Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Importance of Life Cycle Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Life Cycle Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable renewable energy sources to reduce the pollution and dependency on conventional energy resources creates a path to assess the various energy sources for their sustainability. One renewable energy source might be very attractive for heat production and not so attractive for electricity and transport purposes. The commercial-scale production of these energy sources requires careful consideration of several issues that can be broadly categorized as raw material production, technology, by-products, etc. The life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool that can be used effectively in evaluating various renewable energy sources for their sustainability and can help policy makers choose the best energy source for specific purpose. Choice of allocation method is very important in assessing the sustainability of energy source as different allocation methods respond in present differently. The present chapter is an effort to highlight the importance of LCA of renewable energy sources.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aleklett K, Campbell CJ (2003) The peak and decline of world oil and gas production. Miner Energ 18:35–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Biswas WK, Barton L, Carter D (2011) Biodiesel production in a semiarid environment: a life cycle assessment approach. Environ Sci Technol 45:3069–3074

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Black MJ, Whittaker C, Hosseinid SA, Diaz-Chaveza R, Woodsa J, Murphy RJ (2011) Life cycle assessment and sustainability methodologies for assessing industrial crops, processes and end products. Industrial Crops Products 34(2):1332–1339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Eicker MO, Hischier R, Kulay LA, Lehmann M, Zah R, Hurni H (2010) The applicability of non-local LCI data for LCA. Environ Impact Assess Rev 30:192–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ekvall T, Weidema BP (2004) System boundaries and input data in consequential life cycle inventory analysis. Int J Life Cycle Assess 9(3):161–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elkington J (1998) Cannibals with forks: the triple bottom line of 21st century business. New Society Publishers, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  • EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) (2010) Regulations of fuels and fuels additives: changes to renewable fuel standard program; final rule. Fed Reg 5(58):14670–14904

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabrielle B, Gagnaire N (2008) Life-cycle assessment of straw use in bioethanol production: a case study based on biophysical modeling. Biomass Bioenerg 32:431–441

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gnansounou E (2011) Assessing the sustainability of biofuels: a logic based model. Energy 36:2089–2096

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gnansounou E, Dauriat A, Villegas J, Panichelli L (2009) Life cycle assessment of biofuels: energy and greenhouse gas balances. Bioresour Technol 100:4919–4930

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guinée JB (ed) (2004) Handbook on life cycle assessment operational guide to the ISO standards. Kluwer Academic Publishers, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Haye S, Hardtke CS (2009) The roundtable on sustainable biofuels: plant scientist input needed. Trends Plant Sci 14(8):409–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IEA (2011) Technology roadmap biofuels for transport. International Energy Agency, France

    Google Scholar 

  • ISO (2005) 14040-Environmental management—life cycle assessment—requirements and guidelines. International Standard Organisation, p 54

    Google Scholar 

  • ISO (2006) ISO 14044: environmental management—life cycle assessment—requirements and guidelines. ISO 14044:2006(E), International Standards Organization

    Google Scholar 

  • Jayakumar P (2009) Solar energy resources assessment handbook. Prepared for Asian and Pacific centre for transfer of technology (APCTT) of the united nations—economic and social commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), p 117. http://recap.apctt.org/Docs/SOLAR.pdf. Accessed Jan 2013

  • Kiwjaroun C, Tubtimdee C, Piumsomboon P (2009) LCA studies comparing biodiesel synthesized by conventional and supercritical methanol methods. J Cleaner Prod 17:143–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korres NE, Singh A, Nizami AS, Murphy JD (2010) Is grass biomethane a sustainable transport biofuel? Biofuels, Bioproducts Biorefining 4:310–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korres NE, Thamsiriroj T, Smyth BM, Nizami AS, Singh A, Murphy JD (2011) Grass bio-methane for agriculture and energy. In: Lichtfouse E (ed) Genetics, biofuels and local farming systems, sustainable agriculture reviews. Springer Science + Business Media B.V., p 5–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Laleman R, Albrecht J, Dewulf J (2011) Life cycle analysis to estimate the environmental impact of residential photovoltaic systems in regions with a low solar irradiation. Renew Sustain Energ Rev 15(1):267–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larson ED (2006) A review of life-cycle analysis studies on liquid biofuel systems for the transport sector. Energy Sus Dev 10(2):109–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Markevičius A, Katinas V, Perednis E, Tamasauskiene M (2010) Trends and sustainability criteria of the production and use of liquid biofuels. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 14:3226–3231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez E, Sanz F, Pellegrini S, Jiménez E, Blanco J (2009) Life-cycle assessment of a 2-MW rated power wind turbine: CML method. Int J Life Cycle Assess 14(1):52–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nigam PS, Singh A (2011) Production of liquid biofuels from renewable resources. Prog Energy Combust Sci 37:52–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pant D, Singh A, Bogaert GV, Diels L, Vanbroekhoven K (2011) An introduction to the life cycle assessment (LCA) of bioelectrochemical systems (BES) for sustainable energy and product generation: relevance and key aspects. Renew Sustain Energ Rev 15:1305–1313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pant D, Singh A, Bogaert GV, Olsen SI, Nigam PS, Diels L, Vanbroekhoven K (2012) Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) for sustainable energy production and product recovery from organic wastes and industrial wastewaters. RSC Adv 2:1248–1263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phalan B (2009) The social and environmental impacts of biofuels in Asia: an overview. Appl Energy 86:S21–S29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prasad S, Singh A, Joshi HC (2007a) Ethanol as an alternative fuel from agricultural, industrial and urban residues. Resour Conserv Recycl 50:1–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prasad S, Singh A, Jain N, Joshi HC (2007b) Ethanol production from sweet sorghum syrup for utilization as automotive fuel in India. Energ Fuels 21(4):2415–2420

