Swedish Biofuels LCA Report Shows Positive Benefits of First Generation Biofuel Feedstocks

A recent LCA report by Swedish researchers from the Department of Technology and Society, Lund University shows that Swedish biofuels can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions relative to fossil fuels. The reduction figures were obtained, even if direct and indirect land use changes were considered (related information below). A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is usually conducted on biofuels, to track key parameters (notably energy inputs/outputs and GHG)), as the biofuels is produced from cultivation to final use. The biofuels under study consisted of first generation feedstocks (wheat for ethanol with biogas co-production, rapeseed for biodiesel, maize/sugar beet for biogas) and organic wastes/residues (municipal waste, food industry waste, liquid manure for biogas). An interesting result of their study is that first generation biofuel feedstocks were shown to have GHG reduction benefits which were greater than what have been previously reported. According to the report, (1) "Wheat-based ethanol is considered to lead to a climate benefit of 71% compared to fossil fuel, when system expansion is applied (excluding straw), (2) Ethanol production from sugar beet is considered to have a climate benefit of 80 % under today's conditions, and of 74% using energy allocation", (3) "The climate benefit of today's [rapeseed biodiesel] is estimated to be 68% compared to fossil fuels". Co-author, Pål Börjesson, points out that "each type of biofuel has different limitations in production volumes. In order to avoid negative effects, it is important to know where this boundary". The LCA report can be accessed the Environmental and Energy Systems Studies website of Lund University (URL above)

Related information on direct and indirect land use change: http://www.extension.org/faq/42316  http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/index.cfm?id=2820&dt_code=HLN&obj_id=515