LCA of algal products:state of the art and perspectives

Dr Guido Reinhardt

AlgaeEurope 2016Madrid, 13-15 December 2016

ifeu – Institute for Energy andEnvironmental Research Heidelberg

Who we are – What we do

IFEU - Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg, since 1978

• Independent scientific research institute

• Organised as a private non profit company with currently about 70 employees

• Research / consulting on environmental aspects of- Energy (including Renewable Energy)- Transport- Waste Management- Life Cycle Analyses - Environmental Impact Assessment- Renewable Resources- Environmental Education

Who we are - What we do

IFEU focuses regarding the topic of biomass

• Research / consulting on environmental aspects of- transport biofuels- biomass-based electricity and heat- biorefinery systems- biobased materials- agricultural goods and food- cultivation systems (conventional agriculture,

organic farming, etc.)

• Potentials and future scenarios

• Technologies / technology comparisons

• CO2 avoidance costs

• Sustainability aspects / valuation models

IFEU work on algae: PUFAChain project

Call KBBE.2013.3.2-02: The CO2 algae biorefinery

Project title PUFAChain – The Value Chain from Microalgae to PUFA

Grant Agreement No. 613303

Duration 48 months

Start 1st November 2013

End 31th October 2017

No. of participants 9 partners from 4 different countries

Total estimated costs 7,149,939.60 Euro

Total EU contribution 5,124,066.00 Euro

IFEU work on algae: D-Factory project

Call KBBE.2013.3.2-02: The Micro Algae Biorefinery

Project title D-Factory – The Micro Algae Biorefinery

Grant Agreement No. 613870Duration 48 monthsStart 1st December 2013End 30th November 2017No. of participants 13 partners from 8 different countries

Total estimated costs 10,083,863.00 EuroTotal EU contribution 7,177,440.00 Euro

Hafren Investments

TREMOD: Transport Emission Model• Modelling emissions of road vehicles, trains, ships and airplanes

• Official database of the German Ministries for emission reporting

Life cycle assessments (LCA) and technology impact assessments since 1990:

• Biofuels (all biofuels, all applications)

• Biobased materials, food & feed

• Renewable Energy

Who we are - What we do

Who we are - What we do

IFEU - Institute for Energy and Environmental Research Heidelberg, since 1978

• Our clients (on biofuel / biomass studies)- World Bank- UNEP, UNIDO, FAO, UNFCCC, GIZ, etc. - European Commission: several DGs- National and regional Ministries- Associations (national and international) - Local authorities- WWF, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth etc.- Companies (Daimler, Coca Cola, German Telekom, etc.)- Foundations (German Foundation on Environment, British

Foundation on Transport etc.)

25 plus years of experience

1991

First full life cycle balance on biodiesel in Europe

Energie- und CO2-Bilanz von Rapsöl und Rapsölester

im Vergleich zu Dieselkraftstoff

Endbericht

F + E-Vorhaben des UmweltbundesamtesNr. 104 08 508/02

ifeu – Institut für Energie- undUmweltforschung Heidelberg

Fachbereich „Verkehr und Umwelt“

Dezember 1991

IFEU core biomass team

Nils Rettenmaier

Guido Reinhardt

Martina Krüger Heiko Keller

Susanne Köppen

Sven Gärtner

Tobias Schmidt

Regine Vogt

Bernd Franke

Horst Fehrenbach

Andreas Detzel

LCA of algal products:state of the art and perspectives

Dr Guido Reinhardt

AlgaeEurope 2016Madrid, 13-15 December 2016

ifeu – Institute for Energy andEnvironmental Research Heidelberg

Life cycle comparison

Conventional product Credits

Resource extraction

Fertiliser

Fuel Pesticides

Aqua-culture

Raw material

production

Utilisation

Transport

Processing Co-products

Fallow maintenance

Equivalent products

Reference system

IFEU 2016

Algae based bioproduct

Product or system

Environmental advantages and disadvantages:

+• CO2 neutral• Save energetic resources• Organic waste reduction• Less transport• etc.

–• Land use• Eutrophication of surface water• Water pollution by pesticides• Energy intensive production• etc.

