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Environmental assessment of bioethanol production from lignocellulosic crops

Dufossé K., Gabrielle B., Drouet J.L., Bessou C.. 2011. In : Montpellier SupAgro ; CEMAGREF. EcoTech and Tools, Environmental and Integrated Assessment of Complex Systems Conference, Montpellier, France, 30th November to 2nd December 2011. s.l. : s.n., 2 p.. EcoTech andTools, Environmental and Integrated Assessment of Complex Systems Conference, 2011-11-30/2011-12-02, Montpellier (France).

Novelty: A multi-scale approach using agro-ecosystem and landscape models is developed to calculate the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), especially N2O, related to crop and landscape management. This approach is used to improve the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of second generation biofuels. Context: 20% of fuel have to be produced from renewable origin in 2020, and meet a 50% decrease of GHG emission compared to fossil fuel (RED Directive, 2009/28/CE). Besides, agriculture represents 10 to 15% of GHG emissions in France and especially 65% of N2O emissions which have a huge global warming potential (310 times higher than CO2, according to IPCC 2007). Therefore, it is essential to carefully develop, evaluate and use relevant methods to assess the environmental balance of lignocellulosic crops (2nd generation biofuels). Even if they all demonstrate a net reduction in GHG emissions, LCA of 2nd generation biofuels do not present any common methodology (Cherubini and Stromman, 2011). Main differences during the crop cycle are due to the generic factors used to calculate GHG emissions and the lack of consideration for land use change. A multi-scale approach is required to fulfill a complete LCA. Indeed, GHG emissions are strongly bound with local pedo-climatic conditions and technological options (especially N application rates). This approach is used to estimate direct GHG emissions, downstream indirect GHG emissions and emissions due to land use change. Scope: The LCA is carried out for a lignocellulosic bio-ethanol industrial unit, located in France, supplied by a mixture of feedstocks: annual and dedicated crops (triticale and fiber sorghum), perennial crops (miscanthus and switchgrass), forest and crop residues (straw) and possibly short rotation coppice (SRC). The study focuses mainly on a supply area around the industrial unit located in the Champagne-Ardenne region. However, we aim at developing generic methods. Material and methods: The agro-ecosystem model CER

Mots-clés : modélisation environnementale; modèle de simulation; plante ligneuse; production énergétique; biocarburant; éthanol; agroécosystème; paysage; gaz à effet de serre; impact sur l'environnement; évaluation de l'impact

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