KEY FACTORS FOR THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF BIOGAS - LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF AUSTRIAN BIOGAS PLANTS

摘要

This paper gives an overview on the Austrian research project “?kobilanz Biogas”. The goal is toevaluate the environmental impacts of biogas systems for different types of feedstock based on real life data frombiogas plants in operation. The methodology used for the evaluation is life cycle assessment (LCA). Acomprehensive LCA is performed for six different biogas systems. Besides the whole supply chain for the productionand use of biogas the reference use of the agricultural area for the cultivation of energy crops, the reference use ofresidues and the use of digestate as fertilizer were included in the assessment. Based on the results of the LCA keyfactors for the sustainable use of biogas will be identified.