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Life Cycle Assessment of Second Generation Bioethanols Produced From Scandinavian Boreal Forest Resources

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  • Ryan M. Bright
  • Anders Hammer Strømman

Abstract

The boreal forests of Scandinavia offer a considerable resource base, and use of the resource for the production of less carbon‐intensive alternative transport fuel is one strategy being considered in Norway. Here, we quantify the resource potential and investigate the environmental implications of wood‐based transportation relative to a fossil reference system for a specific region in Norway. We apply a well‐to‐wheel life cycle assessment to evaluate four E85 production system designs based on two distinct wood‐to‐ethanol conversion technologies. We form best and worst case scenarios to assess the sensitivity of impact results through the adjustment of key parameters, such as biomass‐to‐ethanol conversion efficiency and upstream biomass transport distance. Depending on the system design, global warming emission reductions of 46% to 68% per‐MJ‐gasoline avoided can be realized in the region, along with reductions in most of the other environmental impact categories considered. We find that the region's surplus forest‐bioenergy resources are vast; use for the production of bioethanol today would have resulted in the displacement of 55% to 68% of the region's gasoline‐based global warming emission—or 6% to 8% of Norway's total global warming emissions associated with road transportation.

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  • Ryan M. Bright & Anders Hammer Strømman, 2009. "Life Cycle Assessment of Second Generation Bioethanols Produced From Scandinavian Boreal Forest Resources," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 13(4), pages 514-531, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:13:y:2009:i:4:p:514-531
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-9290.2009.00149.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Cambero, Claudia & Sowlati, Taraneh, 2014. "Assessment and optimization of forest biomass supply chains from economic, social and environmental perspectives – A review of literature," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 62-73.
    2. Lars Wietschel & Lukas Messmann & Andrea Thorenz & Axel Tuma, 2021. "Environmental benefits of large‐scale second‐generation bioethanol production in the EU: An integrated supply chain network optimization and life cycle assessment approach," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(3), pages 677-692, June.
    3. Wang, H. & Bi, X. & Clift, R., 2021. "Utilization of forestry waste materials in British Columbia: Options and strategies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    4. Wiloso, Edi Iswanto & Heijungs, Reinout & de Snoo, Geert R., 2012. "LCA of second generation bioethanol: A review and some issues to be resolved for good LCA practice," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(7), pages 5295-5308.
    5. Wang, Haoqi & Zhang, Siduo & Bi, Xiaotao & Clift, Roland, 2020. "Greenhouse gas emission reduction potential and cost of bioenergy in British Columbia, Canada," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).

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