A systematic review of bioenergy life cycle assessments

Applied Energy

Volumn 112, Issue , 2013, Pages 257-273

  Muench, Stefan ^a   Guenther, Edeltraud ^a  

^a DRESDEN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY   (Germany)

Author keywords

Biomass; Electricity; Heat; LCA; Sustainability

Indexed keywords

CARBON; ELECTRICITY; ENERGY UTILIZATION; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT; GREENHOUSE GASES; HEATING; LIFE CYCLE; SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT;

BIO-ENERGY SYSTEMS; BIOMASS ELECTRICITY; LCA; LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA); QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENTS; RENEWABLE ENERGIES; RESEARCH METHODS; SYSTEMATIC REVIEW;

BIOMASS;

BIOENERGY; BIOMASS POWER; CARBON CYCLE; ELECTRICITY GENERATION; GREENHOUSE GAS; LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS; RENEWABLE RESOURCE; SUSTAINABILITY; THERMAL POWER;

EID: 84880290591     PISSN: 03062619     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.06.001     Document Type: Review

References (123)

1. Liu H., Jiang G.M., Zhuang H.Y., Wang K.J. Distribution, utilization structure and potential of biomass resources in rural China: with special references of crop residues. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2008, 12:1402-1418.
2. Shafie S.M., Mahlia T.M.I., Masjuki H.H., Rismanchi B. Life cycle assessment (LCA) of electricity generation from rice husk in Malaysia. Energy Procedia 2012, 14:499-504.
3. Prasertsan S., Sajjakulnukit B. Biomass and biogas energy in Thailand: Potential, opportunity and barriers. Renewable Energy 2006, 31:599-610.
4. Liu J., Wu J., Liu F., Han X. Quantitative assessment of bioenergy from crop stalk resources in Inner Mongolia, China. Appl Energy 2012, 93:305-318.
5. Bhattacharya S.C., Abdul Salam P., Runqing H., Somashekar H.I., Racelis D.A., Rathnasiri P.G., et al. An assessment of the potential for non-plantation biomass resources in selected Asian countries for 2010. Biomass Bioenergy 2005, 29:153-166.
6. Eurostat. Share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption, 2011. Available from:
7. Blengini G.A., Brizio E., Cibrario M., Genon G. LCA of bioenergy chains in Piedmont (Italy): A case study to support public decision makers towards sustainability. Resources Conservation and Recycling 2011, 57:36-47.
8. European Commission. Communication from the Commission of 7 December 2005. COM 2005 [628 final].
9. Froese R.E., Shonnard D.R., Miller C.A., Koers K.P., Johnson D.M. An evaluation of greenhouse gas mitigation options for coal-fired power plants in the US Great Lakes States. Biomass Bioenergy 2010, 34:251-262.
10. Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. HR 6, 110th Cong;PL 110-140:201-10.
11. Muth D.J., Bryden K.M., Nelson R.G. Sustainable agricultural residue removal for bioenergy: a spatially comprehensive US national assessment. Appl Energy 2013, 102:403-417.
12. Zervos A, Lins C, Muth J. Re-Thinking 2050 - A 100% renewable energy vision for the European Union. European Renewable Energy Council, Renewable Energy House; 2010. Available from: . [accessed 11.09.2012].
13. de Boer K., Moheimani N.R., Borowitzka M.A., Bahri P.A. Extraction and conversion pathways for microalgae to biodiesel: a review focused on energy consumption. J Appl Phycol 2012, 24:1681-1698.
14. Davis S.C., Anderson-Teixeira K., DeLucia E.H. Life-cycle analysis and the ecology of biofuels. Trends Plant Sci 2009, 14:140-146.
15. Gnansounou E., Dauriat A., Villegas J., Panichelli L. Life cycle assessment of biofuels: Energy and greenhouse gas balances. Bioresour Technol 2009, 100:4919-4930.
16. Larson E.D. A review of life-cycle analysis studies on liquid biofuel systems for the transport sector. Energy Sustain Develop 2006, 10:109-126.
17. Whitaker M., Heath G.A., O'Donoughue P., Vorum M. Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of coal-fired electricity generation. J Ind Ecol 2012, 16:53-72.
18. Farrell A.E., Plevin R.J., Turner B.T., Jones A.D., O'Hare M., Kammen D.M. Ethanol Can Contribute to Energy and Environmental Goals. Science 2006, 311:506-508.
19. Yan X., Crookes R.J. Life cycle analysis of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions for road transportation fuels in China. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2009, 13:2505-2514.
