EUBCE 2026 - Doris MATSCHEGG - Prospective Life Cycle Assessment of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel FT-SPK Produced via Biomass Gasification

Prospective Life Cycle Assessment of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel FT-SPK Produced via Biomass Gasification

Short Introductive summary

The demand for sustainable aviation fuels is projected to be steadily increasing, due to a growing aviation sector and European defossilization targets. The current demand is met by HEFA, based on waste oils and fats. Since this kind of feedstocks are limited, additional technological pathways will be required to meet future demand. The present study focuses on the pathway Gasification Fischer-Tropsch (FT) and the resulting fuel: Fischer-Tropsch synthetic paraffinic kerosene (FT-SPK). The aim of the study is to calculate the global warming potential (GWP) of FT-SPK, both with a consequential and a prospective approach. Data for the inventory assessment was derived from a 1 MW pilot gasifier (Syngas Platform Vienna) and a FT-unit, and subsequently upscaled. The consequential life cycle assessment (LCA) results in a GWP between 11.6 and 20.2 gCO2-eq/MJ FT-SPK, depending on the feedstock. The utilization of biogenic residues from agriculture and forestry results in a particularly low GWP. As a next step, a prospective LCA will be conducted to evaluate future technological developments and transformations in the energy system, as well as their potential impact on GHG emissions.

C. Dissauer, BEST - Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies, Graz, AUSTRIA
C. Strasser, BEST - Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies, Graz, AUSTRIA
D. Bacovsky, BEST - Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies, Graz, AUSTRIA
T. Stern, University of Graz, Dpt. of Environmental Systems Sciences, AUSTRIA