product life cycle inventory methodology , 1993 .

[28]  Fausto Freire,et al.  Renewability and life-cycle energy efficiency of bioethanol and bio-ethyl tertiary butyl ether (bioETBE): Assessing the implications of allocation , 2006 .

[29]  Sven Bernesson,et al.  A limited LCA comparing large- and small-scale production of ethanol for heavy engines under Swedish conditions , 2006 .

[30]  Göran Finnveden,et al.  Allocation in ISO 14041—a critical review , 2001 .

[31]  Shabbir H. Gheewala,et al.  Energy balance and GHG-abatement cost of cassava utilization for fuel ethanol in Thailand , 2007 .

[32]  Jeroen B. Guinee,et al.  Handbook on life cycle assessment operational guide to the ISO standards , 2002 .

[33]  B. Dale,et al.  Ethanol Fuels: E10 or E85 – Life Cycle Perspectives (5 pp) , 2006 .

[34]  Tim Grant,et al.  Life-cycle analysis of emissions from fuel ethanol and blends in Australian heavy and light vehicles , 2007 .

[35]  B. Dale,et al.  Cumulative Energy and Global Warming Impact from the Production of Biomass for Biobased Products , 2003 .

[36]  L. Lynd,et al.  Biocommodity Engineering , 1999, Biotechnology progress.

[37]  Anne-Marie Tillman,et al.  Significance of decision-making for LCA methodology , 2000 .