Life cycle energy use, costs, and greenhouse gas emission of broiler farms in different production systems in Iran-a case study of Alborz province.

In this paper, a comprehensive study on corn-based ethanol in a Canadian context is conducted, which uses the most reliable and up to date data, considers realistic assumptions, and applies sound methodology to provide a basis for developing future scenarios for corn-based ethanol and compared the results with the conventional fuel, such as gasoline. It is estimated that the net energy value (NEV), defined as the energy content of a liter of ethanol minus the total energy use to produce a liter of ethanol, is 9.6 MJ L−1 (LHV), when co-products energy credits are not considered. In addition, a comparison of life cycle energy use for corn-based ethanol and gasoline reveals that the life cycle energy use to produce a liter of ethanol is considerably less than the life cycle energy use to produce a liter of gasoline. Furthermore, a comparison of life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for corn-based ethanol and gasoline reveals that the life cycle GHG emissions released per liter of ethanol produced is an order of magnitude lesser than the life cycle GHG emissions released per liter of gasoline produced, when GHG emissions displaced by ethanol co-products are considered in the estimation. Finally, a comparison of our results in terms of net fossil fuel input, net fossil fuel ratio and GHG emissions is carried out with the results obtained from the ERG biofuel analysis meta-model (EBAMM) to reflect both Canadian and US perspectives. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A feasibility study of microgrids for reducing energy use and GHG emissions in an industrial application

This paper quantifies life cycle energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) in India versus water quality improvements achieved from infrastructure investments. A first such analysis is conducted using operating data for a WRRF, which employs upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors and oxidation. On-site operations energy use, process GHG emissions, and embodied energy in infrastructure were quantified. The analysis showed energy use and GHG emissions of 0.2 watt-hours (Wh) and 0.3 gram carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents per liter (gCO2e/L) wastewater treated, and 1.3 Wh and 2.1 gCO2e/gBOD removed, achieving 81% biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and 999% fecal coliform removal annually. Process emissions of WRRFs contributed 44% of life cycle GHG emissions, similar in magnitude to those from electricity (46%), whereas infrastructure contributed 10%. Average WRRF-associated GHG emissions (0.9gCO2e/L) were lower than those expected if untreated wastewater was released to the river. Investments made by WRRFs in developing world cities improve water quality and may mitigate overall GHG emissions.

Life cycle embodied, operational and mobility-related energy and greenhouse gas emissions analysis of a green development in Melbourne, Australia

Impacts of pre-treatment technologies and co-products on greenhouse gas emissions and energy use of lignocellulosic ethanol production

Optimization of a residential solar combisystem for minimum life cycle cost, energy use and exergy destroyed

Life-cycle energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of palm fatty acid distillate derived renewable diesel

BackgroundThe availability of feedstock options is a key to meeting the volumetric requirement of 136.3 billion liters of renewable fuels per year beginning in 2022, as required in the US 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act. Life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of sorghum-based ethanol need to be assessed for sorghum to play a role in meeting that requirement.ResultsMultiple sorghum-based ethanol production pathways show diverse well-to-wheels (WTW) energy use and GHG emissions due to differences in energy use and fertilizer use intensity associated with sorghum growth and differences in the ethanol conversion processes. All sorghum-based ethanol pathways can achieve significant fossil energy savings. Relative to GHG emissions from conventional gasoline, grain sorghum-based ethanol can reduce WTW GHG emissions by 35% or 23%, respectively, when wet or dried distillers grains with solubles (DGS) is the co-product and fossil natural gas (FNG) is consumed as the process fuel. The reduction increased to 56% or 55%, respectively, for wet or dried DGS co-production when renewable natural gas (RNG) from anaerobic digestion of animal waste is used as the process fuel. These results do not include land-use change (LUC) GHG emissions, which we take as negligible. If LUC GHG emissions for grain sorghum ethanol as estimated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are included (26 g CO2e/MJ), these reductions when wet DGS is co-produced decrease to 7% or 29% when FNG or RNG is used as the process fuel. Sweet sorghum-based ethanol can reduce GHG emissions by 71% or 72% without or with use of co-produced vinasse as farm fertilizer, respectively, in ethanol plants using only sugar juice to produce ethanol. If both sugar and cellulosic bagasse were used in the future for ethanol production, an ethanol plant with a combined heat and power (CHP) system that supplies all process energy can achieve a GHG emission reduction of 70% or 72%, respectively, without or with vinasse fertigation. Forage sorghum-based ethanol can achieve a 49% WTW GHG emission reduction when ethanol plants meet process energy demands with CHP. In the case of forage sorghum and an integrated sweet sorghum pathway, the use of a portion of feedstock to fuel CHP systems significantly reduces fossil fuel consumption and GHG emissions.ConclusionsThis study provides new insight into life-cycle energy use and GHG emissions of multiple sorghum-based ethanol production pathways in the US. Our results show that adding sorghum feedstocks to the existing options for ethanol production could help in meeting the requirements for volumes of renewable, advanced and cellulosic bioethanol production in the US required by the EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard program.

