A Parameterized Life Cycle Model for Rapid Quantification of Bioenergy Sustainability Metrics

Rebecca Hanes, Nicholas Grundl, Mary Biddy

Research output: NRELPoster

Abstract

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a method for assessing all environmental impacts associated with provisioning a good or service. A life cycle encompasses the system which directly produces a good, as well as all systems and processes on which that system is dependent. The objective of this work is to develop a flexible, parameterized model representing a superstructure of life cycles for advanced biofuel production. Parameterizing the model allows users to define a variety of biofuel production scenarios and assess key sustainability metrics, without needing to acquire additional data or perform separate life cycle assessments. Within the model, parameters will include feedstock species and phenotype, a range of farming and harvest practices, feedstock pre-processing, and operating conditions within the biomass conversion process. The model will be used to identify major impact drivers within bioenergy life cycles and aid CBI researchers and leadership in targeting areas where additional R&D efforts will have the most beneficial impacts.
Original languageAmerican English
StatePublished - 2018

Publication series

NamePresented at the Center for Bioenergy Innovation Annual Meeting, 4-7 June 2018, Asheville, North Carolina

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/PO-6A20-71647

Keywords

  • bioenergy
  • life cycle assessment
  • techno-economic analysis

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