d1150d1b-2cc8-4ea2-8821-80fc8e58ab7dPalm oil methylester (incl. LUC, incl. peat emissions)Cultivation, harvesting of oil palm and processing of fresh fruit bunches/ technology mixproduction mix, at producerPalm oil methyl esterProcessesIndustry dataERASMThe data set covers all relevant process steps / technologies over the supply chain of the represented cradle to gate inventory with a good overall data quality. It represents an production average based on the year 2011. The inventory is mainly based on latest literature data and is completed, where necessary, by expert judgement.
25 years duration of plantation is assumed. Land use change is considered and mass allocation applied.
Transportation was just considered for the main materials (covers about 90% of the mass of all inputs), other transportation was not considered. The data is based on 1000 kg of product.78Geographical scope of the study has focused on an estimation of the global production mix, based on the two dominant regions of production, Malaysia and Indonesia. These countries were selected as major oil palm producing countries as they produce more than 80% of the global production volume of fresh fruit bunches, palm oil and palm kernel oil. In cases of missing process data for Indonesia, Malaysian data for cultivation and processing was adopted for Indonesia. Major cultivation parameters were available for Malaysian and Indonesian conditions (emissions from land use change, yield of fresh fruit bunches). Background data like energy profiles, diesel, electricity use etc. were adapted to the national boundaries. The global production mix consists of 47% Malaysian and 53% Indonesian products.Foreground system:
Geographical scope of the study has focused on an estimation of the global production mix, based on the two dominant regions of production, Malaysia and Indonesia. These countries were selected as major oil palm producing countries as they produce more than 80% of the global production volume of fresh fruit bunches, palm oil and palm kernel oil. In cases of missing process data for Indonesia, Malaysian data for cultivation and processing was adopted for Indonesia. Major cultivation parameters were available for Malaysian and Indonesian conditions (emissions from land use change, yield of fresh fruit bunches). Background data like energy profiles, diesel, electricity use etc. were adapted to the national boundaries. The global production mix consists of 47% Malaysian and 53% Indonesian products.
Direct Land Use Change (dLUC) effects are considered and were accounted for follow-ing standards: GHG Protocol 2011, ILCD 2010 , ISO 14040 2006 /ISO 14044 2006. Direct LUC, 20 years backwards (since 1990), was considered for above ground biomass, below ground biomass and soil organic matter.
Cultivation on peatland results in emissions due to drainage of the peatland. These emissions are included in the study.
Allocation by mass was applied for palm oil mills [palm oil, palm kernel], palm kernel oil mills [palm kernel oil, palm kernel meal], and palm oil refineries [refined product, palm fatty acid distillate].
Agricultural production was modelled in a comprehensive manner including diesel, fertilizer and pesticide inputs and field emissions. The yield is a major cultivation parameter. Yield was modelled as 18.9 t FFB/[ha and year] for Malaysia and 13.4 t FFB/[ha and year] for Indonesia.
Palm oil mills are mostly powered by incineration of co-products (fibres and shells). Empty fruit bunches are also brought back to the field and used as organic fertilizer. Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is run through open pond treatment (95 %) and digester tanks (5%). Digester tanks are used for capturing methane, which is then incinerated for energy.
Palm kernel oil mill, refinery stage and methyl ester stage: The palm kernel oil mill is located apart from the palm oil mill - so incineration of co-products to provide energy is not assumed at the palm kernel oil mill. Energy needed for the palm kernel oil mill are provided by the Malaysian electrical grid mix. The refinery process is modelled identically for both palm oil and palm kernel oil, based on one single publication.
Background system:
Electricity: Electricity is modelled according to the individual country-specific situations. The country-specific modelling is achieved on multiple levels. Firstly, individual energy carrier specific power plants and plants for renewable energy sources are modelled according to the current national electricity grid mix. Modelling the electricity consumption mix includes transmission / distribution losses and the own use by energy producers (own consumption of power plants and "other" own consumption e.g. due to pumped storage hydro power etc.), as well as imported electricity. Secondly, the national emission and efficiency standards of the power plants are modelled as well as the share of electricity plants and combined heat and power plants (CHP). Thirdly, the country-specific energy carrier supply (share of imports and / or domestic supply) including the country-specific energy carrier properties (e.g. element and energy content) are accounted for. Fourthly, the exploration, mining/production, processing and transport processes of the energy carrier supply chains are modelled according to the specific situation of each electricity producing country. The different production and processing techniques (emissions and efficiencies) in the different energy producing countries are considered, e.g. different crude oil production technologies or different flaring rates at the oil platforms.
Thermal energy, process steam: The thermal energy and process steam supply is modelled according to the individual country-specific situation with regard to emission standards and considered energy carriers. The thermal energy and process steam are produced at heat plants. Efficiencies for thermal energy production are by definition 100% in relation to the corresponding energy carrier input. For process steam the efficiency ranges from 85%, 90% to 95%. The energy carriers used for the generation of thermal energy and process steam are modelled according to the specific import situation (see electricity above).
Transports: All relevant and known transport processes are included. Ocean-going and inland ship transport as well as rail, truck and pipeline transport of bulk commodities are considered.
Energy carriers: The energy carriers are modelled according to the specific supply situation (see electricity above).
Refinery products: Diesel fuel, gasoline, technical gases, fuel oils, lubricants and residues such as bitumen are modelled with a parameterised country-specific refinery model. The refinery model represents the current national standard in refining techniques (e.g. emission level, internal energy consumption, etc.) as well as the individual country-specific product output spectrum, which can be quite different from country to country. The supply of crude oil is modelled, again, according to the country-specific situation with the respective properties of the resources.Palm oil methyl ester is used as precursor in the surfactants production.ERASM_Palm oil products.jpgLCI resultAttributionalNoneAllocation - market valueAllocation - net calorific valueAllocation - exergetic contentAllocation - massNot applicableFOREGROUND system: Allocation by mass was applied for palm oil mills [palm oil, palm kernel], palm kernel oil mills [palm kernel oil, palm kernel meal], and palm oil refineries [refined product, palm fatty acid distillate].
