Consequential life cycle assessment of biogas, biofuel and biomass energy options within an arable crop rotation

摘要: Feed in tariffs (FiTs) and renewable heat incentives (RHIs) are driving a rapid expansion anaerobic digestion (AD) coupled with combined power (CHP) plants the UK. Farm models were consequential life cycle assessment (CLCA) to assess net environmental balance of representative biogas, biofuel biomass scenarios on large arable farm, capturing crop rotation digestate nutrient cycling effects. All bioenergy options led avoided fossil resource depletion. Global warming potential (GWP) balances ranged from 1732 kg CO2 eM g 1 dry matter (DM) for pig slurry AD feedstock after accounting storage +2251 DM oilseed rape biodiesel attributing indirect land use change (iLUC) displaced food production. Maize monoculture GWP increases via iLUC, but optimized integration maize into an resulted negligible displacement iLUC. However, even under best-case assumptions such as full output AD-CHP, crop–biogas achieved low reductions per hectare compared Miscanthus heating pellets default estimates Ecosystem services (ES) highlighted soil water quality risks cultivation. eutrophication production was accounted for. The is sensitive design management factors application techniques, which not well regulated Currently, FiT payments dependent compliance sustainability criteria. We conclude that CLCA ES effects should be integrated criteria FiTs RHIs, direct public money towards resource-efficient energy achieve genuine climate protection without degrading soil, air or quality.