Conference article

Influence of Indirect Land Use Change on the GHG Balance of Biofuels - A Review of Methods and Impacts

Elisa Dunkelberg
Institute for Ecological Economy Research, Berlin, Germany

Matthias Finkbeiner
Technische Universitaet Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Bernd Hirschl
Institute for Ecological Economy Research, Berlin, Germany

P. Kuran
Warsaw University of Technology, Warszawa, Poland

S. Sieniutycz
Warsaw University of Technology, Warszawa, Poland

T. Jafary
Biotechnology Research Lab., Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Noshirvani University, Babol, Iran

G. D. Najafpour
Biotechnology Research Lab., Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Noshirvani University, Babol, Iran

A. A. Ghoreyshi
Biotechnology Research Lab., Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Noshirvani University, Babol, Iran

F. Haghparast
Biotechnology Research Lab., Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Noshirvani University, Babol, Iran

M. Rahimnejad
Biotechnology Research Lab., Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Noshirvani University, Babol, Iran

H. Zare
Biotechnology Research Lab., Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Noshirvani University, Babol, Iran

J. J. Coble
Department of Industrial Engineering. Nebrija Universidad. Madrid , Spain

A. Contreras
Department of Chemistry. ETSII. UNED. Madrid. Spain

Ignacio Mir
Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y Metalúrgica, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

Rodrigo Escobar
Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y Metalúrgica, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

Julio Vergara
Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica y Metalúrgica, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

Julio Bertrand
Empresa Nacional del Petróleo, ENA, Santiago, Chile

Jong Sung Kim
Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Republic of Korea

Kersti Karltorp
Chalmers University of Technology, Department of Energy and Environment, Gothenburg, Sweden

Björn A. Sandén
Chalmers University of Technology, Department of Energy and Environment, Gothenburg, Sweden

Antoine Beylot
CYCLECO, Ambårieu-en-Bugey, France

Jérome Payet
CYCLECO, Ambårieu-en-Bugey, France

Clément Puech
Transånergie, Ecully, France

Nadine Adra
Transånergie, Ecully, France

Philippe Jacquin
PHK consultants, Ecully, France

Isabelle Blanc
MINES ParisTech Sophia Antipolis, France

Didier Beloin-Saint-Pierre
MINES ParisTech Sophia Antipolis, France

Alexandra Kowalczyk
Ruhr-University Bochum, Institute of Thermo and Fluid Dynamics, Bochum, Germany

Sebastian Schwede
Ruhr-University Bochum, Institute of Thermo and Fluid Dynamics, Bochum, Germany

Mandy Gerber
Ruhr-University Bochum, Institute of Thermo and Fluid Dynamics, Bochum, Germany

Roland Span
Ruhr-University Bochum, Institute of Thermo and Fluid Dynamics, Bochum, Germany

R. Zubizarreta
Andalusia Institute of Technology, Málaga, Spain

J. M. Cejudo
Grupo de Energåtica, Escuela Tåcnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales, UMA. Málaga, Spain

J. P. Jiménez
Andalusia Institute of Technology, Málaga, Spain

Soumya Sri Sabyasachi Singh
Department of Mechanical Engineering, C.V. Raman College of Engineering, Bidyanagar, India

Dwijendra Kumar Ray
Department of Mechanical Engineering, C.V. Raman College of Engineering, Bidyanagar, India

Sunasira Misra
Department of Chemistry, C.V. Raman College of Engineering, Bidyanagar, India

Soumya Parida
Department of Chemistry, C.V. Raman College of Engineering, Bidyanagar, India

Debendra Kumar Sahu
Department of Chemistry, C.V. Raman College of Engineering, Bidyanagar, India

Bin-Juine Huang
New Energy Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

Yu-Hsing Lin
New Energy Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

Wei-Zhe Ton
New Energy Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

Tung-Fu Hou
New Energy Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

Yi-Hung Chuang
New Energy Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

Pravin B. Dangar
Department of Electrical Engineering, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, Lonere,Raigad, Maharashtra, India

Santosh H. Kaware
Department of Electrical Engineering, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, Lonere,Raigad, Maharashtra, India

P. K. Katti
Department of Electrical Engineering, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, Lonere,Raigad, Maharashtra, India

Charlotta Isaksson
Department of education, communication and learning, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

Adel O. Sharif
Centre for Osmosis Research & Applications, Chemical & Process Engineering Department, University of Surrey, UK

Ali A. Merdaw
Centre for Osmosis Research & Applications, Chemical & Process Engineering Department, University of Surrey, UK

Mohammed I. Sanduk
Centre for Osmosis Research & Applications, Chemical & Process Engineering Department, University of Surrey, UK

Sami M. Al-Aibi
Centre for Osmosis Research & Applications, Chemical & Process Engineering Department, University of Surrey, UK

Zena Rahal
Centre for Osmosis Research & Applications, Chemical & Process Engineering Department, University of Surrey, UK

Download articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.3384/ecp11057620

Published in: World Renewable Energy Congress - Sweden; 8-13 May; 2011; Linköping; Sweden

Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 57:7, p. 620-627

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Published: 2011-11-03

ISBN: 978-91-7393-070-3

ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)

Abstract

The greenhouse gas (GHG) balance or carbon footprint of biofuels; generally calculated by life cycle assessments (LCA); is heavily influenced by the modeling of land use changes (LUC). This includes direct land use changes (DLUC) and indirect land use changes (ILUC). Various methodical approaches for the integration of ILUC in LCA have recently evolved. In this study several approaches for calculating ILUC and the effects on GHG balance are compared. These are economic modeling; deterministic modeling and regional modeling. Papers published on this topic since 2007; when the ILUC debate began; are reviewed considering the following main criteria: methodological approach; uncertainties of assumptions; and the level of the GHG emissions due to ILUC. The results show that the existing approaches lead to strongly divergent results. This is due to uncertainties about relevant assumptions; e.g. the methods of linking commodity prices to ILUC; assumptions about yields; soil carbon contents; and the effect of by-products. These uncertainties and other methodological inconsistencies; e.g. the allocation issue with respect to displacing vs. displaced crops; imply that further research is needed and that current methods are not robust enough for adoption in regulation.

Keywords

Biofuels; Greenhouse-gas balance; Life cycle assessment; Indirect land use change; EU policy

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