systems around the world (with a focus on European countries)
would be needed.
2. Use GaBi database when secondary data on the production of
algal fuels production in the European countries, especially
data with industrial background, would be needed.
3. Use US LCI database when secondary free data on algal fuels
production in the USA would be needed.
4. Use openLCA database when secondary free data on algae fuel
production in different parts of the world would be needed.
5. Use ELCD database 3.1 [which is available directly, or embedded within different LCA software (e.g., SimaPro and GaBi)]
when secondary free data on the algae fuel production in the
European countries would be needed.
3 Methods to Conduct an LCA of Algal Fuels
According to Collet et al. [21], the scope of algal fuel production
systems includes biomass production, its upgrading into biofuels,
and subsequent conversion into useful forms of energy, the development, disassembling, disposal, and recycling of culture infrastructure, the exploitation or manufacturing, processing, and
transporting of inputs for the production, and the valorization of
algal biomass that all must be considered in an LCA analysis. On the
basis of the international standards like the series ISO 14040 and
14044 [22], there are four phases (Fig. 2) which should be considered when conducting an LCA study of algal fuel production
systems: (1) Defining goal and scope, (2) analyzing life-cycle inventory (LCI), (3) evaluating life-cycle impact (LCIA), and (4) interpreting the results [23]. The following steps should be taken into
account to efficiently perform an LCA study on algal fuel production systems within the general framework of ISO 14040 and
14044 [22]:
1. The goal aspects should be accurately defined at the commence
of the study.
2. An initial scope definition should be derived based on the goal
description insofar as primary information allows.
3. Readily available LCI databases for the foreground and background systems should be compiled. Different phases of algal
fuel production systems should be modeled and simulated
insofar as the primary insights and databases allow.
4. The LCIA results should be determined.
5. Important issues should be identified and sensitivity, consistency, and integrity checks should be carried out on this initial
model.
Life Cycle Analysis
125
would be needed.
2. Use GaBi database when secondary data on the production of
algal fuels production in the European countries, especially
data with industrial background, would be needed.
3. Use US LCI database when secondary free data on algal fuels
production in the USA would be needed.
4. Use openLCA database when secondary free data on algae fuel
production in different parts of the world would be needed.
5. Use ELCD database 3.1 [which is available directly, or embedded within different LCA software (e.g., SimaPro and GaBi)]
when secondary free data on the algae fuel production in the
European countries would be needed.
3 Methods to Conduct an LCA of Algal Fuels
According to Collet et al. [21], the scope of algal fuel production
systems includes biomass production, its upgrading into biofuels,
and subsequent conversion into useful forms of energy, the development, disassembling, disposal, and recycling of culture infrastructure, the exploitation or manufacturing, processing, and
transporting of inputs for the production, and the valorization of
algal biomass that all must be considered in an LCA analysis. On the
basis of the international standards like the series ISO 14040 and
14044 [22], there are four phases (Fig. 2) which should be considered when conducting an LCA study of algal fuel production
systems: (1) Defining goal and scope, (2) analyzing life-cycle inventory (LCI), (3) evaluating life-cycle impact (LCIA), and (4) interpreting the results [23]. The following steps should be taken into
account to efficiently perform an LCA study on algal fuel production systems within the general framework of ISO 14040 and
14044 [22]:
1. The goal aspects should be accurately defined at the commence
of the study.
2. An initial scope definition should be derived based on the goal
description insofar as primary information allows.
3. Readily available LCI databases for the foreground and background systems should be compiled. Different phases of algal
fuel production systems should be modeled and simulated
insofar as the primary insights and databases allow.
4. The LCIA results should be determined.
5. Important issues should be identified and sensitivity, consistency, and integrity checks should be carried out on this initial
model.
Life Cycle Analysis
125