Social Life Cycle Assessment of CO2 Valorisation Scenarios: Case Study of Latvia

As technologies develop, the question of their influence and effect on the environment and society becomes even more relevant. This is especially true for relatively young technologies that utilise or capture carbon dioxide. The Social Life Cycle Analysis is an indispensable tool to understand the impact of number of factors on the society and sociological factors due to various CO2 valorisation scenarios in the mid-term to long term. The impact of scenarios on the public are identified based on a multi-regional input/output method of qualitative and quantitative generic data. This work takes into account aspects of health and safety, cultural heritage, the impact of various state structures on the interests of social groups – workers, local communities, society and consumers. The paper considers the factors of CO2 valorization technologies that affect society both positively and negatively

GHG Savings Calculation: Switch from Electricity Production to Biomethane. Case Study

Carbon dioxide is one of the main components of greenhouse gases. The amount of anthropogenic CO2 emissions in the atmosphere reached 37.9 Gt, which is 60 % more than in 1990. The use of CO2 in the production of valuable products can help to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. Biomethane fuel production could be a successful solution in Latvia as well. The work includes a case study of a Latvian biogas production facility Agro Iecava with a switch from biogas to biomethane production. All calculations are made according to REDcert rules. For biofuel production the Plant uses 13 types of substrates, which is also reflected in the calculation. The work shows a step-by-step algorithm for research and analysis. The experience can be used at other biogas production stations, regardless of its location. The analysis of the Plant shows that switching to biomethane production saves up to 80.34 % of GHG emissions (with an estimated loss during transportation in the network of 1 %). In the worst-case scenario, this amount is 76.34 % (loss from transportation is 5 %), which is also above the minimum indicated in the Renewable Energy Directive