1845. Life cycle assessment (LCA) of ethanol from sugarcane in India: A Comparative Analysis
Invited abstract in session MB-46: Development and use of renewable fuels, stream Energy Economics & Management.
Monday, 10:30-12:00Room: Newlyn 1.07
Authors (first author is the speaker)
| 1. | Dushyanth Kumar Reddy Gangireddy
|
| Department of Management Sciences (DoMS), Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) |
Abstract
India relies majorly on crude oil imports to meet its domestic energy demand. To address this issue, biofuels like bioethanol are being promoted to reduce oil imports and GHG emissions. However, there are concerns about environmental effects with extended usage of biofuels. To understand the impact of biofuels like ethanol on the environment, it is crucial to perform the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). There are limited studies on emissions and environmental impacts caused by ethanol usage in the Indian context. This study tried to address this gap by performing LCA of ethanol from sugarcane molasses with a cradle-to-grave approach, making it the first such study in India. A comparative LCA analysis is performed between Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, the leading sugarcane and ethanol producers in northern and southern India, respectively. The functional unit considered is 1 ton of ethanol. Input and output environmental correlations were assessed using SimaPro software. ReCiPe Midpoint and Endpoint methods are used to estimate potential environmental impacts. Indicators reported are Global Warming Potential (GWP), Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), Eutrophication Potential (EP), land use, and water use. Primary data was collected and used for all the processes considered for LCA. The results show the contributions of all the processes on the impact categories for every ton of ethanol produced.
Keywords
- Energy Policy and Planning
- Environmental Management
- Sustainable Development
Status: accepted
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