LCA studies for the harmonization of international biofuels sustainability assessment

Apr 2009

A considerable amount of Life Cycle Analysis (LCAs) studies has been conducted for the assessment of biofuels production in Europe and in other parts of the world. Their purpose is the investigation and valuation of the environmental impacts of biofuels production (mainly as far as the greenhouse gases (GHG) and the energy balances are concerned) and the ranking of best performing pathways.
However for the same biofuels production pathway, LCA studies come up with very different results. That is why it is essential to design very carefully a reference study, especially when it constitutes the scientific underpinning of legislative measures having far-reaching implications for the industry. On the other hand, considering all LCA studies conducted so far, a transparent and objective study to evaluate the performance of biofuels worldwide becomes essential in order to accurately reflect the genuine performances of biofuels.
One example of biofuels LCA study is the one performed by the Commission Joint Research Center, in collaboration with EUCAR and CONCAWE1 (referred herein as the JEC study) , which was integrated in the recently adopted EU Renewable Energy Directive. The JEC study has therefore been elaborated by experts from the mineral oil and automotive industries, without input from the agricultural and bioenergy sectors. As a result, the scientific foundation of the new Renewable Energy Directive is still questioned by different stakeholders for the lack of balanced contributions from all parties and all fields of expertise.
In light of the above example, an objective reference LCA study detailing the performances of biofuels is needed in a twofold perspective:
- The Renewable Energy Directive, an essential piece of European legislation, should be based on a study that was commonly accepted by all stakeholders as being objective, balanced, transparent and reflecting reality. The JEC study needs therefore to be turned into a EU scientific reference for biofuels LCA, including the expertise from farmers and bioenergy producers.
- Given the growing importance international trade flows of biofuels and bioenergy, there is an increasing need to create an internationally acceptable unified system measuring the sustainability and the GHG performance of biofuels.
Against the background of a lack of consistent data and methodologies used world- wide and the availability of a multitude of balanced yet not fully updated Biofuels Life Cycle Assessments it appears particularly crucial to start working towards an up-to-date objective and transparent Biofuels Life Cycle Analysis Study that should be established at international level.

By: WEC

 
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