ERIA work onGHG LCA of bioenergy

in selected East Asian countries

Dr. Yuki KudohResearch Institute of Science for Safety and Sustainability (RISS),

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)

Presented at Session “Examples of GHG LCA of bioenergy in action”,

Capacity Building Workshop on GHG LCA and Policy Applications,

Tokyo International Forum, 15 November, 2011

Background of the project

Cebu Declaration on East Asian Energy Security@ 2nd East Asia Summit, Jan. 15, 2007

…

Encourage the use of biofuels and work towards freer trade on biofuels and a

standard on biofuels used in engines and motor vehicles;

…

Encourage collective efforts in intensifying the search for new and renewable energy

East Asian countries: High potential for biomass resources as energy

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Encourage collective efforts in intensifying the search for new and renewable energy

resources and technologies, including research and development in biofuels;

…

Biomass should be utilised in a sustainable manner

Need definition of biomass sustainability and its evaluation method

An expert working group (WG) started from 2007 to provide methodology to evaluate sustainability of bioenergy utilisation in East Asian countries under

the support of ERIA (Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia)

East Asia Summit (EAS)ASEAN 10, Australia, China, India,Japan, Korea and New Zealand+ Russia, USA (from 2011)

ERIA WG on “Sustainability Assessment of Biomass Utilisation in East Asia”

Top down Policy recommendations

ERIA: Economic Research Institutefor ASEAN and East Asia

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A think tank to analyse regional issues and make policy recommendations for East Asian economic integration

(“Deepening Economic Integration”, “Narrowing Development Gaps” and “Sustainable Economic Development”)

An international project as to sustainability of biomass utilisation as energy in EAS countries is being implemented as one of the energy projects

ERIA WG on“Sustainability Assessment of Biomass Utilisation in East Asia”

for ASEAN and East AsiaEstablished June 2008

WG members list 2010/2011 (As of August 2011)Consisted of 12 researchers from 7 EAS countries

WG LeaderMasayuki SAGISAKA

Senior Researcher, RISS, AIST Japan

Tentative WG LeaderYuki Kudoh

Research Scientist, RISS, AIST Japan

Sau Soon CHENSenior General Manager, Environment & Bioprocess Technology Centre, SIRIM Berhad

Malaysia

Jessie C. ELAURIAProfessor, College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, University of the Philippines Los Baños

Philippines

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Shabbir H. GHEEWALAProfessor, The Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment (JGSEE), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi

Thailand

Udin HASANUDINHead, Department of Agroindustrial Technology, University of Lampung

Indonesia

Hsien Hui KHOOSenior Research Fellow, Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences (ICES), A*STAR

Singapore

Tomoko KONISHI-NAGANO Researcher, Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. Japan

Jane ROMEROPolicy Researcher, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)

Japan

Yucho SADAMICHI Post Doctoral Research Scientist, RISS, AIST Japan

Vinod K. SHARMA Professor, Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR) India

Xunpeng SHIAssociate Researcher, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)

Indonesia

Worldwide initiatives for bioenergy sustainability

Regulatoryframeworks

Biomass Sustainability Order (BioNachV) – Germany, EU Renewable Energy Directive, Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) – US, Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) – UK, Social Fuel Seal – Brazil, “Cramer Criteria” – the Netherlands

Voluntary standard / Certificationscheme

Basel Criteria for Responsible Soy Production, Better Sugarcane Initiative, Council on Sustainable Biomass Production, Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP), Green Gold Label 2: Agriculture Source Criteria (GGLS2), International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC), Roundtable on Responsible Soy (RTRS), Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB), Roundtable on Sustainable Palm oil (RSPO), SEKAB Verified Sustainable Ethanol Initiative

Scorecards IDB Biofuels Sustainability Scorecard, WB/WWF Biofuels Environmental

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Scorecards IDB Biofuels Sustainability Scorecard, WB/WWF Biofuels EnvironmentalSustainability Scorecard

Initiatives in blue fonts include representatives / companies from EAS countries.Source: Ismail, M. & Rossi, A. 2010. A Compilation of Bioenergy Sustainability Initiatives. Rome: FAO

Major initiatives are led by developed countries

The WG’s final goal is to propose a sound and standardised methodology to evaluate sustainability of biomass utilisation as energy suitable for EAS countries considering the needs and socio-economic situations in this region

WG Concept: Triple bottom lines for sustainable development

3. Social3. Social PillarPillarDomestic/Regional GapDomestic/Regional GapAbatementAbatement(Culture, Education, Poverty, (Culture, Education, Poverty, Health, Peace, Human Rights ..)Health, Peace, Human Rights ..)by HDI (Human Development Index)by HDI (Human Development Index)