Life cycle energy use and GHG emission assessment of coal-based SNG and power cogeneration technology in China

In this study, a comparative analysis was presented to detect the quota of urban and rural areas from total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 26 selected countries of the Middle East and Central Asia (MECA) during 1994–2014. For this purpose, 18 independent variables such as land area, population characteristics, energy use and consumption, gross domestic product (GDP), CO2 emissions, etc., were considered in addition to one dependent variable of total GHG emissions. Statistical modeling to investigate GHG emissions was constructed comprising the quantitative procedures of the correlation test and clustering analysis, which can be considered as the fundamental basis of each econometric analysis. The GHG emissions from the urban (rural) sector of total countries in 2014 were obtained as 3313.4 (1135.6) Mt of CO2 equivalents, which is about 74.5% (25.5%) of the total GHG emissions (4449.1 Mt of CO2 equivalents) in the MECA region. The correlation test between GHG emissions and urban indicators revealed the significant records (R from 0.745 to 0.981) compared with rural indicators (R from 0.337 to 0.890). Based on the clustering analysis of the countries, Cluster A, comprised of three countries of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, was categorized as countries with very high contributing to the total GHG emissions in the MECA region (~ 43.3%). The quotas of emissions from urban and rural sectors in the Cluster A were estimated as 83.1% and 16.9% from the total GHG emissions in 2014 (1921.3 Mt of CO2), while the same quotas were predicted as 73.1% and 26.9% from the total GHG emissions in 2030 (1921.3 Mt of CO2). This study carried out comprehensive research on the GHG emissions from the urban and rural areas in a crucial region of the world, which is faced with the rising growth of population, urbanization, globalization, high-energy use, and fuel consumption.

Realizing low life cycle energy use and GHG emissions in coal based polygeneration with CO2 capture

BackgroundSocietal pressures exist to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from farm animals, especially in beef cattle. Both total GHG and GHG emissions per unit of product decrease as productivity increases. Limitations of previous studies on GHG emissions are that they generally describe feed intake inadequately, assess the consequences of selection on particular traits only, or examine consequences for only part of the production chain. Here, we examine GHG emissions for the whole production chain, with the estimated cost of carbon included as an extra cost on traits in the breeding objective of the production system.MethodsWe examined an example beef production system where economic merit was measured from weaning to slaughter. The estimated cost of the carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) associated with feed intake change is included in the economic values calculated for the breeding objective traits and comes in addition to the cost of the feed associated with trait change. GHG emission effects on the production system are accumulated over the breeding objective traits, and the reduction in GHG emissions is evaluated, for different carbon prices, both for the individual animal and the production system.ResultsMultiple-trait selection in beef cattle can reduce total GHG and GHG emissions per unit of product while increasing economic performance if the cost of feed in the breeding objective is high. When carbon price was $10, $20, $30 and $40/ton CO2-e, selection decreased total GHG emissions by 1.1, 1.6, 2.1 and 2.6% per generation, respectively. When the cost of feed for the breeding objective was low, selection reduced total GHG emissions only if carbon price was high (~ $80/ton CO2-e). Ignoring the costs of GHG emissions when feed cost was low substantially increased emissions (e.g. 4.4% per generation or ~ 8.8% in 10 years).ConclusionsThe ability to reduce GHG emissions in beef cattle depends on the cost of feed in the breeding objective of the production system. Multiple-trait selection will reduce emissions, while improving economic performance, if the cost of feed in the breeding objective is high. If it is low, greater growth will be favoured, leading to an increase in GHG emissions that may be undesirable.

