Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of traditional charcoal
production in Madagascar
Benoist A*, Rodrigues Colossi B, Pinta F and Volle G
CIRAD, Bioenergy Unit, TA B-42/16, 73 rue Jean-François Breton 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, FRANCE
* Corresponding author: anthony.benoist@cirad.fr
Context: charcoal production in Madagascar
- Biomass provides 84.9%of total energy consumption of Madagascar in 2008
- Increase in charcoal production: from 0.65 to 1.03 Mt of charcoal from 2000 to 2008
Objective of the study
- To assess the environmental impacts of traditional charcoal production by earth mound kilns
- To compare the results with those of an industrial kiln with a smoke incineration system
Case study: charcoal production for Mahajanga supply
Source: UNSD, 2011
Industrial kiln Earth mound kiln
© F. Pinta, CIRAD
Scenario description: charcoal production and supply
Earth mound kiln chain:
- Remote charcoal production in
forests
- Intermediary storage of charcoal in Marovoay
Industrial kiln chain:
- Same origin for wood collection - Centralized industrial site near
Marovoay
Main results
Considered
scenarios m_m m_cp fi_cp fi_inc mineral
Product Charcoal
Mineral coal (European
reference)
Production
chain Earth mound kiln Industrial kiln Data set for
carbonization emissions Specific to earth mound kilns Generic to partial combustion processes Specific to industrial kiln after smoke incineration
Impacts on climate change
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 110%
m_m m_cp fi_cp fi_inc mineral
CO2 content of mineral coal Coal extraction Charcoal supply Carbonization process Wood transport Wood collection R el at iv e im pa ct s (% ) Impact reduction of 26-89% (incineration of CH4 and CO)
Reference: 110 gCO2-eq / MJ coal
Impact assessment methods: ReCiPe (global, regional and ecotoxicity issues) & Impact 2002+ (toxicity issues) Key findings
✔ Carbonization process is the main contributor in
most impacts
✔ The integration of a smoke incineration system:
- Highly reduces emissions of organic compounds and particulate matter (positive effects on climate change / toxicity / ecotoxicity)
- Increases NOx emissions (negative effects on acidification / eutrophication)
Type Impact category production chain Most favourable
Origins of the impacts of the least favourable production chain
Carbonization Transportation Facilities
Global
Climate change Industrial kiln Ozone depletion Earth mound kiln
Metal depletion Earth mound kiln Fossil depletion Earth mound kiln Regional Terrestrial acidification Earth mound kiln Marine eutrophication Earth mound kiln
Local
Terrestrial ecotoxicity Industrial kiln
Freshwater ecotoxicity - N/A
Carcinogens - N/A
Non-carcinogens Industrial kiln
Respiratory inorganics - N/A
Respiratory organics Industrial kiln
Impact contribution 75% - 100% 50% - 75% 25% - 50% 0% - 25% N/A : Not applicable.
