Course: BFM 202 Biodiesel Production

Review Lecture

Environmental Implications of Biodiesel (LCA)

Unit 14 Environmental Implications of Biodiesel (LCA)

Environmental Implications of Biodiesel (Life Cycle Assessment)

BFM202 unit 14 Life Cycle Analysis

Life Cycle Analysis helps determine the sustainability of biofuels and the impacts on the environment. However, it is a complex undertaking. There are several LCA tools that try to look at the relationships between: Inputs – outputs to the environment – and ultimately the service/benefit to society. The conclusions or outcomes of the life cycle analysis will depend on the subjective set of values most important to the study and given political priority. Results would vary if the values are preservation of fossil fuel resources and reducing climate change versus a priority for effects of acidification and eutrophication of waterways due to run-off of pesticides used to produce the crops being considered for biofuels.

Tools used to determine Life Cycle Analysis must compile and evaluate complex information and is usually set up in 4 steps:

1. Scoping
2. Inventory
3. Impact assessment
4. Interpretation

There are various models used to do a life cycle analysis.

GREET – The Greenhouse gases Regulated Emissions and Energy use in Transportation model is a spreadsheet data base developed by Argonne National Laboratories that links energy use to emissions on a life cycle basis from “cradle to grave”.

FASOM – Forrest and Agricultural Sector Optimization Model and FAPRI – Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute. These are Agricultural models measuring effects on Greenhouse Gases and used to track CO2, CH4, N0_x emissions as well as tracking carbon sequestration. FAPRI also uses biological and economic variables.

Life Cycle Analysis reveals a flaw in the “no net CO2 emissions” statement for biodiesel due to consumption of fossil fuels during crop production, manufacturing of the farm machinery to do the work, fertilizers used to assist the growth of the crop, and pesticides used to protect the crop that might run-off into waterways.

If preservation of fossil fuel resources and reducing climate change due to greenhouse gases, then Biodiesel is preferred over petrodiesel from fossil fuels.