Journal article
GHG emission factors for bioelectricity, biomethane, and bioethanol quantified for 24 biomass substrates with consequential life-cycle assessment
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission savings from biofuels dramatically depend upon the source of energy displaced and the effects induced outside the energy sector, for instance land-use changes (LUC). Using consequential life-cycle assessment and including LUC effects, this study provides GHG emission factors (EFs) for bioelectricity, biomethane, and bioethanol produced from twenty-four biomasses (from dedicated crops to residues of different origin) under a fossil and a non-fossil energy system.
Accounting for numerous variations in the pathways, a total of 554 GHG EFs were quantified. The results showed that, important GHG savings were obtained with residues and seaweed, both under fossil and non-fossil energy systems. For high-yield perennial crops (e.g. willow and Miscanthus), GHG savings were achieved only under fossil energy systems.
Biofuels from annual crops and residues that are today used in the feed sector should be discouraged, as LUC GHG emissions exceeded any GHG savings from displacing conventional energy sources. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
| Language: | English |
|---|---|
| Year: | 2016 |
| Pages: | 123-133 |
| ISSN: | 18732976 and 09608524 |
| Types: | Journal article |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.02.052 |
| ORCIDs: | Tonini, Davide , Alvarado-Morales, Merlin and Astrup, Thomas Fruergaard |
Bioelectric phenomena Bioengineering Bioethanol Biofuels Biomass Consequential life-cycle assessment Conventional energy sources Crops Different origins Electrophysiology Environmental Engineering Ethanol GHG emission GHG emission factors Greenhouse gases Land use Land-use change Land-use changes Life cycle Miscanthus Non-fossil energies Perennial crops SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production SDG 15 - Life on Land SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy Salix Source of energy Waste Waste Management and Disposal Wastes
