Methods in Molecular Biology (2020) 1980: 121–151
DOI 10.1007/7651_2018_204
© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2019
Published online: 06 March 2019
Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) Analysis of Algal Fuels
Homa Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha, Meisam Tabatabaei,
Mortaza Aghbashlo, Alawi Sulaiman, and Abbas Ghassemi
Abstract
Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is one of the most attractive tools employed nowadays by environmental
policy-makers as well as business decision-makers to ensure environmentally sustainable production/
consumption of various goods/services. LCA is a systematic, rigorous, and standardized approach aimed
at quantifying resources consumed/depleted, pollutants released, and the related environmental and health
impacts through the course of consumption and production of goods/service. Algal fuels are no exception
and their environmental sustainability could be well scrutinized using the LCA methodology. In line with
that, this chapter is devoted to present guidelines on the technical aspects of LCA application in algal fuels
while elaborating on major standards used, i.e., ISO 14040 and 14044 standards. Overall, LCA practitioners as well as technical experts dealing with algal fuels in both the public and private sectors could be the
main target audience for these guidelines.
Key words Algal fuels, Life-cycle assessment, ISO standards, Sustainable development
1 Introduction
The growing global energy demands, as well as the negative impacts
associated with the widespread utilization of petroleum-based
energy resources on the environment and human health, have
collectively led to a substantial interest in renewable energy carriers
such as biofuels [1, 2]. Biofuels are produced from a wide range of
feedstocks and are accordingly classified into different generations.
While the 1st and 2nd generation biofuels are criticized for food vs.
fuel conflict and poor economic viability, respectively, algae are
regarded as the most attractive biomass resources to provide 3rd
generation biofuels. Algal fuels have been envisioned to be capable
of satisfying the national mandate in the Renewable Fuels Standards
enacted into United States’ law in the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 [3]. For instance, the algae oil industry, albeit
currently in its infancy state, is believed to hold tremendous potentials to contribute to future liquid transportation and aviation
biofuels (i.e., biodiesel and biojet). This in turn could lead to less
dependence on imported oil, thereby improving national energy
security [4].
121
DOI 10.1007/7651_2018_204
© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2019
Published online: 06 March 2019
Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) Analysis of Algal Fuels
Homa Hosseinzadeh-Bandbafha, Meisam Tabatabaei,
Mortaza Aghbashlo, Alawi Sulaiman, and Abbas Ghassemi
Abstract
Life-cycle assessment (LCA) is one of the most attractive tools employed nowadays by environmental
policy-makers as well as business decision-makers to ensure environmentally sustainable production/
consumption of various goods/services. LCA is a systematic, rigorous, and standardized approach aimed
at quantifying resources consumed/depleted, pollutants released, and the related environmental and health
impacts through the course of consumption and production of goods/service. Algal fuels are no exception
and their environmental sustainability could be well scrutinized using the LCA methodology. In line with
that, this chapter is devoted to present guidelines on the technical aspects of LCA application in algal fuels
while elaborating on major standards used, i.e., ISO 14040 and 14044 standards. Overall, LCA practitioners as well as technical experts dealing with algal fuels in both the public and private sectors could be the
main target audience for these guidelines.
Key words Algal fuels, Life-cycle assessment, ISO standards, Sustainable development
1 Introduction
The growing global energy demands, as well as the negative impacts
associated with the widespread utilization of petroleum-based
energy resources on the environment and human health, have
collectively led to a substantial interest in renewable energy carriers
such as biofuels [1, 2]. Biofuels are produced from a wide range of
feedstocks and are accordingly classified into different generations.
While the 1st and 2nd generation biofuels are criticized for food vs.
fuel conflict and poor economic viability, respectively, algae are
regarded as the most attractive biomass resources to provide 3rd
generation biofuels. Algal fuels have been envisioned to be capable
of satisfying the national mandate in the Renewable Fuels Standards
enacted into United States’ law in the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 [3]. For instance, the algae oil industry, albeit
currently in its infancy state, is believed to hold tremendous potentials to contribute to future liquid transportation and aviation
biofuels (i.e., biodiesel and biojet). This in turn could lead to less
dependence on imported oil, thereby improving national energy
security [4].
121