Life cycle assessment of bioenergy production from short-rotation coppice plantation in Hungary

Ashort-rotation coppice (SRC) system for bioenergy production isvital tosupporting climate change mitigation byabsorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere and storing carbon asbiomass. However, SRC's operation also released some greenhouse gas emissions, affecting the environment. This study aims toassess the potential environmental impacts through the life cycle assessment method inbioenergy production from the SRC system. Data was collected through aliterature review and database, and the impact categories were then analysed using Sphera LCA for Experts Education License software (Version 9.2.1.68, 2020). Inmanaging plantations for bioenergy production, plants during one rotation (15 years) will beharvested every 3 years (harvesting cycle). Then, there will befive harvesting cycles during asingle rotation. The result showed that the first cycle had the highest environmental impacts because the inputs (fuel, lubricant, electricity, fertiliser, and pesticides) inthis cycle were higher than others. The highest contribution comes from the first and end cycles as3200 and 2700 kg CO₂ eq, respectively. Meanwhile, cycles 2, 3, and 4 contribute tothe carbon footprint as2500 kg CO₂ eq for each cycle. Based on input, fuel consumption has resulted in higher environmental impacts than lubricants, fertilisers, and electricity consumption. In conclusion, energy consumption (fuel, lubricant, and electricity) and agrochemicals (fertilisers and pesticides) have released emissions and affected the environment. In the future, fuel and agrochemical consumption should be reduced to minimise the negative environmental impacts in the short-rotation coppice system.