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

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Author

  • Serina Ahlgren
  • Anna Bjorklund
  • Anna Ekman
  • Hanna Karlsson
  • Johanna Berlin
  • Pål Börjesson
  • Tomas Ekvall
  • Goran Finnveden
  • Matty Janssen
  • Ingrid Strid

Summary, in English

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). (C) 2015 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Publishing year

2015

Language

English

Pages

606-619

Publication/Series

Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining

Volume

9

Issue

5

Document type

Journal article review

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons Inc.

Topic

  • Energy Systems

Keywords

  • biorefinery
  • life cycle assessment
  • functional unit
  • allocation
  • land
  • use
  • biogenic carbon
  • review

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1932-1031