Background system: For the combined heat and power production, allocation by exergetic content is applied. For the electricity generation and by-products, e.g. gypsum, allocation by market value is applied due to no common physical properties. Within the refinery allocation by net calorific value and mass is used. For the combined crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids production allocation by net calorific value is applied.
For details please see the document "GaBi Databases Modelling Principles"All data used in the calculation of the LCI results refer to net calorific value.NoneGaBi Modelling PrinciplesCut-off rules for each unit process: Coverage of at least 95% of mass and energy of the input and output flows, and 98% of their environmental relevance (according to expert judgment). Excluded from the analysis are:
The construction of major capital equipment (infrastructure)
Maintenance and operation of sup-port equipment
Human labor and employee transport and
PackagingNoneSeveral data sources have been averaged. Average values are the ones used in the inventory. A detailed overview about the used data sources canbe found in the study report: ERASM Surfactant Life Cycle and Ecofootprinting (SLE) Project: Updating the life cycle inventory data of commercial surfactant production.No SOM method landuse included as the SOM method is not used elsewere in the GaBi database.No primary data collection was possible. Data from literature and expert judgement is used for modelling the global average. The datset is representative for the state of technology in 2011. The datasets are considered to be valid until substantial technological changes in the production chain occur.NoneERASM Surfactant Life Cycle and Ecofootprinting (SLE) ProjectGaBi databases80.02012-2014NoneThe dataset covers cradle-to-gate system of palm oil methyl ester production. Dataset includes latest available secondary data on palm oil methyl ester production and the overall quality is good. Dataset can be used as representative for average global production of the palm oil methyl ester production. Dataset should be reviewed for potential technology changes in 10 years.
This cradle-to-gate LCI includes assimilated carbon dioxide also referring to carbon uptake due to the renewable feedstock. The assimilated carbon dioxide corresponds to the input flow "Carbon Dioxide [Renewable Ressources]". In case this LCI is used in cradle to grave assessments the incorporated carbon dioxide should be modeled as release to environment during the use and/ or end of life stage in addition to other use and/ or end of life treatment emissions.All relevant flows quantifiedThe LCI method applied is in compliance with ISO 14040 and 14044. The documentation includes all relevant information in view of the data quality and scope of the application of the respective LCI result / data set. The dataset represents the state-of-the-art in view of the referenced functional unit.
Prof. Dr. Walter KlöpfferCharlotte PetiotJannick Schmidt Three independent external reviewers, focusing on the LCA methodology conformity and the technology representativeness respectively, supported the project from the beginning till completion. This approach ensures traceability and quality of the results.
All reviewers check all reports and relevant decisions which the group might take to as-sure consistency and conformity to standards. They also participate on project meetings to follow the projects progress.
The critical review is performed according to the ISO 14040 (chapter 7.3.2) [ISO 14040: 2006 ] and ISO 14044 (chapter 6.1) [ISO 14044: 2006 ] standards.
In addition the oil palm and coconut based renewable precursors are reviewed by a third independent external expert, who is familiar which such products in particular and an expert in the field of evaluating land use and land use change emissions.
As no comparative assertions to be disclosed to the public are intended to be made within this study, no review panel of interested parties is required.
The LCI method applied is in compliance with ISO 14040 and 14044. The documentation includes all relevant information in view of the data quality and scope of the application of the respective LCI result / data set. The dataset represents the state-of-the-art in view of the referenced functional unit.
thinkstepLBP-GaBiOverall quality according to different validation schemes:
GaBi = 2,0 interpreted into " good overall quality" in the GaBi quality validation scheme [ISO 14040/44]
PEF = 2,3 interpreted into "good overall quality" in the PEF quality validation schemeGaBi conformity systemFully compliantFully compliantFully compliantFully compliantFully compliantNot definedUNEP SETAC Life Cycle InitiativeNot definedNot definedNot definedNot definedNot definedNot definedILCD Data Network - Entry-levelNot definedNot definedFully compliantNot definedNot definedNot definedERASMERASM Surfactant Life Cycle and Ecofootprinting (SLE) Project: Updating the life cycle inventory data of commercial surfactant productionThe main goals of the study are to jointly update the existing LCI inventories [Franklin Ass 1995] for the production of major surfactant groups and possibly their main precursors/intermediates, as well as to generate new inventories for a selection of market-relevant surfactants not presently covered. A total of 32 LCI datasets are generated.thinkstep2017-01-01T00:00:00+01:00ILCD format 1.1thinkstepNo official approval by producer or operator2017-01-01T00:00:00+01:0011.00.000Data set finalised; entirely publishedERASMtrueOtherGaBi (source code, database including extension modules and single data sets, documentation) remains property of thinkstep. thinkstep delivers GaBi licenses comprising data storage medium and manual as ordered by the customer. The license guarantees the right of use for one installation of GaBi. Further installations using the same license are not permitted. Additional licenses are only valid if the licensee holds at least one main license. Licenses are not transferable and must only be used within the licensee's organisation. Data sets may be copied for internal use. The number of copies is restricted to the number of licenses of the software system GaBi the licensee owns. The right of use is exclusively valid for the licensee. All rights reserved.Palm oil methyl ester (PME)Output100010000.000Mixed primary / secondaryCalculated