EMERGING ROLE OF GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM (GIS), LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA) AND SPATIAL LCA (GIS-LCA) IN SUSTAINABLE BIOENERGY PLANNING
aSchool of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India,
bDepartment of Energy, Tezpur University, Tezpur 784028, Assam, India
cDepartment of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, New Delhi 110016, India
dCentre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India
eEnergy and Wetland Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
fDepartment of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of California Davis, California 95616, USA

ABSTRACT

Sustainability of  a  bioenergy project depends on  precise assessment of  biomass resource, planning of cost-effective logistics and evaluation of possible environmental implications. In this context, this paper reviews the role and applications of geo-spatial tool such as  Geographical Information System (GIS) for precise agro-residue resource assessment, biomass logistic and power plant design. Further, application of Life Cycle  Assessment (LCA) in understanding the potential impact of agro-residue bioenergy genera- tion on different ecosystem services has also been reviewed and limitations associated with LCA variabil- ity and uncertainty were discussed. Usefulness of integration of GIS into LCA (i.e. spatial LCA) to overcome the limitations of conventional LCA and to produce a holistic evaluation of the environmental benefits and concerns of  bioenergy is  also reviewed. Application of  GIS, LCA and spatial LCA can  help alleviate the challenges faced by  ambitious bioenergy projects by  addressing both economics and environmental goals.


 

 

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Citation : Moonmoon Hiloidhari, D.C. Baruah, Anoop Singh, Sampriti Kataki, Kristina Medhi, Shilpi Kumari, T.V. Ramachandra, B.M. Jenkins, Indu Shekhar Thakur, (2017). Emerging role of Geographical Information System (GIS), Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and spatial LCA (GIS-LCA) in sustainable bioenergy planning. Hiloidhari et al. / Bioresource Technology, 2017, PP: 1–9, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.03.079.
* Corresponding Author :
Dr. T.V. Ramachandra
Energy & Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore – 560 012, India.
Tel : +91-80-2293 3099/2293 3503 [extn - 107],      Fax : 91-80-23601428 / 23600085 / 23600683 [CES-TVR]
E-mail : cestvr@ces.iisc.ernet.in, energy@ces.iisc.ernet.in,     Web : http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy, http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/grass
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