Energy use indicators in energy and life cycle assessments of biofuels: review and recommendations
Journal article, 2012

In this study we investigate how indicators for energy use are applied in a set of life cycle assessment (LCA) and energy analysis case studies of biofuels. We found five inherently different types of indicators to describe energy use: (1) fossil energy, (2) secondary energy, (3) cumulative energy demand, (4) net energy balance, and (5) total extracted energy. It was also found that the examined reports and articles, the choice of energy use indicator was seldom motivated or discussed in relation to other energy use indicators. In order to investigate the differences between these indicators, they were applied to a case. The life cycle energy use of palm oil methyl ester was calculated and reported using these five different indicators for energy use, giving considerably different output results. This is in itself not unexpected, but indicates the importance of clearly identifying, describing and motivating the choice of energy use indicator. The indicators can all be useful in specific situations, depending on the goal and scope of the individual study, but the choice of indicators need to be better reported and motivated than what is generally done today.

Energy use

indicator

energy analysis

palm oil methyl ester

LCA

Author

Rickard Arvidsson

Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Environmental Systems Analysis

Kristin Fransson

Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Environmental Systems Analysis

Morgan Fröling

Mid Sweden University

Magdalena Svanström

Chalmers, Chemical and Biological Engineering, Chemical Environmental Science

Sverker Molander

Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Environmental Systems Analysis

Journal of Cleaner Production

0959-6526 (ISSN)

Vol. 31 54-61

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Energy

Subject Categories

Other Environmental Engineering

DOI

10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.03.001

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3/1/2018 1