Life cycle assessment of lignocellulosic ethanol: a review of key factors and methods affecting calculated GHG emissions and energy use

Kelsey Gerbrandt; Pei Lin Chu; Allison Simmonds; Kimberley A Mullins; Heather L MacLean; W Michael Griffin; Bradley A Saville

doi:10.1016/j.copbio.2015.12.021

Life cycle assessment of lignocellulosic ethanol: a review of key factors and methods affecting calculated GHG emissions and energy use

Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2016 Apr:38:63-70. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2015.12.021. Epub 2016 Jan 22.

Authors

Kelsey Gerbrandt¹, Pei Lin Chu¹, Allison Simmonds¹, Kimberley A Mullins², Heather L MacLean³, W Michael Griffin⁴, Bradley A Saville⁵

Affiliations

¹ Savant Technical Consulting, Toronto, ON, Canada.
² University of Minnesota, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, St. Paul, MN, USA.
³ Savant Technical Consulting, Toronto, ON, Canada; University of Toronto, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Toronto, ON, Canada; University of Toronto, Department of Civil Engineering, Toronto, ON, Canada. Electronic address: heatherl.maclean@utoronto.ca.
⁴ Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
⁵ Savant Technical Consulting, Toronto, ON, Canada; University of Toronto, Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Toronto, ON, Canada; University of Toronto, Department of Civil Engineering, Toronto, ON, Canada.

PMID: 26807514
DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2015.12.021

Abstract

Lignocellulosic ethanol has potential for lower life cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to gasoline and conventional grain-based ethanol. Ethanol production 'pathways' need to meet economic and environmental goals. Numerous life cycle assessments of lignocellulosic ethanol have been published over the last 15 years, but gaps remain in understanding life cycle performance due to insufficient data, and model and methodological issues. We highlight key aspects of these issues, drawing on literature and a case study of corn stover ethanol. Challenges include the complexity of feedstock/ecosystems and market-mediated aspects and the short history of commercial lignocellulosic ethanol facilities, which collectively have led to uncertainty in GHG emissions estimates, and to debates on LCA methods and the role of uncertainty in decision making.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Biomass
Cellulose / metabolism*
Distillation
Ethanol / metabolism*
Fermentation
Greenhouse Effect
Hydrolysis
Zea mays / metabolism

Substances

Ethanol
Cellulose