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Environmental Environmental Improvement(Improvement(Global & Global & RegionalRegionalEnvironment…)Environment…)by LCAby LCA

by HDI (Human Development Index)by HDI (Human Development Index)

Economic Economic Sustainability(EconoSustainability(Economic Development)mic Development)by Total Value Addedby Total Value Added

2. Economic Pillar2. Economic Pillar

1. Environmental1. EnvironmentalPillarPillar

Summary of WG progress (2007-2011)Sustainability assessment of biomass utilisation in East AsiaConcept: Triple bottom lines (environment, economic and social pillars)

2007-2008 Extracted issues to be concerned for sustainability assessment of biomass utilisation as energy in EAS counties

“Sustainable Biomass Utilisation Vision in East Asia”Scientific backup for adoption of “Asia Biomass Energy Principles” endorsed by 2nd EAS Energy Ministers’ Meeting in 2008

2008-2009 Developed a methodology to evaluate sustainability of biomass as energy from three

“Guidelines to Assess Sustainability of Biomass Utilisation in East Asia”

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biomass as energy from three pillars in EAS countries

2009-2010 Conducted pilot studies in fourselected EAS countries to field-test the methodology developed

“Sustainability Assessment of Biomass Energy Utilisation in Selected East Asian Countries”

2010-2011 Proposed an upgraded methodology by reflectinglessons learned from the pilot studies

“Sustainability Assessment Methodology for Biomass Energy Utilisation for Small and Large Scale Initiatives: Lessons Learned from Pilot Studies in Selected East Asian Countries” (Now editing)

WG methodologyfor biomass sustainability assessment

Environment: Life cycle GHG emissionsSystem boundary:Feedstock cultivation, feedstock collection, bioenergy production

Economic：：：：Total value addedBenefit by bioenergy utilisation

Social: HDI (Human Development Index)Definition by UNDP

Calculation method and required data for calculation are provided in the guideline

Direct users of the methodology:Academics, consultants,

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Definition by UNDPEndpoint impact by employment

Academics, consultants, technical officers, etc.

Results of sustainability assessment:Support decision makers (politicians, stakeholders, etc.) …• compare the sustainability of biomass energy options• make decision on whether or not to start / continue biomass energy initiatives

Ex ante evaluation: biomass energy initiatives being plannedEx post evaluation: biomass energy initiatives being implemented

Indicator for environmental pillar• LCA: Life cycle GHG emissions (CO2, CH4 and N2O)

• Inventory analysis

– Data collection from study sites (foreground data)

• Agricultural feedstock cultivation

• Feedstock transport

• Energy conversion plants

– Process of energy conversion

– Utilisation of byproducts

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– All input-output inventories

» Emissions to air, water, soil

» Emissions by waste treatment

– Data collection from literatures / database (background data)

• Impact Assessment

– Environmental impact category (EIP) considered: Global warming

– EIP = Σ(QxxGWPx)

– where

• Qx: Amount of substance “x”

• GWPx: GWP of substance “x” (IPCC AR4 GWP for a 100 year horizon)

Relevance to GBEP common methodological framework for GHG LCA of bioenergy

Example of system boundary for biomass energy LCAa) Cradle to grave: production of feedstock to final bioenergy use

= Well to wheel studies for automotive fuelsb) Cradle to gate: production of feedstock to production of bioenergy

= Well to tank studies for automotive fuelsc) Gate to grave: production of feedstock, production of bioenergy, use

of bioenergy are separate entities

GBEP GHG methodological framework ERIA project

GBEP

ERIA

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Step 1 GHGs covered ✓

Step 2 Source of biomass ✓

Step 3 Land use change −

Step 4 Biomass feedstock production ✓

Step 5 Transport of biomass ✓

Step 6 Processing into fuel ✓

Step 7 By-products and co-products ✓

Step 8 Transport of fuel −

Step 9 Fuel use −

Step 10 Comparison with replaced fuel ✓

GHG emissions by LULUCWorldwide recognition that impact of land use and land use change (LULUC) towards life cycle GHG emissions of bioenergy could be significant

Direct effect: ex) Tier approaches of IPCC GPG-LULUCFTier 1: Using default valuesTier 2: Using country-specific emission factors (when available)Tier 3: Using more complex models or detailed surveys (when available)

