Exploring the integration of LCA elements into early stage bioenergy research
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bath
Department Name: Mechanical Engineering
Abstract
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Publications
Davidson M
(2021)
Developments in the life cycle assessment of chemical recycling of plastic waste - A review
in Journal of Cleaner Production
Karamerou EE
(2021)
Using techno-economic modelling to determine the minimum cost possible for a microbial palm oil substitute.
in Biotechnology for biofuels
McManus M
(2017)
Modeling, Dynamics, Optimization and Bioeconomics II
McManus MC
(2015)
Challenge clusters facing LCA in environmental decision-making-what we can learn from biofuels.
in The international journal of life cycle assessment
McManus MC
(2015)
The changing nature of life cycle assessment.
in Biomass & bioenergy
McManus, M C
(2014)
The Use of LCA for the Development of Bioenergy Pathways
Nogueira G
(2021)
Are eucalyptus harvest residues a truly burden-free biomass source for bioenergy? A deeper look into biorefinery process design and Life Cycle Assessment
in Journal of Cleaner Production
| Description | We are using lab and pilot scale bioenergy plants to compare the Life Cycle Impact effects of bioenergy production. We are doing this to test the method of LCA's ability to determine environmental impacts predicatively. Since the project ended we have continued with the work through means of other funding (eg EPSRC EP/P020836/1 and EP/N013522/1). these projects have looked at case studies to explore the impact of novel materials and systems and how we best optimise and measure their impact. Work is ongoing through international collaboration with colleagues in N America and Canada. Much of the environmental impact of a product or system is determined in the design stage. However, the least amount of information of a product or systems is available at that stage. We are looking at how we modify and augment existing methods to understand and measure these impacts so that they can be minimised. |
| Exploitation Route | The work will be of use to the bioenergy and energy industry, as well as the LCA community. Increasingly the work is being used for the materials industry as well, as novel materials have some similar properties in terms of needing to understand the wider potential implications of their use. |
| Sectors | Energy,Environment |
| Description | The work is beginning to be picked up by industry and policy makers. Work is still being published from this project and so this process is ongoing. Aspects of this work directly relate to work further undertaken during a sabbatical granted to Dr Marcelle McManus by the University of Bath. As part of this Dr McManus attended a small, invitee only, workshop organised by Prof Joule Bergerson at the University of Calgary on the use of LCA in emerging technology. This workshop resulted in drafting a further paper which is in the final stages of drafting. In addition, a special session on the topic is being organised for the ISSST conference in Buffalo in June 2018. The work has been presented to US Department of Energy as well as academics from various N American Universities and the National Labs. |
| Sector | Energy,Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
| Description | Travel Grant Application: Dynamic Energy Planning: Global and National Resilience |
| Amount | £12,008 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/P020836/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2017 |
| End | 02/2018 |