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Environmental Performance of Miscanthus, Switchgrass and Maize: Can C4 Perennials Increase the Sustainability of Biogas Production?

Author

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  • Andreas Kiesel

    (Department Biobased Products and Energy Crops, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstrasse 23, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Moritz Wagner

    (Department Biobased Products and Energy Crops, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstrasse 23, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany)

  • Iris Lewandowski

    (Department Biobased Products and Energy Crops, Institute of Crop Science, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstrasse 23, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany)

Abstract

Biogas is considered a promising option for complementing the fluctuating energy supply from other renewable sources. Maize is currently the dominant biogas crop, but its environmental performance is questionable. Through its replacement with high-yielding and nutrient-efficient perennial C4 grasses, the environmental impact of biogas could be considerably improved. The objective of this paper is to assess and compare the environmental performance of the biogas production and utilization of perennial miscanthus and switchgrass and annual maize. An LCA was performed using data from field trials, assessing the impact in the five categories: climate change (CC), fossil fuel depletion (FFD), terrestrial acidification (TA), freshwater eutrophication (FE) and marine eutrophication (ME). A system expansion approach was adopted to include a fossil reference. All three crops showed significantly lower CC and FFD potentials than the fossil reference, but higher TA and FE potentials, with nitrogen fertilizer production and fertilizer-induced emissions identified as hot spots. Miscanthus performed best and changing the input substrate from maize to miscanthus led to average reductions of −66% CC; −74% FFD; −63% FE; −60% ME and −21% TA. These results show that perennial C4 grasses and miscanthus in particular have the potential to improve the sustainability of the biogas sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Kiesel & Moritz Wagner & Iris Lewandowski, 2016. "Environmental Performance of Miscanthus, Switchgrass and Maize: Can C4 Perennials Increase the Sustainability of Biogas Production?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2016:i:1:p:5-:d:85890
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    1. Moritz von Cossel & Yasir Iqbal & Iris Lewandowski, 2019. "Improving the Ecological Performance of Miscanthus ( Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deuter) through Intercropping with Woad ( Isatis tinctoria L.) and Yellow Melilot ( Melilotus officinalis L.)," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-12, September.
    2. Qianying Liao & Jun Zhang & Zili Yi & Youzhi Li, 2021. "Do Miscanthus lutarioriparius -Based Oriented Strand Boards Provide Environmentally Benign Alternatives? An LCA Case Study of Lake Dongting District in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-15, November.
    3. Vanessa Burg & Gillianne Bowman & Stefanie Hellweg & Oliver Thees, 2019. "Long-Term Wet Bioenergy Resources in Switzerland: Drivers and Projections until 2050," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-21, September.
    4. Moritz von Cossel & Anja Mangold & Yasir Iqbal & Iris Lewandowski, 2019. "Methane Yield Potential of Miscanthus ( Miscanthus × giganteus (Greef et Deuter)) Established under Maize ( Zea mays L.)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-17, December.

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