Total: positive or negative

?

Goal and scope definition

Inventory analysis

Impact assessment

Inter-preta-tion

ISO 14040 & 14044

Life cycle assessment (LCA)

LCA on algae

• There is a trend towards algae biorefinery concepts with non-fuel products such as neutraceuticals.

Findings

Currently studied products(examples)

Past publications Current publications

© R. Hevner 2014 / ifeu 2014

essential terpenes, carrageenan, biostimulants, specialty feed etc.

Glycerol

© Pixelio, Rainer Sturm

Carotenoids

Example: Algae biorefinery

Dunaliella

Dunaliellabiorefinery

Auxiliarymaterials Energy

β-carotene

Glycerol

Proteins

Waste water

WastePictures: NBT 2014 / R. Hevner 2014

Conventionalβ-carotene

Technicalglycerol

Conventionalproteins

Alagaeculture

EC funded project: D-Factory

Macroalgae / seaweed

© Wikimedia Commons, StinaTano

Trending technologies, no success stories yet.

Potential advantages regarding:– Land use (less competition for marine areas)– Energy for harvesting (“sieves” vs. centrifuges etc.)

However, macroalgae are cultivated partially inlandin raceways or photobioreactors.

• There is a trend towards algae biorefinery concepts with non-fuel products such as neutraceuticals.

• New algae species are explored including macroalgae.

Findings

Enlarge the scope of algae based production systemstowards all application options and value chains.

LCAs on algae: results

Hundreds of specific and valuable results available

• There is a trend towards algae biorefinery concepts with non-fuel products such as neutraceuticals.

• New species are explored including macroalgae.

Enlarge scope of algae based production systems towards all application options and value chains.

• Big potential to mitigate GHG and save fossil resources, though not in all cases.

• Burdens regarding some environmental impacts with patterns similar to those of biofuel LCAs.

Findings

Not all products from algae are associated with environmental benefits nor sustainable – just because they are “bio”.

LCA results: bio-products

-1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2

Energy savings

Greenhouse effect

Acidification

Terrestrial eutrophication

Photosmog

Ozone depletion

Human toxicity

IE per hectare

Source: IFEU 2014

126 %91 %

77 %

75 %

67 %

Extra savings

Advantages Disadvantages

Reduction

Rape seed based

Algae based

LCA results: bio-products

-1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2

Energy savings

Greenhouse effect

Acidification

Terrestrial eutrophication

Photosmog

Ozone depletion

Human toxicity

IE per hectare

Source: IFEU 2014

126 %91 %

77 %

75 %

67 %

Extra savings

Advantages Disadvantages

Reduction

Rape seed based

Algae based

There is a high potential – far above average –for algae based products being environmentalfriendly.

It is worth to continue investigations and especiallyimprovements of algae based product systems torealize these potentials in future.

Not all bio-products from algae such as bio-energy, bio-chemicals or bio-nutrients are associated with environmental benefits nor sustainable – just because they are “bio”.

There is a high potential – far above average – for algae based products being environmental friendly. Therefore: intensify investigations on algae related projects.

Take home messages

LCA works very well for both, to identify the environ-mental implications and to improve the system or product. It helps to realize these potentials in future.

Need to perform a LCA for each algae based production system investigated to direct science, industry and policy.

Agenda

• Latest LCAs on algae: findings

• Developments in algae LCA quality

• LC-EIA as a LCA supplement

• Conclusions and recommendations

LCA: Life cycle assessment

LCA on algae

GHG only !!!

LCA on algae

LCAs of algae based products: until mid 2015

All publications listed: GHG only, some includealso energy savings

By far not a LCA !

LCAs of algae based products

Limited environmental impacts– e.g. GHG (& energy) only

Goal & scope definition not sufficient– e.g. no goal definition, no functional unit,

cradle to gate etc.

Processes / parameters not considered– CO2 as input, use phase etc. not considered

Technical limitations in some publications

LCAs of algae based products

Limited environmental impacts– e.g. GHG (& energy) only

Goal & scope definition not sufficient– e.g. no goal definition, no functional unit,

cradle to gate etc.

