Review of methodological choices in LCA of biorefinery systems - key issues and recommendations
Reviewartikel, 2015

The current trend in biomass conversion technologies is toward more efficient utilization of biomass feedstock in multiproduct biorefineries. Many life-cycle assessment (LCA) studies of biorefinery systems have been performed but differ in how they use the LCA methodology. Based on a review of existing LCA standards and guidelines, this paper provides recommendations on how to handle key methodological issues when performing LCA studies of biorefinery systems. Six key issues were identified: (i) goal definition, (ii) functional unit, (iii) allocation of biorefinery outputs, (iv) allocation of biomass feedstock, (v) land use, and (vi) biogenic carbon and timing of emissions. Many of the standards and guidelines reviewed here provide only general methodological recommendations. Some make more specific methodological recommendations, but these often differ between standards. In this paper we present some clarifications (e.g. examples of research questions and suitable functional units) and methodological recommendations (e.g. on allocation).

biorefinery

allocation

life cycle assessment

land use

functional unit

review

biogenic carbon

Författare

Serina Ahlgren

Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet (SLU)

Anna Björklund

Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH)

Anna Ekman

Lunds universitet

Hanna Karlsson

Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet (SLU)

Johanna Berlin

SP Sveriges Tekniska Forskningsinstitut AB

Pål Börjesson

Lunds universitet

Tomas Ekvall

IVL Svenska Miljöinstitutet

Göran Finnveden

Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan (KTH)

Mathias Janssen

Chalmers, Energi och miljö, Environmental Systems Analysis

Ingrid Strid

Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet (SLU)

Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining

1932-104X (ISSN) 1932-1031 (eISSN)

Vol. 9 5 606-619

Drivkrafter

Hållbar utveckling

Styrkeområden

Energi

Ämneskategorier

Annan naturresursteknik

Miljöledning

Bioenergi

Energisystem

DOI

10.1002/bbb.1563

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2021-03-09