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Life cycle assessment, technical and economical analyses of jatropha biodiesel 529

The distribution of the oil is made in a small area, that is, 50 km because the distribution
site and the processing site are supposed to be in the same area.
Finally, Jatropha oil is used as fuel in the diesel generator for 1 kW h of electricity gener-
ation (Fig. 24.2).
24.4.1.2.2 Inventory analysis
All material and energy input data were taken from the literature.
24.4.1.2.3 Life cycle impact calculation
The CML 2001 method is used to evaluate the environmental impacts generated by
the different stages of the biodiesel life cycle. OpenLCA software freely available
on the internet that uses CML 2001 method is used to evaluate the impacts.
The following environmental impacts are assessed during this LCA:

The impact on global warming: the translation of the quantities of substances that have an
impact on global warming is based on the characterization factors of these substances.
The impact on global warming is calculated with the following formula:

X
I GW 5 m i 3 GWP i (24.1)
i
where I GW is the impact on global warming (measured in CO 2 equivalent); m i is the
amount of substance i that has an impact on global warming (greenhouse gas)
identified during the inventory analysis; and GWP i is the global warming
potential of substance i, identified during the inventory analysis and having an impact on
global warming (measured in CO 2 equivalent).
Table 24.2 presents the main contributors to global warming and their one-hundred-
year global warming potential.
In this study, CO 2 emissions during combustion will be recorded, and a balance will
be made with the amount of CO 2 captured by the plant for its growth during the
cultivation.
The impact on the depletion of nonrenewable energy resources: the assessment of this
impact is obtained directly by multiplying the amount of nonrenewable energies con-
sumed with their energy content.

Seeds Seeds Mechanical Oil Oil
cultivation transportation extraction distribution combustion

Figure 24.2 Steps of Jatropha biodiesel life cycle (scenario 2).

Table 24.2 Global warming potential of main greenhouse gas (ADEME, 2010).
Substances that contribute to global warming GWP 100 (CO 2 equivalent)

Carbon dioxide, fossil 1
Methane, biogenic 23
Methane, fossil 23
Dinitrogen oxide 296