Title:
GHG Emissions Assessment of Biofuels Cultivation Stage in EU-27
Author(s):
Barberena, G., Otazu, E., Sánchez, D., Alonso, B., Echeverría, I.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
The 2009/28/EC Directive establishes in its Article 17 that raw materials cultivated inside or outside the EU27 must fulfil different sustainability criteria. In order to assess the fulfilment of the first sustainability criterion, to ensure that GHG emissions saving from biofuels use, compared to the fossil fuel to be replaced, must be at least 35%, it has been developed a methodology for the calculation of different GHG emissions in biofuels production cultivation stage. The GHG emissions balances calculation has been focused in the EU27 for the main cereal crops used for bioethanol production. i.e. wheat, barley, corn and sorghum. With these results, “GHG Balances Maps” are produced in order to compare graphically the results, and evaluate the sustainability of grain cultivation stage for bioethanol production in each region of Europe. The main conclusion of the study is that there are significant differences in GHG balances results between different EU27 cultivation areas. It must be noted that all the results shown in these GHG maps have been obtained from official statistical data, which are available for each variable that is part of the balances calculation methodology. While for some variables (i.e. yield) there is enough detailed information, it is highly desirable that the different national statistical agencies publish more detailed information regarding other variables, which are as relevant as yield in the final balances results.
Keywords:
greenhouse gases (GHG), sustainability, sustainability criteria, biofuels
Topic:
Policies and ensuring sustainability
Subtopic:
Sustainability criteria and certification issues
Event:
18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
VP5.2.25
Pages:
2248 - 2252
ISBN-13:
978-88-89407-56-1
ISBN-10:
88-89407-56-5
Paper DOI:
10.5071/18thEUBCE2010-VP5.2.25
Price:
FREE
