LCA of transportation fuels - recent history and emerging applications

Deepak Rajagopal

University of California, Los Angeles

Deepak Rajagopal is an Asst. Prof. in the Inst. of Environment and Sustainability and Dept. of Urban Planning. He has a Ph.D. in Energy and Resources (UC Berkeley), MS degrees in Ag. and Resource Economics (UC Berkeley), and Mech. Engg (U. of Maryland, CollegePark) and Bachelor’s degree in Mech. Engg. (Indian Inst. of Tech., Madras). Prior to UCLA, he was a Post. doc. at Energy Biosciences Inst., UC Berkeley. He also three years of experience as Structural Engineer at United Technologies Research Center in Hartford, Connecticut. His areas of research include Life cycle assessment, Energy and Agricultural Economics, and Climate Policy. He is focused on assessing the sustainability of two broad emerging economic sectors – the bioeconomy and the peer-to-peer economy.

Sabrina Spatari

Drexel University,

Dr. Sabrina Spatari is an Associate Professor in Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at Drexel University and is currently Visiting Associate Professor at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel. Her research and expertise focuses on the development and application of life cycle assessment (LCA) and other systems analysis methods for guiding engineering decision making and public policy. Her specific interests include industrial ecology, biomass and bioenergy, biofuels, and urban infrastructure.

Heather MacLean

University of Toronto

Heather L. MacLean is a Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto and holds joint-appointments with the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, School of the Environment and School of Public Policy and Governance. She works closely with numerous industries as well as Federal and provincial/state governments. A particular focus has been the evaluation of current and emerging energy and vehicle systems. Her work on sustainable systems analysis was recognized through a Premier’s Research Excellence Award, Canada Mortgage and Housing Award for Promotion of Sustainable Practices, and induction as a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada and Canadian Academy of Engineering. She holds a Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University.

Abstract

LCA of transportation fuels - recent history and emerging applicationsParticipants: Prof. Heather Maclean, Prof. Deepak Rajagopal (Organizer), Prof. Sabrina Spatari and Prof. Valerie ThomasThe past decade has seen a rapid... [ view full abstract ]

LCA of transportation fuels - recent history and emerging applications

Participants: Prof. Heather Maclean, Prof. Deepak Rajagopal (Organizer), Prof. Sabrina Spatari and Prof. Valerie Thomas

The past decade has seen a rapid growth in the application of LCA to transportation fuels and to supporting regulations on GHG emissions from transportation fuels. For instance, in the US the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) regulates biofuels based on their life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity while the Low Carbon Fuel Standards of California and Oregon regulate all transportation fuels based on their life cycle GHG intensity. LCA plays an important role in European and Canadian renewable fuel and transportation policies as well. In addition to highlighting the analytical and methodological issues, the application of LCA as part of these regulations also highlights the need for better communication among LCA practitioners, policy makers and other stakeholders to the policy process for more effective utilization of LCA in the public policy process. The four presentations in this session will analyze the application of LCA of transportation fuels from related but different perspectives that are relevant to policy use of LCA.

1) Prof. Heather MacLean will review key public policies focused on increasing the sales of alternative transportation fuel and propulsion system light-duty vehicles and their impacts on transportation fuel and vehicle sales. Additionally, implications for life cycle greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel use, and other environmental interventions as well as ownership costs will be presented. Examples from the United States and Canada will primarily be discussed but key policies in other jurisdictions as well will be covered.

2) Prof. Deepak Rajagopal’s topic is the lessons from the RFS and LCFS regulations for consequential LCA. Specifically, he will focus on some general principles for selecting the functional unit and system boundary for CLCA, and from an applied perspective on the proper form of use of CLCA in regulation. For instance, is the proper role of CLCA in providing high level information or precise estimates of emissions for calculation taxes, tariffs and subsidies or determining compliance with environmental standards?

3) Prof. Sabrina Spatari’s topic is Life cycle assessment of early stage biomass conversion processes to fuels and chemicals. Her talk will discuss the challenges of characterizing emerging and early-stage biomass conversion technologies and products and highlight some of the limitations in modeling such systems in the absence of pilot-scale data.

4) Prof. Valerie Thomas’s presentation will address the challenges in public understanding of biofuel LCA. She will present approaches to making LCA more transparent for non-specialists. Emphasis will be on feedstock production energy use, production process energy use, the role of and methods for co-products, and carbon dioxide analysis for biofuel. Examples will include aviation biofuel, biodiesel, and ethanol.

Authors

Deepak Rajagopal (University of California, Los Angeles)
Sabrina Spatari (Drexel University,)
Heather MacLean (University of Toronto)
Valerie Thomas (Georgia)

Topic Areas

• Advances in methods (e.g., life cycle assessment, social impact assessment, resilience a , • Decision support methods and tools , • Public policy and governance

Session

MS-15 » Special session: "LCA of transportation fuels - recent history and emerging applications" (14:00 - Monday, 26th June, Room F)

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