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Life Cycle Assessment of Renewable Energy Sources pp 269–289Cite as

A Comparison of Life Cycle Assessment Studies of Different Biofuels

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

Abstract

The intensive increase of biofuel demand has pushed the researchers to find a sustainable biofuel production system. LCA is the most accepted tool to assess the sustainability of biofuel production systems. The functional unit, scope, system boundary, reference system, data source, and allocation are the most important steps of an LCA study. Variations in these steps between studies affect the results significantly. Previous studies have shown that different biofuel feedstocks have different environmental burden hot spots, which refer to elevated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with a specific life cycle stage or facility process. The present chapter is an effort to compare various LCA studies on different biofuels. The well-to-wheel (cradle-to-grave) system is recommended for the assessment of biofuels production system. An LCA study of biofuels can demonstrate their sustainability and can guide the policy makers in adopting the policies for their promotions.

Keywords

  • Life Cycle Assessment
  • Impact Category
  • Life Cycle Inventory
  • System Boundary
  • Life Cycle Impact Assessment

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Conservation Biology, School of Biological Science, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania

    Dheeraj Rathore

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

    Deepak Pant

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

    Anoop Singh

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  1. Dheeraj Rathore
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Correspondence to Anoop Singh .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. New Delhi, India

    Anoop Singh

  2. PRODEM, Mol, Belgium

    Deepak Pant

  3. Bagsvaerd, Denmark

    Stig Irving Olsen

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Rathore, D., Pant, D., Singh, A. (2013). A Comparison of Life Cycle Assessment Studies of Different Biofuels. 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_12

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