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Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Biogas as a Fuel for Transport Compared with Alternative Fuels

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  • Kari-Anne Lyng

    (Ostfold Research, Stadion 4, 1671 Kråkerøy, Norway)

  • Andreas Brekke

    (Ostfold Research, Stadion 4, 1671 Kråkerøy, Norway)

Abstract

Upgraded biogas, also known as biomethane, is increasingly being used as a fuel for transport in several countries and is regarded as an environmentally beneficial option. There are, nevertheless, few studies documenting the environmental impacts of biogas as a transport fuel compared with the alternatives on the market. In this study, life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was applied to compare the environmental performance of biogas used as a fuel for bus transport with natural gas, electricity fueled buses, biodiesel, and fossil diesel. A sensitivity analysis was performed for the biogas alternative to assess the importance of the underlying assumptions. The results show that biogas has a relatively low contribution to the environmental impact categories assessed. Emissions of greenhouse gases are dependent on assumptions such as system boundaries, transport distances and methane leakages.

Suggested Citation

  • Kari-Anne Lyng & Andreas Brekke, 2019. "Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Biogas as a Fuel for Transport Compared with Alternative Fuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:3:p:532-:d:204173
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Manninen, Kaisa & Koskela, Sirkka & Nuppunen, Anni & Sorvari, Jaana & Nevalainen, Olli & Siitonen, Sari, 2013. "The applicability of the renewable energy directive calculation to assess the sustainability of biogas production," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 549-557.
    2. Patrizio, P. & Leduc, S. & Chinese, D. & Dotzauer, E. & Kraxner, F., 2015. "Biomethane as transport fuel – A comparison with other biogas utilization pathways in northern Italy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 25-34.
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    Cited by:

    1. Li, Kaying & Acha, Salvador & Sunny, Nixon & Shah, Nilay, 2022. "Strategic transport fleet analysis of heavy goods vehicle technology for net-zero targets," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
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    3. Obianuju Patience Ilo & Mulala Danny Simatele & S’phumelele Lucky Nkomo & Ntandoyenkosi Malusi Mkhize & Nagendra Gopinath Prabhu, 2021. "Methodological Approaches to Optimising Anaerobic Digestion of Water Hyacinth for Energy Efficiency in South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-17, June.
    4. Anna Pääkkönen & Kalle Aro & Pami Aalto & Jukka Konttinen & Matti Kojo, 2019. "The Potential of Biomethane in Replacing Fossil Fuels in Heavy Transport—A Case Study on Finland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-19, August.
    5. Ludwik Wicki & Kaspars Naglis-Liepa & Tadeusz Filipiak & Andrzej Parzonko & Aleksandra Wicka, 2022. "Is the Production of Agricultural Biogas Environmentally Friendly? Does the Structure of Consumption of First- and Second-Generation Raw Materials in Latvia and Poland Matter?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-16, August.
    6. Ekaterina S. Titova, 2019. "Biofuel Application as a Factor of Sustainable Development Ensuring: The Case of Russia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-30, October.
    7. Naquash, Ahmad & Qyyum, Muhammad Abdul & Haider, Junaid & Bokhari, Awais & Lim, Hankwon & Lee, Moonyong, 2022. "State-of-the-art assessment of cryogenic technologies for biogas upgrading: Energy, economic, and environmental perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    8. Robert Czubaszek & Agnieszka Wysocka-Czubaszek & Piotr Banaszuk, 2020. "GHG Emissions and Efficiency of Energy Generation through Anaerobic Fermentation of Wetland Biomass," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-25, December.
    9. Eric Santos-Clotas & Alba Cabrera-Codony & Alba Castillo & Maria J. Martín & Manel Poch & Hèctor Monclús, 2019. "Environmental Decision Support System for Biogas Upgrading to Feasible Fuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-14, April.
    10. R. C. Assunção, Lorena & A. S. Mendes, Pietro & Matos, Stelvia & Borschiver, Suzana, 2021. "Technology roadmap of renewable natural gas: Identifying trends for research and development to improve biogas upgrading technology management," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    11. Gustafsson, M. & Anderberg, S., 2021. "Dimensions and characteristics of biogas policies – Modelling the European policy landscape," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    12. M. Samer & O. Hijazi & E. M. Abdelsalam & A. El-Hussein & Y. A. Attia & I. H. Yacoub & H. Bernhardt, 2021. "Life cycle assessment of using laser treatment and nanomaterials to produce biogas through anaerobic digestion of slurry," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(10), pages 14683-14696, October.
    13. Izabela Samson-Bręk & Marlena Owczuk & Anna Matuszewska & Krzysztof Biernat, 2022. "Environmental Assessment of the Life Cycle of Electricity Generation from Biogas in Polish Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-22, August.

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