20. MacLean H.L., Lave L.B. Evaluating automobile fuel/propulsion system technologies. Prog Energy Combust Sci 2003, 29:1-69.
21. Majer S., Mueller-Langer F., Zeller V., Kaltschmitt M. Implications of biodiesel production and utilisation on global climate - A literature review. Eur J Lipid Sci Technol 2009, 111:747-762.
22. Mosier A.R., Crutzen P.J., Smith K.A., Winiwarter W. Nitrous oxide's impact on net greenhouse gas savings from biofuels: life-cycle analysis comparison. Int J Biotechnol 2009, 11:60-74.
23. Varela M, Lago C, Jungmeier G, Koenighofer K. Environmental and economic performance of biofuels. Clear Views on Clean Fuels; 2005. Available from: . [accessed 14.07.2012].
24. von Blottnitz H., Curran M.A. A review of assessments conducted on bio-ethanol as a transportation fuel from a net energy, greenhouse gas, and environmental life cycle perspective. J Clean Prod 2007, 15:607-619.
25. Williams P.R.D., Inman D., Aden A., Heath G.A. Environmental and sustainability factors associated with next-generation biofuels in the US: what do we really know?. Environ Sci Technol 2009, 43:4763-4775.
26. Varun, Bhat I.K., Prakash R. LCA of renewable energy for electricity generation systems - A review. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2009, 13:1067-1073.
27. Weisser D. A guide to life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from electric supply technologies. Energy 2007, 32:1543-1559.
28. Fthenakis V., Kim H.C. Land use and electricity generation: a life-cycle analysis. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2009, 13:1465-1474.
29. Evans A., Strezov V., Evans T.J. Sustainability considerations for electricity generation from biomass. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 2010, 14:1419-1427.
30. Cherubini F., Strømman A.H. Life cycle assessment of bioenergy systems: State of the art and future challenges. Bioresour Technol 2011, 102:437-451.
31. Whitaker J., Ludley K.E., Rowe R., Taylor G., Howard D.C. Sources of variability in greenhouse gas and energy balances for biofuel production: a systematic review. Glob Change Biol Bioenergy 2010, 2:99-112.
32. ISO 14040:2006. Environmental management - life cycle assessment - principles and framework. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization; 2006.
33. ISO 14044:2006. Environmental management - life cycle assessment - requirements and guidelines. Geneva: International Organization for Standardization; 2006.
34. Tranfield D., Denyer D., Smart P. Towards a methodology for developing evidence-informed management knowledge by means of systematic review. Br J Manage 2003, 14:207-222.
35. Zumsteg J.M., Cooper J.S., Noon M.S. Systematic review checklist. J Ind Ecol 2012, 16:12-21.
36. Fink A. Conducting research literature reviews: from the internet to paper 2010, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks (California).
37. Suh S., Lenzen M., Treloar G.J., Hondo H., Horvath A., Huppes G., et al. System boundary selection in life-cycle inventories using hybrid approaches. Environ Sci Technol 2004, 38:657-664.
38. Becheikh N., Landry R., Amara N. Lessons from innovation empirical studies in the manufacturing sector: a systematic review of the literature from 1993-2003. Technovation 2006, 26:644-664.
39. Moher D., Pham, Klassen T.P., Schulz K.F., Berlin J.A., Jadad A.R., et al. What contributions do languages other than English make on the results of meta-analyses?. J Clin Epidemiol 2000, 53:964-972.
40. Davies H.T.O., Nutley S.M., Smith P.C. Editorial: what works? The role of evidence in public sector policy and practice. Public Money Manage 1999, 19:3-5.
41. Kvale S. The social construction of validity. Qualitative Inquiry 1995, 1:19-40.
42. Cleary J. Life cycle assessments of municipal solid waste management systems: a comparative analysis of selected peer-reviewed literature. Environ Int 2009, 35:1256-1266.
43. Frigge M., Hoaglin D.C., Iglewicz B. Some Implementations of the Boxplot. Am Stat 1989, 43:50-54.
44. Edenhofer O., Pichs Madruga R., Sokona Y. Renewable energy sources and climate change mitigation 2012, Cambridge University Press, New York.
45. Suramaythangkoor T., Gheewala S.H. Potential of practical implementation of rice straw-based power generation in Thailand. Energy Policy 2008, 36:3193.
