Using the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix to synthesize biofuel and bioenergy impact assessment results: The example of medium scale bioenergy heat options
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In: Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 65, 15.02.2014, p. 261-269.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Using the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix to synthesize biofuel and bioenergy impact assessment results
T2 - The example of medium scale bioenergy heat options
AU - Upham, Paul
AU - Smith, Ben
PY - 2014/2/15
Y1 - 2014/2/15
N2 - Despite the potential opportunities, there remain widespread concerns about bioenergy and biofuel feedstock sustainability, assessment and policy. This paper illustrates the value of the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM) for transparently presenting evidence and judgements relating to four biomass options that are potentially suitable for supplying heat to a university-sized facility. The RIAM approach provides comparable scores for: soybean biodiesel, waste cooking oil biodiesel, anaerobically co-digested food waste and manure; and timber pellets made from sawmill by-product. The high-level nature of the RIAM allows the user to structure a broader range of considerations and contingencies than the life-cycle approach embodied in EU biofuel legislation. We advocate the RIAM not as a substitute for LCA or any other form of assessment in a bioenergy context, but as a means of synthesising the results of different types of impact assessment and for making broader debates and uncertainties explicit, such that non-specialist knowledge users are both guided and made aware of differing scientific and stakeholder opinion.
AB - Despite the potential opportunities, there remain widespread concerns about bioenergy and biofuel feedstock sustainability, assessment and policy. This paper illustrates the value of the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix (RIAM) for transparently presenting evidence and judgements relating to four biomass options that are potentially suitable for supplying heat to a university-sized facility. The RIAM approach provides comparable scores for: soybean biodiesel, waste cooking oil biodiesel, anaerobically co-digested food waste and manure; and timber pellets made from sawmill by-product. The high-level nature of the RIAM allows the user to structure a broader range of considerations and contingencies than the life-cycle approach embodied in EU biofuel legislation. We advocate the RIAM not as a substitute for LCA or any other form of assessment in a bioenergy context, but as a means of synthesising the results of different types of impact assessment and for making broader debates and uncertainties explicit, such that non-specialist knowledge users are both guided and made aware of differing scientific and stakeholder opinion.
KW - Sustainability sciences, Communication
KW - Appraisal
KW - Bioenergy
KW - Heat
KW - Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix
KW - Sustainability assessment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84893761727&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/8fc7ec99-89a5-30f3-a5bf-15086b89cfd8/
U2 - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.09.041
DO - 10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.09.041
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:84893761727
VL - 65
SP - 261
EP - 269
JO - Journal of Cleaner Production
JF - Journal of Cleaner Production
SN - 0959-6526
ER -