Indirect effect: Difficult to demonstrate its causal effect and quantify

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The WG thinks that …• There is still limited consensus on various aspects of methodology and

conversion factors used in the calculation• Studies are still on-going and expected to provide more scientific evidence of

the appropriate values that can be adopted to calculate the GHG emissions associated with LULUC in future

GHG emission from LULUC are excluded from the system boundary of the present WG methodologyHowever, future considerations for relevant environmental impacts will be included, especially on losses of carbon stock from LULUC

Andhra Pradesh, India: Biodiesel from Oil Trees(Jatropha, Pongamia)

Pilot study sites in selected EAS countriesCollection of primary and secondary data (interviews and statistics) from actual biomass energy projects/sites����Field-tested the methodology developed (2009-2010) and reflect experiences and lessons learned to the upgraded methodology (2010-2011)

AIST:Lead the discussion,WG management

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Khon Kaen, Thailand:Bioethanol from Sugarcane

Lampung, Indonesia:Biofuels fromCassava and Jatropha

(Jatropha, Pongamia)

Quezon, the Philippines:

Biodiesel from Coconut Oil

Pilot study in Khon Kaen, Thailand

KHON KAEN

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Khon Kaen Sugar Industry Public Co., Ltd. Khon Kaen Sugar Power Plant Co., Ltd.Khon Kaen Alcohol Co., Ltd. (Ethanol and fertilizer plant)

KHON KAENSUGAR INDUSTRY PUBLICCO., LTD. (KSL Group)

ESTABLISHED IN 1976

Sugar biorefinery complex

Sugar

Molasses

Ethanol (Alcohol 99.5%)

Fertiliser

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Farmer Sugar factory

Molasses

Fertiliser plant

Bagasses; Cane fibre Electricity

Waste waterEthanol plant

Power plantFilter cake; Cane dirties

Steam

70% of cane leaf:Direct burning

• Plantation area: 320~480km2• 80% of raw materials from farmer• 4,000 contracts: year by year• 2% of raw materials from factory• Average distance farms-factory = 50km

Inventory data collection• Sugarcane production

– Fuel, fertiliser, herbicide, cane trash burning

• Sugar/molasses production

– Production capacity, fuel use, electricity use, surplus electricity sold to the grid, chemical use, waste management/utlisation

• Ethanol conversion

– Production capacity, fuel use, electricity use, waste management/utlisationsuch as biogassuch as biogas

• Biomass power plant

– Production capacity, fuel use, electricity use, surplus electricity sold to the grid, chemical use, waste management/utilisation

• Fertiliser production

– Production capacity, fuel use, electricity use, chemical use, waste utilisation

• All transport activities

– Distance, transport mode, capacity

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Information collected via questionnaire surveys, interviews, factory reports, literature

Sugarcane

species

Fuel

Water

Fertiliser

Herbicide

Land preparation

New cane cultivation

Cane maintenance

Harvesting

Ratooning

Ratooncane

Air emission

Water emission

Cane trash (open

burning)

Chemicals

Sugarcane

Water

Electricity

Syrup

Juice extraction

Sugar production

Juice clarification

EvaporationCrystallisationCentrifugaling

Filter cake

Molasses

Raw sugarWhite sugarRefined sugar

Waste

Wastewater

Sugarcane

cultivation

Steam and Electricity

Steam and Electricity generation

Bagasses

Sugarcane production Sugar production

Sugarcane production

Sugarproduction

Input Output Input

Output

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cultivation

Enzyme

Molasses

Chemicals

Water

Fermentation

Distillation

Dehydration

Spent wash

Fusel oil

99.5% EtOH

Fertiliserproduction

Organic fertiliser

Water

Bagasses BoilerSteam turbine

Cooling tower

Air emission

Electricity

Steam

Wastewater

CO2

EtOH + fertiliser production Biomass power plant

EtOHproduction

Fertiliserproduction

Electricity generation

Reference flow:1t-sugarcane↔ 160m2 of land↔ 15.48kWh of electricity from bagasse↔ 14.95L of EtOH from molassess↔ 0.018kg of fertiliser from cake and spent wash

Input

Output

Input

Output

OutputInput

Life cycle GHG emissions results

EtOH [kg-CO2eq.]Gasoline [kg-

CO2eq.]Base

scenario

Scenario 1Scenario 2

0% 35%

Production 13.50 5.91 8.38 11.20 5.04

Use - - - - 21.66

Total 13.50 5.91 8.38 11.20 26.70

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Total 13.50 5.91 8.38 11.20 26.70

