1. Michael Martin, David Lazarevic, Mathias Larsson and Graham Aid
Carbon Vision? A Review of Biofuel Environmental Systems Analyses Research in Sweden
Michael Martin, David Lazarevic,
Mathias Larsson and Graham Aid
Swedish Environmental
Research Institute

2. Introduction Increase in Biofuel Production Worldwide
Sweden- Over 11% Fuel from Biofuels in Transportation
Ambitious Biofuel/Renewable Energy Targets
Policy Development and Promotion of More Bio-Based Materials and Energy
Increased Imports of Biofuels and Raw Materials for Biofuel Production
Many Assessments of Biofuels in Recent Years to address whether Biofuels are Sustainable

3. Aims
Is there a ´carbon vision´ in Environmental Systems Analyses of Biofuels in Sweden?
Identify the salient impact categories used by Swedish research community in environmental assessments of biofuel production
Determine if (and why) there is a carbon vision in Swedish ESA research on biofuel production
Provide recommendations to broaden the focus of environmental sustainability assessments of biofuel production
we mean the loss of peripheral vision concerning environmental impact categories other than carbon related impacts (i.e., CO2-eq) and indirect system consequences; or in other words, a dominant focus on carbon related impacts at the expense of other impact categories
Tox EP OP
CO2
POCP AP

4. Method Systematic Literature Review 2000-2014 Swedish Biofuel Research
Scopus, Web of Science, Springer, F3 Reports
Keywords: Biofuel, Biogas, Ethanol….etc.
Combi-Words: LCA, Energy, Impacts, etc.
1118 Hits, 63 final reports and papers reviewed
Results in Meta-Matrix

5. Impacts Reviewed in Research
Results
Impacts Reviewed in Research
Prominent Focus
GHG (GWP)
Energy (En)
Eutrophication (EP)
Acidification (AP)
Little Focus
Resource Depletion (WD, AD)
Toxicity (TP)
Human Health (HH)
GWP-Global Warming Potential, En-Energy Assessment, AP-Acidification Potential, EP-Eutrophication Potential, AD-Abiotic Resource Depletion, dLU- Direct land Use, LUC- Land use change, dLUC- Direct land use change, iLUC- Indirect land use change HH-Human Health, OD-Ozone layer depletion, PS-Photochemical Smog Creation, Pc-Particulate Emissions, TP-Toxicity Potential, POCP-Photochemical Oxidation Creation Potential, BD-Biodiversity, WD-Water Depletion

6. Analysis: LCIA Methods and Motivation
Approach/Tools
Study Type
Total
LCA 38
Environmental/Eco-Footprint 26
Energy Analyses 16
MFA 7
Economic Assessments 4
Motivation for Impact Categories
Motivation
Total
Swedish/European Context 5
Policy Targets
New Method/Technology 4
Importance of Biofuels 3
LCIA Methodology Outputs
Gap in Research 2
LCIA/Charac. Method in LCAs
Method
Total
IPCC 10
CML 3
EcoIndicator 99
EPD 2
EDIP 1
ReCiPe
No Data 18
Few studies motivated limited impact categories, methods and goals of study

7. Why? Study Dependent Variables (Bottom-Up)
Limited Goals of Assessments
LCIA method development
Uncertainty and Lack Transparent Methods and Data
Need for Site/regional specific characterization factors
Science-Policy Framework (Top-Down)
Science-policy framework centered on Climate and Energy
Biofuels originally assumed to reduce CO2
Renewable Energy Directive focus on Quantitative CO2eq emissions reductions
Uncertainty of Methods- Not Included
Hard to make a thorough analysis due to lack of justification/motivations in the studies

8. Conclusions and Recommendations
Evidence points toward a focus primarily on GHG emissions and Energy Assessments in Swedish biofuel ESA research
Study dependent variables (e.g. methods and data) may lead to narrow focus
Climate and Energy Policy may also lead to a narrow focus
Swedish Environmental Objectives should have a more prominent influence on trajectory of ESA research in Sweden
More development necessary to improve assessment methods and data availability
Transparency in Data and Methods in Papers/Reports and from industry
Important to make assessments/methods feasible for industry

9. IVL-Swedish Environmental Research Institute
Thank You
Michael Martin
IVL-Swedish Environmental Research Institute

10. Swedish Environmental Objectives
1. Reduced Climate Impact
2. Clean Air
3. Natural Acidification Only
4. A Non-Toxic Environment
5. A Protective Ozone Layer
6. A Safe Radiation Environment
7. Zero Eutrophication
8. Flourishing Lakes and Streams
9. Good-Quality Groundwater
10. A Balanced Marine Environment, Flourishing Coastal Areas and Archipelagos
11. Thriving Wetlands
12. Sustainable Forests
13. A Varied Agricultural Landscape
14. A Magnificent Mountain Landscape
15. A Good Built Environment
16. A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life

11. LCIA Methods and Impact Categories

12. Shifting the Burdens?