Considering the challenges of decarbonization, the energy transition, and increasing demands for resource efficiency in the context of the circular economy, there is a need to develop sustainable solutions for the material and energy use of biogenic waste. Biogas plants are a key technology, as they convert biogenic waste into renewable energy, have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to closing material cycles. This study investigates an innovative biogas plant with a rotating drum fermenter as its core component. The entire plant, including its associated value network, is being evaluated through a life cycle assessment in accordance with ISO 14040/14044. This paper focuses on the methodological approach and presents preliminary results for biogas production based on laboratory-scale data. Preliminary results indicate that biogas production contributes most significantly to the global warming potential, primarily due to energy-intensive process steps, while substrate provision has comparatively low environmental impacts. These findings form the basis for upscaling to pilot and industrial scale and provide valuable insights for identifying system effects, scaling factors, and ecological optimization potentials in biogenic value creation systems.
Tscherney et al. (Thu,) studied this question.