A life cycle assessment of biodiesel derived from the "niche filling" energy crop camelina in the USA

作者：Krohn Brian J^*; Fripp Matthias

来源：Applied Energy, 2012, 92: 92-98.

DOI：10.1016/j.apenergy.2011.10.025

• Life cycle assessment
• Camelina
• Biodiesel
• Land use change
• Biofuel

Camelina sativa (L) is a promising crop for biodiesel production that avoids many of the potential pitfalls of traditional biofuel crops, such as land use change (LUC) and food versus fuel. In this study the environmental viability of camelina biodiesel was assessed using life cycle analysis (LCA) methodology. The LCA was conducted using the spreadsheet model dubbed KABAM. KABAM found that camelina grown as a niche filling crop (in rotation with wheat or as a double crop) reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fossil fuel use by 40-60% when compared to petroleum diesel. Furthermore, by avoiding LUC emissions, camelina biodiesel emits fewer GHGs than traditional soybean and canola biodiesel. Finally, a sensitivity analysis concluded that in order to maintain and increase the environmental viability of camelina and other niche filling biofuel crops, researchers and policy makers should focus their efforts on achieving satisfactory yields (1000-2000 kg/ha) while reducing nitrogen fertilizer inputs.

• 出版日期2012-4