After the introduction of the EU mandated sugar reform, several plans for the conversion of the sugar-beet industry into different agro-energetic chains were undertaken across the Italian national territory. Among these, the Rape-industry is considered one of the most strategic cultures to be used for biofuel production. Studies carried out on the conversion of existing production chains into agro-energetic ones highlighted the importance to focus on economic and environmental sustainability for changing the land use. This study aimed to carry out an environmental impact analysis of the rape cultivation models to identify the lower impactful characteristics. The environmental analysis was carried out considering five typical cultivation realities. These were identified by using a cluster analysis, starting from a sample of 251 Oilseed rape-cultivated plots (2751 ha) in different Italian Regions for the biennium 2009-2010. The methodology of the life Cycle Assessment was used to evaluate the environmental performance of the five realities considered. It allowed to evaluate which cultivation has caused the lower environmental impact according the cultivation method used, and the type/quantity of productive factors involved.
LCA of oilseed rape production for energy purposes: sensitivity analysis
Palmieri N;
2012-01-01
Abstract
After the introduction of the EU mandated sugar reform, several plans for the conversion of the sugar-beet industry into different agro-energetic chains were undertaken across the Italian national territory. Among these, the Rape-industry is considered one of the most strategic cultures to be used for biofuel production. Studies carried out on the conversion of existing production chains into agro-energetic ones highlighted the importance to focus on economic and environmental sustainability for changing the land use. This study aimed to carry out an environmental impact analysis of the rape cultivation models to identify the lower impactful characteristics. The environmental analysis was carried out considering five typical cultivation realities. These were identified by using a cluster analysis, starting from a sample of 251 Oilseed rape-cultivated plots (2751 ha) in different Italian Regions for the biennium 2009-2010. The methodology of the life Cycle Assessment was used to evaluate the environmental performance of the five realities considered. It allowed to evaluate which cultivation has caused the lower environmental impact according the cultivation method used, and the type/quantity of productive factors involved.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