46. Guinée J.B. Handbook on life cycle assessment operational guide to the ISO standards. Dordrecht 2002, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston.
47. Bare J.C., Hofstetter P., Pennington D.W., Haes H.A.U. Midpoints versus endpoints: the sacrifices and benefits. Int J LCA 2000, 5:319-326.
48. Bare J.C. Life cycle impact assessment research developments and needs. Clean Technol Environ Policy 2010, 12:341-351.
49. European Commission. Analysis of existing Environmental Impact Assessment methodologies for use in Life Cycle Assessment. European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute for Environment and Sustainability; 2010. Available from: . [accessed 03.06.2012].
50. Hennig C., Gawor M. Bioenergy production and use: comparative analysis of the economic and environmental effects. Energy Convers Manage 2012, 63:130-137.
51. Zhang Y.X., Habibi C.B., MacLean H.L. Environmental and Economic Evaluation of Bioenergy in Ontario, Canada. J Air & Waste Manage Assoc 2007, 57:919-933.
52. Chan B., Chan B., Young C. Wood pellets for UBC boilers replacing natural gas based on LCA 2008, University of British Columbia, Columbia.
53. Cottrell A, Nunn J, Urfer A, Wibberley L. Systems assessment of electricity generation using biomass and coal in CFBC. Pullenvale: QCAT Technology Transfer Centre 2003. Report No.: Technology Assessment, Report 24.
54. Eriksson O., Finnveden G., Ekvall T., Björklund A. Life cycle assessment of fuels for district heating: A comparison of waste incineration, biomass- and natural gas combustion. Energy Policy 2007, 35:1346-1362.
55. Ghafghazi S., Sowlati T., Sokhansanj S., Melin S. Techno-economic analysis of renewable energy source options for a district heating project. Int J Energy Res 2010, 34:1109-1120.
56. Grammelis P., Skodras G., Kakaras E. An economic and environmental assessment of biomass utilization in lignite-fired power plants of Greece. Int J Energy Res 2006, 30:763-775.
57. Mann M., Spath P. A life cycle assessment of biomass cofiring in a coal-fired power plant. Clean Technol Environ Policy 2001, 3:81-91.
58. Recchia L., Cini E., Corsi S. Multicriteria analysis to evaluate the energetic reuse of riparian vegetation. Appl Energy 2010, 87:310-319.
59. Sebastián F., Royo J., Gómez M. Cofiring versus biomass-fired power plants: GHG (Greenhouse Gases) emissions savings comparison by means of LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) methodology. Energy 2011, 36:2029-2037.
60. Solli C., Reenaas M., Stromman A.H., Hertwich E.G. Life cycle assessment of wood-based heating in Norway. Int J LCA 2009, 14:517-528.
61. Spath PL, Mann MK. Biomass power and conventional Fossil systems with and without CO2 sequestration - Comparing the energy balance, greenhouse gas emissions and economics. Golden, Colorado: National Renewable Energy Laboratory; 2004. Report No.: NREL/TP-510-32575.
62. Bauer C. Life Cycle Assessment of Fossil and Biomass Power Generation Chains. Villigen: Paul Scherrer Ins; 2008. Report No.: 08-05.
63. Felder R., Dones R. Evaluation of ecological impacts of synthetic natural gas from wood used in current heating and car systems. Biomass Bioenergy 2007, 31:403-415.
64. Kimming M., Sundberg C., Nordberg A., Baky A., Bernesson S., Noren O., et al. Biomass from agriculture in small-scale combined heat and power plants - A comparative life cycle assessment. Biomass Bioenergy 2011, 35:1572-1581.
65. Styles D., Jones M.B. Energy crops in Ireland: quantifying the potential life-cycle greenhouse gas reductions of energy-crop electricity. Biomass Bioenergy 2007, 31:759-772.
66. Daugherty E. Biomass energy systems efficiency analyzed through a LCA study [thesis]. Lund: Lund University; 2001.
67. Lindholm E. Greenhouse gas balance of harvesting stumps and logging residues for energy in Sweden. Scand J For Res 2011, 26:586-594.
68. Baumann H, Tillman A. The Hitch Hiker's Guide to LCA: an orientation in life cycle assessment methodology and applications. Lund: Studentlitteratur AB; 2004.
69. Hartmann K. Life-cycle-assessment of industrial scale biogas plants [dissertation] 2006, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen.
70. Lindfors L. Nordic guidelines on life-cycle assessment 1995, Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen.
71. Royo J., Sebastián F., García-Galindo D., Gómez M., Díaz M. Large-scale analysis of GHG (greenhouse gas) reduction by means of biomass co-firing at country-scale: application to the Spanish case. Energy 2012, 48:255-267.
