Comparison of results from life cycle assessment when using predicted and real-life data for an anaerobic digestion plant

Abstract

Increased separation of food waste driven by the European Circular Economy Action Plan will create a need for establishing new treatment plants that can turn waste resources into high value products. This paper presents a real example of how life cycle assessment was used as decision support when establishing a new anaerobic digestion plant in Norway. The aim of the paper is to investigate the accuracy of the results of the predictive study performed before the plant was built by comparing them with results from the operation of the plant. The comparative assessment revealed that both the burdens and avoided emissions were underestimated. The production volume of upgraded biogas as a fuel for transport was higher than anticipated, resulting in a higher benefit than expected associated with substitution of diesel. Conversely, the impacts from transport and from the anaerobic digestion process were higher than forecasted. In total the net results from the predictive study were within an acceptable range compared with results based on real data.

Environmental Performance in the Production and Use of Recovered Fertilizers from Organic Wastes Treated by Anaerobic Digestion vs Synthetic Mineral Fertilizers

“…In the work cited, similarly to others, ,, data used (e.g., ammonia and N 2 O emissions and nitrate leaching) were calculated using IPCC coefficients and no experimental data were used. Lyng et al underlined the importance of direct measurement from full-scale realities to avoid over- or underestimates.…”

Geospatial Analysis and Environmental Impact Assessment of a Holistic and Interdisciplinary Approach to the Biogas Sector

“…As the price of the carbon tax increases, so will the switch to carbon-neutral and carbon-sink resources. In the context of this research, the application of a life cycle assessment (LCA) can reveal the actual environmental impact of feedstock-changing policies in biogas production and utilisation related to future energy systems [29]. It was shown that sugar beet generates ecological effects that are similar to those of maize crops in bioenergy production [30], while intercropping forage sorghum with maize contributes to a lower environmental impact than a maize monoculture [30].…”