Processes / parameters not considered– CO2 as input, use phase etc. not considered

Technical limitations in some publications

Simple solution in some cases:

Don’t promise more than you can deliver.

Life cycle GHG emissions (not „LCA“) LCA (not „environmental assessment“) Cradle to gate / well to tank ≠ life cycle

LCA Journal

LCAs of algae based products: latest highlights

Largely meetingLCA qualitystandards

LCAs of algae based products

More technically adequate LCAs– higher number and higher share

Fewer limitations in insufficient LCAs– e.g. more impacts covered in most publications

Last year’s technical improvementsMid 2014 – mid 2015

~20 %Mid 2015 – mid 2016

33 %

Still a lot of room for improvement!

Agenda

• Latest LCAs on algae: findings

• Developments in algae LCA quality

• LC-EIA as a LCA supplement

• Conclusions and recommendations

LCA: Life cycle assessmentLC-EIA: Life Cycle Environmental Impact Assessment

Example: PUFA: life cycle comparisons

Many local and regional environmental implications of great importance are not addressed in LCA of today

PUFAAlgae PUFA

Fishery

Fish farms

Oil crops

PUFA: poly-unsaturated fatty acids

Need to supplement LCA methodology by a respective assessment tool

LCA LC-EIA Global impacts Site-specific impacts

Methodologies

Environmental assessment

Life cycle assessment (LCA)

Life cycle environmental impact assessment (LC-EIA)

Water

Climate / Air

Flora, Fauna, Biodiversity

Soil

Landscape

Cultural heritage

Humans

Interactions

Compartments of the environment

Quelle: IUS 2009

Environmental assessment

Water

Climate / Air

Flora, Fauna, Biodiversity

Soil

Landscape

Cultural heritage

Humans Interactions

Source: IUS 2013 & IFEU 2009

Environmental assessment

LC-EIA: Life cycle environmental impact assessment

Resourceextraction

Fertiliser

Fuel Pesticides

AquacultureRaw

material production

Utilisation

Transport

Processing

Conventional product

Bioproduct (from algae)

Impact category: A = minimum impact; E = maximum impact

non rsl: non-rotational fallow set-aside land, no cropping; cer.: cerrado (topical savannah);rsl: rotational set-aside fallow land, no cropping; conv. use: conventional use

CCCCCCCLoss of landscape elements

DDDDCECLoss of habitat / species diversity

EEEEEEBWeed control / pesticidesCCEDCDDWater demand

DDDDDDBNutrient leaching, Eutrophication

DDEDDDCSoil chemistry / fertiliserDDEDDEBSoil organic matterCCECCDASoil compactionCCECCCBSoil erosion

conv. userslrslrslrslcerr.non rsl

Referencescenario

Type of risk

Cereal strawCereal Sugar

beetSorghumRapeseedSugar cane

Arundo donaxFeedstock

ResiduesAnnual cropsPerennial crops

CCCCCCCDDDDCECEEEEEEBCCEDCDDDDDDDDBDDEDDDCDDEDDEBCCECCDACCECCCB

Source: IUS 2013

Results of an LC-EIA (example: comparisons)

Ranking by 5 categories: ++ + 0 ─ ─ ─

Environment

ArundoFibre sorghum

Wheat straw

Marginal land (Arundo)

BTL (Arundo)

Wheat ethanol

Beet ethanol

Cane ethanol (Brazil)

Rape seed biodiesel

Maize bio-methane

BIOLYFE scenarios Alternatives to BIOLYFE

─ ─ ─ 0 ─ ─ ─ 0 ─ ─ ─ ─ 0 ─ 0 ─ ─ 0 ─ ─ ─ 0 ─ ─ ─ ─0 ─ 0 ─ ─ 0 ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ 0 ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ─ 0 0

WaterSoilFaunaFloraLandscape

Results of an LC-EIA (example: scenarios)

Source: IUS & IFEU 2013

Ranking by 5 categories: ++ + 0 ─ ─ ─

Environment

ArundoFibre sorghum

Wheat straw

Marginal land (Arundo)

BTL (Arundo)

