Maximizing Environmental Impact Savings Potential through Innovative Biorefinery Alternatives: An Application of the TM-LCA Framework for Regional Scale Impact Assessment

Sustainability

GiovannaCroxatto Vega¹  StigIrving Olsen¹  Joshua Sohn¹  Sander Bruun²  Morten Birkved³ 

[1] Department of Management Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark;Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, 1165 København, Denmark;Institute of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Environmental Technology, The University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark;

关键词: biorefinery;    territorial metabolism;    life cycle assessment;    biogas;    multi-criteria decision assessment;    bioplastic;    polyhydroxyalkanoates;    agricultural residues;   

DOI  :  10.3390/su11143836

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

In order to compare the maximum potential environmental impact savings that may result from the implementation of innovative biorefinery alternatives at a regional scale, the Territorial Metabolism-Life Cycle Assessment (TM-LCA) framework is implemented. With the goal of examining environmental impacts arising from technology-to-region (territory) compatibility, the framework is applied to two biorefinery alternatives, treating a mixture of cow manure and grape marc. The biorefineries produce either biogas alone or biogas and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a naturally occurring polymer. The production of PHA substitutes either polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or biosourced polylactide (PLA) production. The assessment is performed for two regions, one in Southern France and the other in Oregon, USA. Changing energy systems are taken into account via multiple dynamic energy provision scenarios. Territorial scale impacts are quantified using both LCA midpoint impact categories and single score indicators derived through multi-criteria decision assessment (MCDA). It is determined that in all probable future scenarios, a biorefinery with PHA-biogas co-production is preferable to a biorefinery only producing biogas. The TM-LCA framework facilitates the capture of technology and regionally specific impacts, such as impacts caused by local energy provision and potential impacts due to limitations in the availability of the defined feedstock leading to additional transport.

【 授权许可】

Unknown