Replacing conventional materials (steel and iron) with lighter alternatives (e.g., aluminum, magnesium, and composites) decreases energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during vehicle use but may increase energy consumption and GHG emissions during vehicle production. There have been many life cycle assessment (LCA) studies on the benefits of vehicle lightweighting, but the wide variety of assumptions used makes it difficult to compare results from the studies. To clarify the benefits of vehicle lightweighting we have reviewed the available literature (43 studies). The GHG emissions and primary energy results from 33 studies that passed a screening process were harmonized using a common set of assumptions (lifetime distance traveled, fuel-mass coefficient, secondary weight reduction factor, fuel consumption allocation, recycling rate, and energy intensity of materials). After harmonization, all studies indicate that using aluminum, glass-fiber reinforced plastic, and high strength steel to replace conventional steel decreases the vehicle life cycle energy use and GHG emissions. Given the flexibility in options implied by the variety of materials available and consensus that these materials have substantial energy and emissions benefits, it seems likely that lightweighting will be used increasingly to improve fuel economy and reduce life cycle GHG emissions from vehicles.

A field experiment was carried out at Agriculture Farm, Palli Siksha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, West Bengal, India during kharif season of 2015 to compare rice cultivation in conventional transplanting (CT) and system of rice intensification (SRI) in terms of energy use, energy input output relationship and green house gas emission. Results showed that regardless of cultivars, conventional transplanting consumed 62.39% higher energy over SRI. Maximum energy input was associated with non renewable and indirect sources. Higher dose of nitrogenous fertilizer had contributed to 32.35% and 26.26% to the total input energy in CT and SRI respectively. Energy use efficiency (13.22), energy productivity (6.94 kg MJ-1), energy profitability (12.22) and energy intensity (4.60 MJ Rs-1) of hybrid rice varieties were noted higher in SRI. Maximum green house gas emission from rice field was also attributed to fertilizer nitrogen followed by diesel in both the system. Total green house gas emission in CT was estimated to 834.85 (kg CO2ha-1) i.e. 1.8 times of SRI. Engirdling different energy indices, total input energy and green house gas emission, the system of rice intensification was emerged as the most energy efficient and sustainable rice production system in resource stricken areas (Red Lateritic Zone).

High population growth and providing the food for this population have increased the amount of energy consumption in agricultural production systems. One of the most important issues for high energy consumption in recent century is the global warming where greenhouse gas (GHG) emission plays an important role. This study evaluated the energy balance between the input and output and the amount of GHG emission per unit area of wheat production in Iran. The total energy input and output were calculated as 31.5 and 44.6 GJ ha−1, respectively, where the highest energy consumer was chemical fertilizer with share of 64% of total energy. Total GHG emission was 1118.94 kgCO2eq ha−1 in which chemical fertilizer and diesel fuel had the highest contributions. The results of regression analysis indicated that use of 10 MJ in forms of direct, indirect, renewable, and nonrenewable energy leads to 3.0, 0.4, 2.8, and 0.6 kg ha−1 growth in wheat yield, respectively. The results of farm size analysis indicated that very large farms have better energy ratio and less GHG emission in comparison with other farm size levels due to better management. The results of this study indicated a list of choices which are available to reduce energy use and GHG emission in wheat production.