the prosuite project development of a sustainability assessment methodology and case studies on...
TRANSCRIPT
The PROSUITE projectDevelopment of a sustainability
assessment methodology and case studies on biorefineries and organic
waste management
ERRMA meetingBrussels, April, 2, 2014
Ghent UniversitySteven De Meester, Jo Dewulf
Prospective Sustainability Assessment of Technologies
• Sustainability: Triple P Micro & macro
• ProspectiveDevelopment of basic engineering modules for LCADevelopment of cost tool for LCC
• Four case studies: nano, CCS, IT, Biorefineries
PROSUITE
New approach within Prosuite
• 5 Impact categories:– Impact on natural environment– Impact on exhaustible resources– Impact on human health– Impact on social well-being– Impact on prosperity
Mostly presentgeneration
Mostly futuregenerations
Prospective: engineering modules
Prospective: SCENT
Case study WP 6.1
Biorefineries: technology assessment
Anaerobic digestion of energy crops and
organic waste
Biobased PVCAlkyd resins
Sugarcane Brazil
Silage maize, use of digestate fertilizer
Biorefineries: inventory collection case 1
Transport and storage
Digester
Gas bag and condensation
Storage digestate
CHP
Internal heat and electricity
Electricity
Heat
Digestate
AgricultureInputs
Emissions
Emissions
Municipal waste collection,
transport and storage
Digester
Gas bag and condensation
Composting with biofilter
CHP
Internal heat and electricity
Domestic organic waste
Electricity
Heat
Compost
Pretreatment
Post-treatment
Waste to landfillWastewater
Wastewater treatment plant
Treated water
Inputs
Emissions
Sludge and air emissions
Reference = coal electricity (387 TWh/y according to IEA blue map scenario 2030)
De Meester, S.; Demeyer, J.; Peene, A.; Velghe, F.; Van Langenhove, H.; Dewulf, J. The environmental sustainability of anaerobic digestion as a biomass valorization technology. Bioresource Technology, 121, 396-403, 2012.
Background data: ecoinvent database
Results case 1 (Condorcet)
Reference System Prospective System - silage maize
Prospective System - Domestic organic waste
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8Impact on social well being
Impact on prosperity
Impact on exhaustible resources
Impact on natural environment
Impact on human health
Case 2: inventory
UGent: Literature
Solvay: Primary
ecoinvent
database
Solvay: Primary
Background data (e.g. electricity): ecoinvent
databaseAlvarenga, R.; Dewulf, J.; De Meester, S.; Wathelet, A.; Villers, J.; Thommeret, R.; Hruska, Z. Life cycle assessment of bioethanol-based PVC. Part 1: Attributional approach.Part 2: Consequential approach. Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining, 7, 386-405, 2013.
Results case 2 (Condorcet)
Condorcet with weighting
• Testing of new methodologies– Modelling of economic and environmental inventories
• Biorefineries– Often lower impact in environmental impact categories
Exceptions: PM emissions, eutrophication, etc.– Economic and social impact less evident (e.g. agriculture)
• Full sustainability assessment– New steps! New insights!– 5 endpoints, micro and macro– Still research needed (social quantification, resource
consumption, etc.)
Conclusions
