Life cycle assessment of the conversion of Zea mays and x Triticosecale into biogas and bioethanol

A life cycle assessment model with eight potential scenarios for the conversion of energy crops into biogas and bioethanol in Germany has been developed, in order to compare energetic output/input relationships and potential environmental effects of the different pathways. The model includes parameter from the literature as well as own data collected at laboratory and semi-industrial scale trials. Corn silage and ripe triticale, both whole plants, were chosen as typical energy crops for the assessment. In addition, steam explosion as a pretreatment technique was examined. Biogas, as well as bioethanol combined with biogas, is potentially helpful to reduce the consumption of nonrenewable energy carriers and its greenhouse gas emission under the investigated scenarios and the scope set. A future task will be the development of differentiated and well-adapted concepts on the basis of a decision on liquid or gaseous fuels versus stationary supply of thermal and electrical energy from biomass.