Life cycle assessment of sunflower and rapeseed as energy crops under Chilean conditions |
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| Authors: | Alfredo Iriarte Joan Rieradevall Xavier Gabarrell |
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| Institution: | 1. SosteniPrA (UAB-IRTA), Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain;2. Department of Industrial Management and Modelling, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de Talca, Casilla 747, Talca, Chile;3. Chemical Engineering Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain;1. ENEA-Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Via Martiri di Monte Sole 4, 40129, Bologna, Italy;2. Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per le Scienze Ambientali (CIRSA) and CIRI Energia e Ambiente, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna,Campus di Ravenna, via Sant''Alberto 163, 48123, Ravenna, Italy;1. Department of Agronomy & Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture Sciences & Natural Resource, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Daneshgah Street, 56199-11367, Ardabil, Iran;2. Faculty of Department of Water Engineering, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Daneshgah Street, 56199-11367, Ardabil, Iran;3. Faculty of Department of Environment, 1983963113, Zanjan, Iran;1. Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran;2. Head of Process Engineering & Systems Improvement, Management of Fruit and Vegetables Organizations, Tehran Municipality, Tehran, Iran;3. Department of Geography, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium;4. Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic;5. Department of Engineering Management, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium;6. Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran;7. Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran;1. Department of Agricultural Machinery Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran;2. Coordination Affairs Expert, Management of Fruit and Vegetables Organizations, Tehran Municipality, Tehran, Iran;3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong;1. Agroscope, Institute for Sustainability Sciences, CH-8046 Zurich, Switzerland;2. Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland;3. Chambre d’Agriculture de la Nièvre, F-58028 Nevers, France;4. Union Nationale des Plantes Riches en Protéines UNIP, F-75008 Paris, France;5. Chambre d’Agriculture de l’Yonne, F-89015 Auxerre, France;1. Department of Economics, University of Foggia, Via Romolo Caggese, 1, 71121 Foggia Italy;2. Department of Economics and Business, University of Catania, Corso Italia, 55, 95129 Catania Italy;3. University of Tennessee, Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment, 311 Conference Centre Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-4134, USA |
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| Abstract: | An option for the agriculture and energy sectors in Chile is the cultivation of energy crops, but environmental studies are first needed in the framework of a sustainable national energy policy.In this study, we used a cradle-to-farm gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to compare environmental impacts and energy and water demand of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in Chile, as potential oleaginous crops for first-generation biodiesel production. National agricultural data are used for the LCA inventory and process data of international databases are adapted to local conditions. The effect of field N2O emissions and land use change is evaluated. The results indicate that, compared to sunflower, rapeseed production has a better environmental performance in 9 out of the 11 impact categories evaluated, and lower water consumption. The energy demand of rapeseed is 4.9 GJ/t seed, 30% less than that of sunflower. Mineral fertilizers cause the highest environmental impact in both crops. The analysis of the life cycle of fertilizers indicates that extraction of raw materials and its production are key stages. Attempts to reduce the environmental impact and energy requirement of both crops should be mainly associated with the evaluation of other types of fertilization. In addition, particularly for sunflower, low impact herbicides should be evaluated, seed yield improved and cultivation practices optimized. If the crops are produced on degraded grasslands, the greenhouse gas emissions may be reduced. |
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