e-Prime: Advances in Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Energy (Jan 2021)
Life cycle assessment of bioenergy product systems: A critical review
Abstract
The concerns about increasing greenhouse gas emissions and climate change have mobilized the world towards using new materials and technologies to decarbonize the global economy. In line with this, the utilization of diverse forms of bioenergy is expected to expand in various economic sectors due to their potential to solve environmental concerns. More specifically, the carbon contained in bioenergy is mainly from biogenic carbon dioxide; thus, bioenergy utilization contributes much less to environmental impacts than fossil energy. Despite the renewability of bioenergy sources, their production is dependent on immense amounts of construction materials, chemicals, and, most importantly, energy resources. Since the production and use of the above items are also responsible for environmental problems and challenges, the sustainability of bioenergy product systems might also be questioned. Life cycle assessment is a powerful tool to quantify the environmental sustainability of various products, including bioenergy production. It also can identify the sources and causes of the environmental impacts of bioenergy product systems. Despite the significant advantages of life cycle assessment in assessing the environmental sustainability of bioenergy product systems, there are still limitations and disadvantages to using this method. Different assumptions, various inventory data, different methods of impact assessment, and many other sources of uncertainty may give rise to wide ranges of final results. These issues can negatively affect the accuracy and reliability of bioenergy product systems’ life cycle assessment results, leading to incorrect decisions and policies. In light of the above, this study critically discusses the pros and cons of life cycle assessment in bioenergy product systems, identifying the gaps and sources of uncertainty. Finally, frameworks and procedures to improve the applicability and validity of life cycle assessment are suggested to shed light on future research directions.