Wheat ethanol

Beet ethanol

Cane ethanol (Brazil)

Rape seed biodiesel

Maize bio-methane

BIOLYFE scenarios Alternatives to BIOLYFE

─ ─ ─ 0 ─ ─ ─ 0 ─ ─ ─ ─ 0 ─ 0 ─ ─ 0 ─ ─ ─ 0 ─ ─ ─ ─0 ─ 0 ─ ─ 0 ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ 0 ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ─ 0 0

WaterSoilFaunaFloraLandscape

Source: IUS & IFEU 2013

Results of an LC-EIA (example: scenarios)

LC-EIA (Life cycle environmental impact assessment) …

… exists

… works well

… is applicable

… runs successfully since a few years

… can supplement LCA

Studies with LC-EIA*

Downloads:…www.ifeu.de/biorefineries

* Life Cycle EnvironmentalImpact Assessment

For a conclusive environmental assessment for algae based products combination is necessary, especially if raceways or ponds are involved: LCA plus LC-EIA

Take home message

Fish farmsPUFAAlgae PUFA

Oil crops

Fishery

In quite some algae related projects in the EU already implemented. More to come ?

Agenda

• Latest LCAs on algae: findings

• Developments in algae LCA quality

• LC-EIA as a LCA supplement

• Conclusions and recommendations

LCA: Life cycle assessmentLC-EIA: Life Cycle Environmental Impact Assessment

Take home message 1

Enlarge the scope of algae based production systems and algae biorefineries towards all application options and value chains.

© R. Hevner 2014 / ifeu 2014

Glycerol

Carotenoids

© Wikimedia Commons, StinaTano

Not all bio-products from algae such as bio-energy, bio-chemicals or bio-nutrients are associated with environmental benefits nor sustainable – just because they are “bio”.

There is a high potential – far above average –for algae based products being environmental friendly. Continue with further investigations on algae based products.

Take home messages 2 and 3

-1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2

Energy savings

Greenhouse effect

Acidification

Terrestrial eutrophication

Photosmog

Ozone depletion

Human toxicity

IE per hectare

126 %91 %

77 %

75 %

67 %

Extra savings

Advantages Disadvantages

Reduction

Take home message 4.1

Make sure to go for a full comprehensive LCA if you are seriously concerned about the environmental impacts of algae based products. (And add a LC-EIA).

LCAs of algae based products

All publications listed: by far not a LCA !

LCA standards and guidelines should be followed – Unless there is a good reason not to do so– Everything else is just bad practise

LCA is valuable for ex-ante assessment– Limited data particularly requires scenario-based

assessments with sensitivity analyses– It is easy to promise a lot without caring about details

Take home messages 4.2

Don’t jeopardise public trust by empty promises– New promising technologies like algae tend to cause

hypes (including unrealistically positive LCAs)– This is a long term threat for algae and LCA communities– Peer review could sustain quality with suitable experts

Take home message 4.3

Precise questions needed– General purpose accurate descriptions need

data of several years of production at scale– Otherwise, data quality analyses require specific goals

Scenarios on future mature technology – Fair comparison to established technologies– Data extrapolation by experts needed

Data checks and sensitivity analyses – Compare to other sources.– Identify its influence on results and conclusions.

LCA can answer questions despite poor data

?

Take home messages 5 and 6

For a complete identification and optimization, the simultaneous application of both, LCA and LC-EIA, is appropriate, especially if raceways or ponds are involved for algae production.

LCA works very well for both, to identify some environmental implications and to improve the system or product. Need to perform a LCA for each algae based production system investigated to direct science, industry and policy.

LCA LC-EIA Global impacts Site-specific impacts

For the sake of the environment, a biofuel plantation will beestablished here soon.

Acknowledgements

Part of this work was funded by the European Union’s 7th Framework Programme:

• FP7 project PUFAChain(GA number 613303)

• FP7 project D-Factory(GA number 613870)

Thank you for your attentionDr Guido Reinhardt

Contact:

……. guido.reinhardt@ifeu.de+ 49-6221-4767-0 (-31)

Downloads: www.ifeu.de