72. ter Veld F. Beyond the Fossil fuel Era: on the feasibility of sustainable electricity generation using biogas from microalgae. Energy Fuels 2012, 26:3882-3890.
73. Parsons D. Home heating in temperate Australia. Int J LCA 2010, 15:785-793.
74. Prasara-A J., Grant T. Comparative life cycle assessment of uses of rice husk for energy purposes. Int J LCA 2011, 16:493-502.
75. Azapagic A., Clift R. Allocation of environmental burdens in co-product systems: product-related burdens (Part 1). Int J LCA 1999, 4:357-369.
76. Guest G., Bright R.M., Cherubini F., Michelsen O., Strømman A.H. Life cycle assessment of biomass-based combined heat and power plants. J Ind Ecol 2011, 15:908-921.
77. Zuwała J. Life cycle approach for energy and environmental analysis of biomass and coal co-firing in CHP plant with backpressure turbine. J Clean Prod 2012, 35:164-175.
78. Rosen M.A. Allocating carbon dioxide emissions from cogeneration systems: descriptions of selected output-based methods. J Clean Prod 2008, 16:171-177.
79. 2 emissions reduction scenarios in coal-biomass based electricity production. Energy Convers Manage 2004, 45:3053-3074.
80. Lansche J., Müller J. Life cycle assessment of energy generation of biogas fed combined heat and power plants: environmental impact of different agricultural substrates. Eng Life Sci 2012, 12:313-320.
81. Perilhon C., Alkadee D., Descombes G., Lacour S. Life cycle assessment applied to electricity generation from renewable biomass. Energy Procedia 2012, 18:165-176.
82. Mälkki H., Virtanen Y. Selected emissions and efficiencies of energy systems based on logging and sawmill residues. Biomass Bioenergy 2003, 24:321-327.
83. 2 mitigation costs of large-scale bioenergy technologies in competitive electricity markets. Energy 2003, 28:1405-1425.
84. Siegl S., Laaber M., Holubar P. Green electricity from biomass. Part I: Environmental impacts of direct life cycle emissions. Waste Biomass Valorization 2011, 2:267-284.
85. Börjesson P., Berglund M. Environmental systems analysis of biogas systems - Part I: Fuel-cycle emissions. Biomass Bioenergy 2006, 30:469-485.
86. Dressler D., Loewen A., Nelles M. Life cycle assessment of the supply and use of bioenergy: impact of regional factors on biogas production. Int J LCA 2012, 17:1104-1115.
87. Tonn B., Thumm U., Claupein W. Life-cycle analysis of heat generation using biomass from semi-natural grasslands in Central Europe. Grassl Sci Eur 2009, 14:284-296.
88. Faix A., Schweinle J., Sahoell S., Becker G., Meier D. Life-cycle assessment of the BTO-process (Biomass-to-Oil) with combined heat and power generation. Environ Prog Sustain Energy 2010, 29:193-202.
89. Fan J., Kalnes T.N., Alward M., Klinger J., Sadehvandi A., Shonnard D.R. Life cycle assessment of electricity generation using fast pyrolysis bio-oil. Renewable Energy 2011, 36:632-641.
90. Heller M.C., Keoleian G.A., Mann M.K., Volk T.A. Life cycle energy and environmental benefits of generating electricity from willow biomass. Renewable Energy 2004, 29:1023-1042.
91. Roedl A. Production and energetic utilization of wood from short rotation coppice - a life cycle assessment. Int J LCA 2010, 15:567-578.
92. Ghafghazi S., Sowlati T., Sokhansanj S., Bi X., Melin S. Life cycle assessment of base-load heat sources for district heating system options. Int J LCA 2011, 16:212-223.
93. Ruhul Kabir M., Kumar A. Comparison of the energy and environmental performances of nine biomass/coal co-firing pathways. Bioresour Technol 2012, 124:394-405.
94. McKechnie J., Colombo S., Chen J., Mabee W., MacLean H.L. Forest Bioenergy or Forest Carbon? Assessing trade-offs in greenhouse gas mitigation with wood-based fuels. Environ Sci Technol 2011, 45:789-795.
95. Ramjeawon T. Life cycle assessment of electricity generation from bagasse in Mauritius. J Clean Prod 2008, 16:1727-1734.
96. Grundy T., Johnson G. Managers' perspectives on making major investment decisions: the problem of linking strategic and financial appraisal. Br J Manage 1993, 4:253-267.
97. Mann M.K., Spath P.L. A summary of life cycle assessment studies conducted on biomass, coal, and natural gas systems 2000, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden (Colorado).
