Life cycle assessment of biogas infrastructure options on a regional scale

Tim Patterson; Alan Guwy; Sandra Esteves; Richard Dinsdale

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2011.04.063

Life cycle assessment of biogas infrastructure options on a regional scale

Tim Patterson, Alan Guwy, Sandra Esteves, Richard Dinsdale

Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science

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Abstract

A life cycle assessment has been completed of potential biogas infrastructures on a regional scale. Centralised and distributed infrastructures were considered along with biogas end uses of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and injection to the gas grid for either transport fuel or domestic heating end uses. Damage orientated (endpoint) life cycle impact assessment method identified that CHP with 80% heat utilisation had the least environmental impact, followed by transport fuel use. Utilisation for domestic heating purposes via the gas grid was found to perform less well. A 32% difference in transportation requirement between the centralised and distributed infrastructures was found to have a relatively small effect on the overall environmental impact. Global warming impacts were significantly affected by changes in methane emissions at upgrading stage, highlighting the importance of minimising operational losses.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	7313 - 323
Number of pages	10
Journal	Bioresource Technology
Volume	102
Issue number	15
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2011.04.063
Publication status	Published - 24 Apr 2011

Keywords

biogas
biomethane
transport fuel
chp
lca

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.biortech.2011.04.063Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

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title = "Life cycle assessment of biogas infrastructure options on a regional scale",

abstract = "A life cycle assessment has been completed of potential biogas infrastructures on a regional scale. Centralised and distributed infrastructures were considered along with biogas end uses of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and injection to the gas grid for either transport fuel or domestic heating end uses. Damage orientated (endpoint) life cycle impact assessment method identified that CHP with 80% heat utilisation had the least environmental impact, followed by transport fuel use. Utilisation for domestic heating purposes via the gas grid was found to perform less well. A 32% difference in transportation requirement between the centralised and distributed infrastructures was found to have a relatively small effect on the overall environmental impact. Global warming impacts were significantly affected by changes in methane emissions at upgrading stage, highlighting the importance of minimising operational losses.",

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AB - A life cycle assessment has been completed of potential biogas infrastructures on a regional scale. Centralised and distributed infrastructures were considered along with biogas end uses of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and injection to the gas grid for either transport fuel or domestic heating end uses. Damage orientated (endpoint) life cycle impact assessment method identified that CHP with 80% heat utilisation had the least environmental impact, followed by transport fuel use. Utilisation for domestic heating purposes via the gas grid was found to perform less well. A 32% difference in transportation requirement between the centralised and distributed infrastructures was found to have a relatively small effect on the overall environmental impact. Global warming impacts were significantly affected by changes in methane emissions at upgrading stage, highlighting the importance of minimising operational losses.

KW - biogas

KW - biomethane

KW - transport fuel

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KW - lca

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DO - 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.04.063

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JO - Bioresource Technology

JF - Bioresource Technology

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Life cycle assessment of biogas infrastructure options on a regional scale

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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