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A Life Cycle Assessment of Biomethane Production from Waste Feedstock Through Different Upgrading Technologies

Author

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  • Ciro Florio

    (Department of Science and Technology (DiST), University of Naples “Parthenope”, Centro Direzionale, ISOLA C4 80143 Naples, Italy)

  • Gabriella Fiorentino

    (Department of Science and Technology (DiST), University of Naples “Parthenope”, Centro Direzionale, ISOLA C4 80143 Naples, Italy)

  • Fabiana Corcelli

    (Department of Science and Technology (DiST), University of Naples “Parthenope”, Centro Direzionale, ISOLA C4 80143 Naples, Italy)

  • Sergio Ulgiati

    (Department of Science and Technology (DiST), University of Naples “Parthenope”, Centro Direzionale, ISOLA C4 80143 Naples, Italy
    School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, 19 Xinjiekouwai St., Haidian District, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Stefano Dumontet

    (Department of Science and Technology (DiST), University of Naples “Parthenope”, Centro Direzionale, ISOLA C4 80143 Naples, Italy)

  • Joshua Güsewell

    (Institute of Energy Economics and Rational Use of Energy (IER), University of Stuttgart, Heßbrühlstrasse 49a, 70565 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Ludger Eltrop

    (Institute of Energy Economics and Rational Use of Energy (IER), University of Stuttgart, Heßbrühlstrasse 49a, 70565 Stuttgart, Germany)

Abstract

Upgrading consists of a range of purification processes aimed at increasing the methane content of biogas to reach specifications similar to natural gas. In this perspective, an environmental assessment, based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method, of different upgrading technologies is helpful to identify the environmental characteristics of biomethane and the critical steps for improvement. The aim of this work is to conduct an LCA of biomethane production from waste feedstock, using the SimaPro software. The study focuses on the comparison of several upgrading technologies (namely, membrane separation, cryogenic separation, pressure swing adsorption, chemical scrubbing, high pressure water scrubbing) and the on-site cogeneration of electricity and heat, including the environmental benefits deriving from the substitution of fossil-based products. The results show a better environmental performance of the cogeneration option in most of the impact categories. The Fossil resource scarcity is the impact category which is mainly benefited by the avoided production of natural gas, with savings of about 0.5 kg oil eq/m 3 of biogas for all the investigated technologies, with an average improvement of about 76% compared to conventional cogeneration. The results show that the membrane upgrading technology is slightly more environmentally convenient than the other upgrading technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Ciro Florio & Gabriella Fiorentino & Fabiana Corcelli & Sergio Ulgiati & Stefano Dumontet & Joshua Güsewell & Ludger Eltrop, 2019. "A Life Cycle Assessment of Biomethane Production from Waste Feedstock Through Different Upgrading Technologies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:4:p:718-:d:208160
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    2. Elena Tamburini & Mattias Gaglio & Giuseppe Castaldelli & Elisa Anna Fano, 2020. "Biogas from Agri-Food and Agricultural Waste Can Appreciate Agro-Ecosystem Services: The Case Study of Emilia Romagna Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-15, October.
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    7. Egidijus Buivydas & Kęstutis Navickas & Kęstutis Venslauskas, 2024. "A Life Cycle Assessment of Methane Slip in Biogas Upgrading Based on Permeable Membrane Technology with Variable Methane Concentration in Raw Biogas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-18, April.
    8. Lombardi, Lidia & Francini, Giovanni, 2020. "Techno-economic and environmental assessment of the main biogas upgrading technologies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 440-458.
    9. Naquash, Ahmad & Qyyum, Muhammad Abdul & Haider, Junaid & Bokhari, Awais & Lim, Hankwon & Lee, Moonyong, 2022. "State-of-the-art assessment of cryogenic technologies for biogas upgrading: Energy, economic, and environmental perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    10. Sylwia Myszograj, 2019. "Biogas and Methane Potential of Pre-Thermally Disintegrated Bio-Waste," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-12, October.
    11. Robert Czubaszek & Agnieszka Wysocka-Czubaszek & Piotr Banaszuk, 2020. "GHG Emissions and Efficiency of Energy Generation through Anaerobic Fermentation of Wetland Biomass," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-25, December.
    12. Eric Santos-Clotas & Alba Cabrera-Codony & Alba Castillo & Maria J. Martín & Manel Poch & Hèctor Monclús, 2019. "Environmental Decision Support System for Biogas Upgrading to Feasible Fuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-14, April.
    13. Khan, Muhammad Usman & Lee, Jonathan Tian En & Bashir, Muhammad Aamir & Dissanayake, Pavani Dulanja & Ok, Yong Sik & Tong, Yen Wah & Shariati, Mohammad Ali & Wu, Sarah & Ahring, Birgitte Kiaer, 2021. "Current status of biogas upgrading for direct biomethane use: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    14. Bidart, Christian & Wichert, Martin & Kolb, Gunther & Held, Michael, 2022. "Biogas catalytic methanation for biomethane production as fuel in freight transport - A carbon footprint assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    15. Rasheed, Rizwan & Tahir, Fizza & Yasar, Abdullah & Sharif, Faiza & Tabinda, Amtul Bari & Ahmad, Sajid Rashid & Wang, Yubo & Su, Yuehong, 2022. "Environmental life cycle analysis of a modern commercial-scale fibreglass composite-based biogas scrubbing system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 1261-1271.
    16. Izabela Samson-Bręk & Marlena Owczuk & Anna Matuszewska & Krzysztof Biernat, 2022. "Environmental Assessment of the Life Cycle of Electricity Generation from Biogas in Polish Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-22, August.
    17. Robert Bedoić & Goran Smoljanić & Tomislav Pukšec & Lidija Čuček & Davor Ljubas & Neven Duić, 2021. "Geospatial Analysis and Environmental Impact Assessment of a Holistic and Interdisciplinary Approach to the Biogas Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-20, August.
    18. Elena Tamburini & Mattias Gaglio & Giuseppe Castaldelli & Elisa Anna Fano, 2020. "Is Bioenergy Truly Sustainable When Land-Use-Change (LUC) Emissions Are Accounted for? The Case-Study of Biogas from Agricultural Biomass in Emilia-Romagna Region, Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-20, April.
    19. Rufis Fregue Tiegam Tagne & Xiaobin Dong & Solomon G. Anagho & Serena Kaiser & Sergio Ulgiati, 2021. "Technologies, challenges and perspectives of biogas production within an agricultural context. The case of China and Africa," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(10), pages 14799-14826, October.

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