Note: Results based upon reference flow of 1t-sugacane = 14.95l-EtOH,which is equivalent to 9.89l-gasolineScenario 1: Percentage of cane trash burning (base case is assumed as 70%)Scenario 2: Utilisation of excess steam

Benefits of sugarcane biorefinery:• A reduction of GWP by 50% of EtOH as compared to gasoline (Base scenario)• A further reduction by 70% and up to 80% when cane trash burning is reduced

or avoided (Scenario 1)• A potential additional 10% GHG savings from utilisation of unused steam

(Scenario 2)

Environmental: Life cycle GHG emissions• Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a well established, standard technique for

quantifying GHG emissions and is applicable at any biomass initiatives

Economic: Total value added• Understanding the components of total value added (net profit, personnel

remuneration, tax revenue) will help stakeholders decide to proceed with/continue the biomass initiatives

Lessons learned from pilot studiesWG advantage: Field-tested the methodology developed(Only a few other biomass sustainability initiative have gone through)

with/continue the biomass initiatives

Social: HDI (endpoint impact by employment)• HDI can be used for macro scale initiatives but is difficult to assess for micro

scale initiatives because of data unavailability• Midpoint indicators which can directly capture the social effect by biomass energy

utilisation initiatives are required for quantitative evaluation

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By reflecting the above lessons learned and the latest trend of bioenergy sustainability initiatives, the WG proposed an upgraded methodology suitable for biomass utilisation as energy in EAS countries• Sustainability indicators applicable for micro and macro scale biomass utilisation• Issues to be concerned for more scientific and practical sustainability assessment

Indicators for micro and macro scale initiatives

Project Community Province State NationalMicro scale initiatives Macro scale initiatives

Environment:LC GHG

Applicable at any level(Follow internationally accepted methodologies such as ISO and IPCC for LCA and LULUC emissions)

Economic:Total value added

Applicable at any levelIncome approach Production approach

SUSTAINABILITY INDICATORS

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Employment generation

Access to modern energy

“A long and healthy life”(Improvement in health, life expectancy, etc.)

“Knowledge”(Enrolment in education, improvement in adult literacy rate, etc.)

“A decent standard of living”(Increase in personal income, etc.)

Social:

Midpoint indices

Endpoint

indices HDI and other endpoint indices

The way forward of the WGTo propose sound and standardised methodology for

sustainability assessment of bioenergy in EAS countries

Dissemination of the WG methodology

• Hold training/seminar on the methodology for EAS country representatives

Extend and accumulate the WG research experience

• Conduct case studies using the upgraded methodology� Evaluate sustainability of biomass energy initiatives using various

feedstocks in EAS countries

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feedstocks in EAS countries• Extend the environmental impact from GHG emissions to other impact

categories (emissions to air, soil, water, etc.)• From “biomass utilisation as energy” to “biomass utilisation”

• Some feedstock can create higher value added by biomass utilisation as material than energy

• Discuss the role of biomass energy within the total energy system in EAS countries, etc.� Comparison with conventional and other renewable energy options

Policy support on what kinds of and how bioenergy should be utilised and implemented in a sustainable manner in each EAS country

Other pilot study site:Andhra Paradesh, India (Oil trees)

Plantation site (Jatropha)FAME from oil trees

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Jatropha seed Pongamia seed

Crude Jatropha oil extraction Crude Pongamia oilEsterification plant

FAME from oil trees

Other pilot study site:Lampung, Indonesia (Cassava)

Cassava production Ethanol productionCassava transport

Fuel

UreaNPK fertiliser

Fuel

EthanolCoal

CO2

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Waste waster

Cassava root

Biogas(CH4)

CompostPeelWet cake

Chemicals

Other pilot study site:Lampung, Indonesia (Jatropha)

Jatropha plantation village Crude Jatropha oil extraction Crude Jatropha oil

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Jatropha plantation village

Jatropha as intercrop

Crude Jatropha oil extraction Crude Jatropha oil

Jatropha cake Biogas from Jatropha cake(Gas for cooking)

Other pilot study site:Quezon, the Philippines (Coconuts)

Mature Coconut Coconut shell and copra

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Coconut tree

Mature Coconut Coconut shell and copra

Coconut oil extractionfrom dried copra

FAME from coconut

Thank you very much for yourkind attention!

Dr. Yuki Kudoh

kudoh.yuki@aist.go.jp

“Sustainability Assessment of Biomass Energy Utilisationin Selected East Asian Countries” edited by the WG is available at:

http://www.eria.org/research/y2009-no12.html

The latest WG report 2010-2011 shall be available at ERIA website soon