Life Cycle Assessment

Abstract

Due to the diversity of impacts the fuel industry has on society, it is often difficult to comprehensively evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of any given fuel or fuel production process. This is especially true when the impacts influence disparate fields that have their own considerations and metrics that may not be compatible. The analysis framework of a life cycle assessment (LCA) provides a comprehensive methodology for studying the combined consequences of different influences and has been implemented in many industries including biofuels. While LCA can be used to retrospectively analyze existing systems, it is also possible to use LCA to prospectively analyze a system to evaluate and determine the most promising choices to pursue. LCA is a potentially powerful component in helping to guide decision making for target biofuel research and development.