Life Cycle Assessment: A simple overview of a complex process

Transcription

1 Life Cycle Assessment: A simple overview of a complex process Marty Matlock Jennie Popp Nathan Kemper Zara Niederman Center for Agricultural and Rural Sustainability Mike Faupel Michele Halsell Jon Johnson Applied Sustainability Center Greg Thoma Darin Nutter Tom Costello Institute for Sustainable Engineering Analysis

2 Everything is Connected Source: R. E. Ricklefs Economy of Nature

3 Everything is changing

4 Every process has inputs and outputs Energy Water Raw Materials Raw Materials Manufacturing Process End Product Raw Materials Gas Waste Solid Waste Liquid Waste

5 The more processes, the more complexity Energy Water Energy Water Raw Materials Energy Water Manufacturing Process Manufacturing Process Gas Waste Raw Materials Manufacturing Process Solid Waste Liquid Waste Solid Waste Liquid Waste Gas Waste Raw Materials Gas Waste Energy Water Solid Waste Liquid Waste End Product Manufacturing Process Gas Waste Solid Waste Liquid Waste

6 Life Cycle Assessment quantifies processes Goal: Quantify inputs and outputs for a system in terms of a standardized unit of measure. The scope and structure of the LCA are directly dependent upon the unit of measure (functional unit):. Energy embodied in a single product; 2. Green house gasses produced per unit product; 3. Tons of carbon produced per volume of product; 4. Volume of water consumed per mass of product Goal and Scope of LCA must be formulated at the outset of the project, and the functional unit must be defined. LCA Process is described in ISO 44 and 444 Standards.

7 Four Phases of a Life Cycle Assessment Phase : Goal Definition and Scope Phase 2: Life Cycle Inventory Phase 3: Life Cycle Impact Assessment Phase 4: Assessment/Scenario Analysis Interpretation and Context

8 Life Cycle Assessment: Reconciling Functional Units CO 2 g CO 2 = g CO 2 -equiv. CH 4 N 2 O g CH 4 = 25 g CO 2 -equiv. g NO 2 = 3 g CO 2 -equiv. Green House Gas Potentials

9 Cotton LCA Case Study Phase : Goal Definition and Scope Develop a model Estimate the energy embodied in a unit (metric ton or 48 lb bale) of cotton produced (lint plus seed) Compare the total energy (MJ) required over varying cotton production strategies

10 Cotton LCA Case Study Phase 2: LCA Inventory Region Production Strategy Irrigation Fertilizer North America East Mechanized Med High North America West Mechanized High High South America Mech Mechanized Medium Medium South America Non-Mech Non-Mechanized Med Med Australia Mechanized High High Mediterranean - Mech Mechanized Medium High Mediterranean - Non-Mech Non-Mechanized Medium Low Asia - Mech Mechanized High High Asia - Non-Mech Non-Mechanized Medium Medium Africa - Non Mech Non-Mechanized Low Low

11 Africa Cotton Production: Organic Fertilizer and Non-Irrigated Field Preparation Manual Planting Manual Irrigation Pest Control Manual Legend 66 [5] India,[6], [9] 98 [5] (India),[6] Rain Fed 38 [5] (India),[6],[9] Biofuels Fossil Fuels All values MJ/ha unless otherwise stated Weed Control Manual 99 [5] (India),[6] Manual Application 27 [5] (India),[6],[9] Fertilization Embodied Chemical Manure Harvesting Manual 68 [4] (Turkey),[6] Yield.75 Tonne/ha [4](Africa) Tonne of Cotton Bale of Cotton 3 [5] (India),[6]

12 North America: Eastern United States Field Preparation Planting Irrigation Pest Control Mechanical Mechanical Mechanical Mechanical 895 [2] Arizona 5 [2] Arizona 4223 [4] Turkey 4 [2] Arizona 423 [8] New Mexico, [2] 6 [2] Arkansas, [2] 338 [8] New Mexico, [2] 23 [2] Arkansas, [2] 5 [9] Turkey 2328 Water Amount [4] Turkey, Energy Estimation [2], [2] 36 (Embodied) [2] Arizona, [2], [26] Legend Biofuels Fossil Fuels 44 (Embodied) [2] Arkansas, [26] 24 (Embodied) [2] Arkansas, [26] 7449 Water Amount [] Greece, Energy Estimation [2], [2] All values MJ/ha unless otherwise stated Weed Control Fertilization Harvesting Yield Tonne of Cotton kg Mechanical 282 [2] Arizona Mechanical Application 5 [2] Arizona Embodied Chemical 5293 [2] Arkansas [3] Mechanical 895 [2] Arizona 2.85 tonne/ha [2] Georgia 44 [8] New Mexico, [2] 72 (Embodied) [2] Arizona, [2], [26] 354 [2] Arkansas, [2] 45 (Embodied) [2] Turkey, [2], [26] AVG: 7564 STDEV: 822 [6] ICAC, [2],[4],[9],[] 423 [8] New Mexico, [2] 6 [2] Arkansas, [2] 782 (Embodied) [2] Turkey, [2], [26] 2.2 tonne/ha [2] Arkansas 2.5 tonne/ha [2] Mississippi

13 X <= % X <= % X <= % X <= % X <= % X <= % X <= % X <= % X <= % X <= % X <= % X <= % X <= % X <= % X <= % X <= % X <= % X <= % Cotton LCA Case Study Phase 3: Impact Assessment North America: Eastern United States Field Preparation Planting Irrigation Pest Control Mechanical Mechanical Mechanical Mechanical 5 Field Preparation 6 Planting.6 Irrigation Pest Control Values x ^ Values x ^ Values x ^ Values x ^ Energy Required (MJ/Ha) Values in Thousands Energy Required (MJ/Ha) Energy Required (MJ/Ha) Values in Thousands Energy Required (MJ/Ha) Weed Control Fertilization Harvesting Yield MJ/Tonne of Cotton Mechanical Mechanical Application Embodied Chemical Mechanical Simulated Cotton Energy Production, North America East X <= X <=526. Weed Control 2.5 Fertilizer Application 9 Fertilizer (Embodied).2 Harvesting 3.5 Yield.2. 5% M ean = % Values x ^-4 Values x ^ Values x ^ Values x ^ Energy Required (MJ/Ha) Values in Thousands Energy Required (MJ/Ha) Energy Required (MJ/Ha) Values in Thousands Energy Required (MJ/Ha) Values in Thousands Tonnes/Ha Energy Required, MJ/Tonne Cotton Values in Thousands

14 Cotton LCA Case Study Phase 4: Assessment/Scenario Analysis 8, 6, Embodied Energy of Cotton Production MJ/Tonne 4, 2,, 8, 6, 4, 2, North America East North America West South America Mechanized South America Non-Mech Australia Mediterranean Mech Mediterranean Non-Mech Asia Mech Asia Non-Mech Africa Non-Mech

15 Life Cycle Assessment Case Study: Carbon Equivalent GHG of Fluid Milk Production Processing Consumption Distribution

16 Life Cycle Assessment Case Study: Carbon Equivalent GHG of Fluid Milk