5.18 - Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Algae Biofuels

Abstract

The environmental impacts of producing biofuels from algae include not only climate change but also other impacts. Throughout the whole life cycle, neglecting any significant impacts and shifting any environmental burdens from one impact to another must be avoided. This chapter presents life cycle assessment as a tool for the purpose and existing literature on biofuels produced from algae, relevant LCA, and biofuel production facilities. It indicates that a far greater evidence base, methodological harmonization, and greater use of industrial data are required to allow LCA to become a truly valuable tool for the development of algae biofuels.