98. McManus M.C. Life cycle impacts of waste wood biomass heating systems: a case study of three UK based systems. Energy 2010, 35:4064-4070.
99. Díaz M, Rezeau A, Maraver D, Sebastián F, Royo J. Comparison of the environmental impact of biomass and fossil fuels medium-scale boilers for domestic applications employing life cycle assessment methodology. Sixteenth European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, Spain; 2008. Available from: . [accessed 07.05.2013].
100. Butnar I., Rodrigo J., Gasol C.M., Castells F. Life-cycle assessment of electricity from biomass: Case studies of two biocrops in Spain. Biomass Bioenergy 2010, 34:1780-1788.
101. Pilicka I., Blumberga D., Romagnoli F. Life cycle assessment of biogas production from marine macroalgae: a latvian scenario. Sci J Riga Tech Univ 2011, 6:69-78.
102. A Cowie. Greenhouse gas balance of bioenergy systems based on integrated plantation forestry in North East New South Wales, Australia. International Energy Agency; 2005. Available from: http://www.ieabioenergy-task38.org/projects/task38casestudies/aus-fullreport.pdf [accessed 22.09.2012].
103. Mann MK, Spath PL. Life Cycle Assessment of Electricity from Biomass vs Coal in the USA. IEA Bioenergy; 2000. Available from: . [accessed 22.09.2012].
104. Lewandowski I., Heinz A. Delayed harvest of miscanthus - influences on biomass quantity and quality and environmental impacts of energy production. Eur J Agron 2003, 19:45-63.
105. 2 removal. Energy Convers Manage 2005, 46:1790-1808.
106. Johnson E. Goodbye to carbon neutral: Getting biomass footprints right. Environ Impact Assess Rev 2009, 29:165-168.
107. Marland G. Accounting for carbon dioxide emissions from bioenergy systems. J Ind Ecol 2010, 14:866-869.
108. Searchinger T.D., Hamburg S.P., Melillo J., Chameides W., Havlik P., Kammen D.M., et al. Fixing a critical climate accounting error. Science 2009, 326:527-528.
109. 2 emissions from biomass combustion for bioenergy: atmospheric decay and contribution to global warming. GCB Bioenergy 2011, 3:413-426.
110. Chevalier C., Meunier F. Environmental assessment of biogas co- or tri-generation units by life cycle analysis methodology. Appl Therm Eng 2005, 25:3025-3041.
111. Richardson AJ. The cost-effectiveness of carbon sequestration in harvested and unharvested eucalypt plantations; 2005. Available from: . [accessed 22.09.2012].
112. Skodras G., Grammelis P., Kakaras E., Sakellaropoulos G.P. Evaluation of the environmental impact of waste wood co-utilisation for energy production. Energy 2004, 29:2181-2193.
113. 2 emissions from biomass in an LCA. Int J LCA 2007, 12:281.
114. Münster M., Lund H. Use of waste for heat, electricity and transport - Challenges when performing energy system analysis. Energy 2009, 34:636-644.
115. Sebastián F, Royo J, Serra L, GómezM. Life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from biomass electricity generation: cofiring and biomass monocombustion; 2007. Available from: . [accessed 22.09.2012].
116. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Climate change 2007: the physical science basis: contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2007, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (New York)
117. Sartori F., Lal R., Ebinger M.H., Eaton J.A. Changes in soil carbon and nutrient pools along a chronosequence of poplar plantations in the Columbia Plateau, Oregon, USA. Agric Ecosyst Environ 2007, 122:325-339.
118. Schlamadinger B., Marland G. The role of forest and bioenergy strategies in the global carbon cycle. Biomass Bioenergy 1996, 10:275-300.
119. Gabrielle B., Maupu P., Vial E., et al. Life-cycle assessment of eucalyptus short-rotation coppices for bioenergy production in Southern France. Glob Change Biol Bioenergy 2013, 5:30-42.
120. Rivela B., Moreira M.T., Muñoz I., Rieradevall J., Feijoo G. Life cycle assessment of wood wastes: a case study of ephemeral architecture. Sci Total Environ 2006, 357:1-11.
121. Chen S., Chen B., Song D. Life-cycle energy production and emissions mitigation by comprehensive biogas-digestate utilization. Bioresour Technol 2012, 114:357-364.
122. Fantozzi F., Buratti C. Life cycle assessment of biomass chains: wood pellet from short rotation coppice using data measured on a real plant. Biomass Bioenergy 2010, 34:1796-1804.
123. Pehnt M. Dynamic life cycle assessment (LCA) of renewable energy technologies. Renewable Energy 2006, 31:55-71.