Comparative life cycle assessment study on environmental impact of oil production from micro-algae and terrestrial oilseed crops. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jez, S.; Spinelli, D.; Fierro, A.; Dibenedetto, A.; Aresta, M.; Busi, E.; Basosi, R.
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 239(2017)
• Page Start: 266
• Page End: 275
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Biofuel -- Sustainability -- Oil crops -- Micro-algae -- Life-cycle assessment; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.05.027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Highlights: A comparative LCA of microalgae oil and terrestrial oilseeds crops was carried out. Microalgae oil has the greatest impact due to the electricity consumption. Three scenarios for micro-algae oil with renewable source was investigated. Photovoltaics compared to biogas shows the best environmental performances. Co-products valorization might reduce the impact of algae oil. Abstract: In this study the LCA methodology is applied in order to satisfy two goals: i) to evaluate the hot spots in site-specific production chain of biodiesel from terrestrial and micro-algae feedstock; ii) to compare quantitatively, utilizing primary data, the impacts of the first generation in respect to the third generation bio-fuels. Results show that micro-algae are neither competitive yet with traditional oil crops nor with fossil fuel. The use of renewable technologies as photovoltaics and biogas self production might increase the competitiveness of micro-algae oil. Further investigations are however necessary to optimize their production chain and to increase the added value of co-products.