KE-40.4120 Introduction to biorefineries and biofuels Assignment 10. LCA of Biorefineries Arturo Sala ar !

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1. Why is this study important and relevant? I think that with every new technology, or promising advances and discoveries there are different stages in which first the theoretical potential for it is presented at laboratory scale, and second, a stage in which the true feasibility of the idea has to be carefully analyzed, studied, modeled and proven to all stakeholders. In the particular case of the article, I think it was important that the author considered sensible things such as N ! yields and always considered it of primal importance and not only as a "! e#uivalent. $he article was of importance because it opened the eyes of the reader to the way the matter is broken down in its essential input and output parts and is geared towards making a decision of whether or not move forward with the implementation of a technology. . What is the functional unit of the study? %functional unit & #uantified performance of a product system for use as a reference unit' $he functional unit utilized in the study was the total amount of biomass treated per year %(tdry biomass treated)a' in this case using a feedstock of switchgrass as the raw material. *. "ompare the key results of the biorefinery and fossil reference systems. What is the carbon footprint for the both systems? In the study, different "! se#uestration factors and N ! yield were used to determine the total carbon footprint of the biorefinery, however, a table is presented as a standar measure considering a period of the initial + years and after twenty years against a conventional refinery reference. ,ccording to this table found in the study, in the first + years, the biorefinery saves -./ in "! e#uivalents compared to a conventional refinery, mostly aided by the non e#uilibrium status of the usable land to se#uestrate carbon, and 00/ after reaching e#uilibrium due to saturation of soil with "! . 1. What kind of uncertainties did you find in the results of this study?

$he most important uncertainty in the study was, in my opinion, the fact that it looks as if governments do not have yet a clear stand on Nitrogen emissions, which, although recognized and identified as potential harmful substances and given the status of greenhouse gases, it seems as if current policies focus on the carbon dio2ide e#uivalent solely, giving a little bit of guessing room onto how a biorefinery really would alleviate the problem or maintain the status #uo. $he other big uncertainty is the effects of acidification and eutrophication caused in the soil, as well as the need for fertilizers and herbicides that can be of e2treme concern for the balances. $he other risk comes, usual from the monocropic culture that production of certain types of biomass tend to lean onto. No optimal profile as to what kind of species to grow to minimize and share risks is ever presented, giving the usual feeling of one wonder plant to fi2 it all. 0. 3our own opinions4 a. "ould you present new research items on the basis of this study? (im, 5., 6 7ale, 8. 9. % ++0'. :ife cycle assessment of various cropping systems utilized for producing biofuels4 8ioethanol and biodiesel. 8iomass and 8ioenergy, .%;', 1 ;< 1*.. 5pecifically tackling the different crops to be used in the production of the two transport fuels with the highest potential b. =ow did this study increase your environmental awareness on biofuels? It made me think for the first tie on the carbon se#uestration potential of soil by the effect of plants with different fi2ation potential. It made me think in an optimal land management system that, under the basis of crop rotation, utilized the full potential of different plant species that, once reached their potential %e.g. + years', a different specie can be used to avoid plateau and keep the system with fi2ing capacity for carbon. It also made me think that, if at a stae of :",, maybe the proper feasibility studies start being generated soon and a true working biorefinery that covers the full range and scope of a traditional refinery is set into place and some real data and figures can start coming into picture to determine whether or not is a suitable option for our future.