Abstract
This paper reports outcomes of life cycle assessments (LCAs) of three different oleaginous bioenergy chains (oilseed rape, Ethiopian mustard and cardoon) under Southern Europe conditions. Accurate data on field practices previously collected during a three-year study at two sites were used. The vegetable oil produced by oleaginous seeds was used for power generation in medium-speed diesel engines while the crop residues were used in steam power plants. For each bioenergy chain, the environmental impact related to cultivation, transportation of agricultural products and industrial conversion for power generation was evaluated by calculating cumulative energy demand, acidification potential and global warming potential. For all three bioenergy chains, the results of the LCA study show a considerable saving of primary energy (from 70 to 86 GJ·ha−1) and greenhouse gas emissions (from 4.1 to 5.2 t CO2·ha−1) in comparison to power generation from fossil fuels, although the acidification potential of these bioenergy chains may be twice that of conventional power generation. In addition, the study highlights that land use changes due to the cultivation of the abovementioned crops reduce soil organic content and therefore worsen and increase greenhouse gas emissions for all three bioenergy chains. The study also demonstrates that the exploitation of crop residues for energy production greatly contributes to managing environmental impact of the three bioenergy chains.
Highlights
IntroductionEnergy crops include a large number of plant species that can be used to produce biofuels (ethanol, vegetable oil, biodiesel, chipped wood, pellets, etc.) for fuelling motor vehicles, heating systems and power generation plants [2]
World and EU biodiesel production is expected to increase in the near future because by 2020 a percentage of 10% of automotive fuels must be substituted for biofuels (Directive 2009/28/EC) [1].Energy crops include a large number of plant species that can be used to produce biofuels for fuelling motor vehicles, heating systems and power generation plants [2]
Oilseed rape and Ethiopian mustard fertilization accounts for around 53%–54% of cumulative energy demand (CED), 75%–76% of global warming potential (GWP) and around 89% of acidification potential (AP). This large impact of fertilization on oilseed rape and Ethiopian mustard cultivation is similar to other studies [23,51]
Summary
Energy crops include a large number of plant species that can be used to produce biofuels (ethanol, vegetable oil, biodiesel, chipped wood, pellets, etc.) for fuelling motor vehicles, heating systems and power generation plants [2]. Oleaginous species, in particular sunflower, soybean, oilseed rape, and palm oil are used worldwide for biodiesel production via transesterification of raw vegetable oils, but many other edible and non-edible species are under evaluation for vegetable oil and biodiesel production [3,4,5]. The raw vegetable oil, other than for biodiesel production, can be directly used to produce heat in industrial or household boilers [10]. Medium-speed diesel units (with power outputs up to 10–15 MW and conversion efficiencies of around 45%–47%)
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