LCA of a palm oil system producing both biodiesel and cooking oil: a Cameroon case

WMJ Achten, P Vandenbempt, E Mathijs, B Muys

IPLC 18-20 October 2009

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2

Introduction

• But, increasing criticism as well– Land use conflicts (natural systems, food

production)– Environmental impacts (greenhouse gas,

biodiversity loss, water footprint)

• Big interest in Biofuels…– Climate change– Geopolitical reasonsÎBiofuel directives, targets, missions, …

• Oil palm biodiesel has been criticized in this debate – Conflict with nature and food

3

Objective

Evaluating the environmental performance of an Oil palm production system producing both cooking oil and biodiesel

ÎLife Cycle Assessment approach is best available tool(Frederiksson et al., 2006; Tan et al., 2004; 2002; Zemanek et al., 1999)

Specific objectives– Assessing environmental impacts of case study– Suggesting optimization options (waste water treatments)– Modelling present scenario and compare it with a fossil diesel system

and optimized bio-diesel systems.

4

Material & Method – Goal and Scope

• Functional unit (FU)– 100 km driven fueled with biodiesel

Fruit production

Palm kernel

Refinery

Waste water

Transesterification

Vehicle

Glycerin

Oleine

Press Cake

Oil extraction

Fruit production

Palm kernel

Refinery

Waste water

Transesterification

Vehicle

Glycerin

Oleine

Press Cake

Oil extraction• Impact categories

– Fossil energy use (MJ/FU)– Global warming potential (kg CO2-eq)– Acidification (kg SO2-eq)– Eutrophication (kg O2-eq)– Land use (%PNV)

• System boundaries– Planting Î Vehicle engine– Transportation and infra-structure and

maintenance at all process steps

• Reference and Allocation

5

Material & Method – Goal and Scope

Cultivation

Extraction

Transesterification

Engine combustion

PKO

Glycerine

PKO + AE

Glycerine

Oil palm system Reference systemSystem boundary expansion

Extraction

Processing

Distributionand storage

FFB

Crude oil

Diesel

SubstitutionBy-products

CPO

Refinery

Stearin

Diesel

Engine combustion

PKM

Olein

FFA

PKM + local animal feed

CPO

POME

X 100 km

6

Material & Method - Inventory

• First hand factory and plantation data 3 locations: – Dibombari– SPFS– Eséka

• Expert interviews• Literature data

Mean values + standard deviation

Cameroon

7

Material & Method – Impact assessment

Kg O2-eq FU-1

Sum of N & P emissions and flows to water ways and/or groundwater

Eutrophication potential

Kg SO2-eq FU-1

Sum of NH3, NOx and SOxemissions through life cycle

Acidification potential

Kg CO2-eq FU-1

Sum of GHG emissions (CO2, CH4, N2O) through life cycle

Global warming potential

MJ FU-1Sum of fossil energy use through life cycle

Fossil energy use

UnitImpact calculation

Calculations: Monte Carlo protocol in MatLab (10 000 runs)

8

Material & Method – LUIA

9

Material & Method – LUIA

Species diversityBiodiversity ( -Bd)

Soil cover

EvapotranspirationOn-site water balance (Wb)

Vertical Space Distribution

Leaf Area IndexVegetation structure (Vs)

Free Net Primary Production

Total Aboveground BiomassBiomass production (Bp)

Infiltration Rate

Soil Organic MatterSoil structure (Ss)

Base Saturation

Cation Exchange CapacitySoil fertility (Sf)

10

Material & Method – LUIA

[ ]∑

−=

i PVN

iprojref

t

i

Value

ValueValue

AA

IS 100** ,

formerCh

Occ

LUrefLU

PNVrefLU

=⇒=⇒

11

Results – Fossil energy use

Reduction: 45%

12

Results – Global warming potential

Reduction: 77%

13

Results – Acidification potential

Reduction: 13%

14

Results – Eutrophication potentialIncrease: 35%

NOx from Biodiesel Combustion

15

Results – Eutrophication potentialIncrease: 35%

16

Waste Water scenariosFruit production

Palm kernel

Refinery

Waste water

Transesterification

Vehicle

Glycerin

Oleine

Press Cake

Oil extraction

Fruit production

Palm kernel

Refinery

Waste water

Transesterification

Vehicle

Glycerin

Oleine

Press Cake

Oil extraction 1. Dumped (case study) (M.I)

2. In ponds without CH4 recovery (M.II)

3. In ponds with CH4 recovery (biogas) (M.III)

17

Waste Water scenarios

Cultivation

Extraction

Transesterification

Engine combustion

PKO

Glycerine

PKO + AE

Glycerine

Oil palm system Reference systemSystem boundary expansion

Extraction

Processing

Distributionand storage

FFB

Crude oil

Diesel

SubstitutionBy-products

CPO

Refinery

Stearin

Diesel

Engine combustion

PKM

Olein

FFA

PKM + local animal feed

CPO

POME

PKO PKO + AE

PKM

M.I I I : biogasfrom POME

PKM + local animal feedFRef I I : natural gas

18

Results – Fossil energy use

19

Results – Global warming potential

20

Results – Acidification potential

21

Results – Eutrophication potential

22

Results – Land use occupation impact

FormerOccojectOccCh LULULU ,Pr, −=

Land use occupation mid point indicator scores

PNV

LUPNVLU oject

OccPr−

=

--

+

+

23

Results – Land use change impact

Land use change mid point indicator scores

3BpBdSf

ESQ

ISISISI

++= −α

3WbVsSs

EFQ

ISISISI

++=

24

Results – Land use impact

Impact of direct land use change and land use occupationAgriculture Î Oil palm Forest Î Oil palm

Impact for 95m²yr/FU

25

Carbon debtVandenbempt, 2008

26

Carbon debt - DeforestationVandenbempt, 2008

27

Conclusions

Biodiesel system as such:

• Promising reduction in energy use and global warming potential is possible compared to reference systemÎ Combined production of biodiesel and cooking oil is an interesting pathway

• Fertilizers are among the biggest contributors for all impact categories Î optimization option

• Waste water treatment with biogas production brings eutrophication to acceptable levels Î optimization option

28

Conclusions

However…

• Land use is very important, but is still difficult in LCA– Carbon debt/deforestation per functional unit?– Biodiversity debt per functional unit?– Regional water balance– Indirect land use

• LCA � complete sustainability evaluation– No socio-economic impact

29

Thank you for your kind attention

Wouter Achten (wouter.achten [at] ees.kuleuven.be)Bart Muys (bart.muys [at] ees.kuleuven.be)

www.kuleuven.be/forecoman

Acknowledgments:*VLIR-UOS