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reinhard J, Zah R (2011) Consequential life cycle assessment of the environmental impacts of an increased rapemethylester (RME) production in Switzerland. Biomass Bioenerg 35:2361–2373

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ribeiro FM, Silva GA (2010) Life-cycle inventory for hydroelectric generation: a Brazilian case study. J Cleaner Prod 18(1):44–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheehan JJ (2009) Biofuels and the conundrum of sustainability. Curr Opinion Biotech 20:318–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Silva Lora EE, Escobar Palacio JC, Rocha MH, Grillo Renó ML, Venturini OJ, del Olmo OA (2011) Issues to consider, existing tools and constraints in biofuels sustainability assessments. Energ 36:2097–2110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh A, Olsen SI (2011) Critical analysis of biochemical conversion, sustainability and life cycle assessment of algal biofuels. Applied Energ 88:3548–3555

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh A, Olsen SI (2012) Key issues in life cycle assessment of biofuels. In: Gopalakrishnan K et al (eds) Sustainable bioenergy and bioproducts. Green energy and technology. Springer-Verlag London Limited, London, pp 213–228

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Singh A, Pant D, Korres NE, Nizami AS, Prasad S, Murphy JD (2010) Key issues in life cycle assessment of ethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass: challenges and perspectives. Bioresourc Technol 101(13):5003–5012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh A, Olsen SI, Nigam PS (2011) A viable technology to generate third generation biofuel. J Chem Tech Biotech 86:1349–1353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh A, Pant D, Olsen SI, Nigam PS (2012) Key issues to consider in microalgae based biodiesel. Energ Edu Sci Technol Part A: Energ Sci Res 29(1):687–700

    Google Scholar 

  • Steubing B, Zah R, Waeger P, Ludwig C (2010) Bioenergy in Switzerland: assessing the domestic sustainable biomass potential. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 14:2256–2265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suri M, Huld TA, Dunlop ED, Ossenbrink HA (2007) Potential of solar electricity generation in the European union member states and candidate countries. Solar Energ 81(10):1295–1305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Udo de Haes HA, Heijungs R (2007) Life-cycle assessment for energy analysis and management. Appl Energy 84:817–827

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • UNCED (1992) Report of the united nation conference on environment and development, vol 1, Chap. 7

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang M, Huo H, Arora S (2011) Methods of dealing with co-products of biofuels in life-cycle analysis and consequent results within the U.S. context. Energy Policy 39(10):5726–5736

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan J, Lin T (2009) Bio-fuels in Asia. Appl Energy 86:S1–S10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zah R, Hischier R, Gauch M, Lehmann M, Boni H, Wager P (2007) Life cycle assessment of energy products: environmental impact assessment of biofuels. Bern: Bundesamt fur Energie, Bundesamt fur Umwelt, Bundesamt fur Landwirtschaft, p 20

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science and Technology, Technology Bhawan, New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi, 110016, India

    Anoop Singh & Stig Irving Olsen

  2. Separation and Conversion Technology, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium

    Deepak Pant

Authors
  1. Anoop Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stig Irving Olsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Deepak Pant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anoop Singh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. New Delhi, India

    Anoop Singh

  2. PRODEM, Mol, Belgium

    Deepak Pant

  3. Bagsvaerd, Denmark

    Stig Irving Olsen

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag London

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Singh, A., Olsen, S.I., Pant, D. (2013). Importance of Life Cycle Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources. In: Singh, A., Pant, D., Olsen, S. (eds) Life Cycle Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5364-1_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5364-1_1

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-5363-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-5364-1

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation