Pietro Goglio | University of Perugia, Italy (original) (raw)

Papers by Pietro Goglio

Agricultural systems, Aug 1, 2024

This document represents a representative product study carried out in the context of the develop... more This document represents a representative product study carried out in the context of the development of a methodology for calculating the environmental footprints of horticultural products, according to the newly released methodological standard-HortiFootprint category rules. The purpose of this product study was to identify the most relevant impact categories, life cycle stages, processes and direct elementary flows and also to identify the data needs, all feeding into the methodology development. This publication is meant as an illustration of a product environmental footprint (PEF) study for roses that are produced in a Dutch greenhouse with combined heat and power (CHP) system, transported across the main countries of export. The functional unit is one stem of 70 cmlong roses at commercial grade

Environmental Chemistry Letters, Oct 17, 2012

Atmospheric concentration of nitrous oxide (N 2 O), a potent greenhouse gas (GHG), is rising, lar... more Atmospheric concentration of nitrous oxide (N 2 O), a potent greenhouse gas (GHG), is rising, largely due to agriculture. N 2 O emissions from crops are affected by single agricultural practices (e.g. fertilisation, tillage and residue management), but the latter are intricately related within cropping systems. Strategies to reduce impact of farming on climate should therefore be sought at this level. However, data are scarce for cropping systems because N 2 O emission monitoring is time-consuming. Agro-ecosystem models offer an alternative, simpler mean of estimating N 2 O emissions. Here, we developed a methodology combining ecosystem modelling and field measurements to assess the effect of agronomic management on N 2 O emissions. The model was evaluated against series of daily to monthly N 2 O emission data. It was subsequently used to evaluate the N 2 O abatement potential of a cropping system specifically designed to halve greenhouse gas emissions (low emissions) when compared to a system with high productivity and environmental performance (reference), close to current practice. Here, an estimated 29% N 2 O abatement potential was achieved from a cropping system specifically designed to halve greenhouse gas emissions when compared to the reference system during 2009-2011. This result was affected by the interplay between climatic conditions and crop management on the occurrence of emission peaks. Among N 2 O abatement strategies, reduction of mineral fertiliser inputs proved to be the most effective while variable effects were obtained with reduced tillage and the introduction of legumes.

Biosystems Engineering, Jul 1, 2009

Technical viability of two small-scale electricity generation pathways based on willow short rota... more Technical viability of two small-scale electricity generation pathways based on willow short rotation coppice biomass was evaluated using a Screening Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) procedure. The system inputs included fuel and oil consumption in machine operations, fertilizer and herbicide production, transportation of willow chips biomass, and biomass-to-energy conversion. The analysis was based on net energy production, energy output-input ratio, and the related CO 2 emission. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the effect of fertilizer type and application technique, harvesting and drying techniques, energy conversion process and chips transportation distance. The results showed that key energy efficiency and environmental compatibility factors include: the choice of drying technique; fertilizer type and application technique (68.2% variation in net energy, 57.7% difference in output-input ratio, respectively), and; the type of biomass-toenergy conversion plant, which had up to 36.4% variation in net energy production, and 96.4% reduction in CO 2 emission. Willow chips transportation up to distances of 38 km did not have significant impact on the net energy production and CO 2 emission. Chip transportation over distances in excess of 38 km generated significant drop in energy efficiency (25.9% reduction in energy output-input ratio) which underlines the importance of transportation in the overall system productivity.

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2020

This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the ad... more This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

Scientific Reports, Oct 23, 2020

This file includes data from the National Grid, UK for electricity supply and demand which was mo... more This file includes data from the National Grid, UK for electricity supply and demand which was modified according to the research methodology laid out in the paper here (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2020.110018). Also, all the data needed for reproducing figures presented in the journal article are also included in the data file.

Sustainability

Plastic waste production increasingly causes environmental pollution. However, end-of-life (EoL) ... more Plastic waste production increasingly causes environmental pollution. However, end-of-life (EoL) research often lacks detail and timeliness and fails to integrate the end-of-life option into a product’s life cycle in a systemic perspective. This study addresses these knowledge gaps, by applying an improved anticipatory consequential life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. Reuse, mechanical and chemical recycling options were compared for (biobased and fossil-based) high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic shampoo bottles in the European context using three types of impact categories: climate change, fossil resource scarcity and mineral resources scarcity. The completeness and detail of EoL were increased by modelling the polymer reprocessing within the collection system including all transport distances, while timeliness was improved by implementing the data applicable for the time of implementation of EoL options in the future. The results show th...

Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science, 2019

Agriculture currently faces the dual challenges of both having to increase its overall biomass ou... more Agriculture currently faces the dual challenges of both having to increase its overall biomass output while contributing to the mitigation of pressing global environmental changes. It is therefore urged to reconcile these challenges by drastically increasing its performance in the short term. This chapter reviews the agronomic options available at the crop production level to participate in this effort, from single practices to a more integrated systems approach. Strategies such as improved tillage, fertilizer management, the inclusion of legumes in crop rotations, irrigation management, intercropping, and disease and weed management are appraised using the life-cycle assessment framework, the use of which currently prevails to inform on sustainability. The chapter concludes with a summary of these options and suggests avenues for future research whether into a better estimation of performance or towards the implementation of low-impact crop production systems

The Paris Agreement set targets to limit global warming to less than 2°C above the pre-industrial... more The Paris Agreement set targets to limit global warming to less than 2°C above the pre-industrial level to significantly reduce the risks and impacts associated with climate change [1]. Globally, the energy supply sector is responsible for 25% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions [2]. In addition to ratifying Paris Agreement, the UK government has adopted legally binding 80% emissions reduction target from 1990 levels by 2050 as outlined in Climate Change Act. The decarbonisation of power supply, along with electrification of heat and transport, are highlighted as key elements of this transition by both policy and academic research [3]-[5]. Storage systems, via the multiple services they offer across the electricity supply chain [6] at different operational scales stand to create system-wide benefits, enhanced flexibility and reliability for effective management of the grid [7]. The potential contributions storage systems can make towards minimizing the carbon intensity of UK grid with high levels of renewables is recognised by the government as well [8]. This study aims i) to determine the amount of load shifting that can be achieved by the combination of current renewable energy mainly wind and solar and UK grid level storage, ii) analyse the amount of renewable energy generation and storage (RES) needed to phase out programmable gas power generation during the periods of peak demand and iii) assess their economic and environmental implications. The environmental impacts considered are the life cycle emissions associated with electricity generation from the UK mix and the production, installation and use of batteries. The analysis will be extended to cover the future energy scenarios.

The demand of consumers and retailers for sustainably produced horticultural products is increasi... more The demand of consumers and retailers for sustainably produced horticultural products is increasing. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), or environmental footprint analysis, is a widely acknowledged methodology to assess, benchmark and monitor the environmental impact. Therefore, all supply chain partners are increasingly asking for footprint calculations of horticultural products. Because no harmonised methodology is available, the footprint calculations based on various methodological choices make those difficult to interpret. The project is carried out in the framework of a Public-Private Partnership project called ‘Methodology for environmental footprint’. This report delivers the set of methodological rules for calculating the environmental footprint of horticultural products and is primarily meant for professionals with moderate knowledge of LCA. The development of the methodology follows as much as possible the most recent Guidance for developing Product Environmental Category Rules...

The authors thank Defra for funding and supporting the project and all the stakeholders who parti... more The authors thank Defra for funding and supporting the project and all the stakeholders who participated in the project and helped greatly in shaping and quantifying the dietary change scenarios. The authors also thank others who contributed in other ways, e.g. nutritional advice from Prof Joe Millward of Surrey University.

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2021

Greenhouse gas removal technologies are needed to reach the targets of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement... more Greenhouse gas removal technologies are needed to reach the targets of the UNFCCC Paris Agreement. Among existing technologies, the use of biochar is considered promising, particularly biochar derived from the large quantities of sugarcane residues available in South America and elsewhere. However, the net greenhouse gas removal potential of sugarcane biochar has not been assessed hitherto. We use a scenario-based anticipatory life cycle assessment to investigate the emissions associated with a change from the combustion of sugarcane residues in a combined heat and power plant to the pyrolysis of these residues for biochar production and field application in São Paulo State, Brazil. We define scenarios based on different mean marginal electricity production and biochar production share. The results indicate that emissions from covering the electricity deficit generated by partial combustion of biomass during biochar production is the main emitting process. Overall, the processes associated with biochar production lower the net greenhouse gas benefits of the biochar by around 25%. Our analysis suggests that allocating 100% of the available sugarcane residues to biochar production could sequester 6.3 ± 0.5 t CO 2 eq ha − 1 yr − 1 of sugarcane in São Paulo State. Scaled up to the entire State, the practice could lead to the removal of 23% of the total amount of GHGs emitted by the State in 2016.

Scientific Reports, 2020

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) cultivation leaves behind around 20 t ha−1 of biomass residu... more Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) cultivation leaves behind around 20 t ha−1 of biomass residue after harvest and processing. We investigated the potential for sequestering carbon (C) in soil with these residues by partially converting them into biochar (recalcitrant carbon-rich material). First, we modified the RothC model to allow changes in soil C arising from additions of sugarcane-derived biochar. Second, we evaluated the modified model against published field data, and found satisfactory agreement between observed and predicted soil C accumulation. Third, we used the model to explore the potential for soil C sequestration with sugarcane biochar in São Paulo State, Brazil. The results show a potential increase in soil C stocks by 2.35 ± 0.4 t C ha−1 year−1 in sugarcane fields across the State at application rates of 4.2 t biochar ha−1 year−1. Scaling to the total sugarcane area of the State, this would be 50 Mt of CO2 equivalent year−1, which is 31% of the CO2 equivalent emi...

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2020

With more and more renewable energy sources (RES) going into power grids, the balancing of supply... more With more and more renewable energy sources (RES) going into power grids, the balancing of supply and demand during peak times will be a growing challenge due to the inherent intermittency and unpredictable nature of RES. Grid level batteries can store energy when there is excess generation from wind and solar and discharge it to meet variable peak demand that is traditionally supplied by combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plants. This paper assesses the potential of battery storage to replace CCGT in responding to variable peak demand for current and future energy scenarios (FES) in the UK from technical and environmental perspectives. Results from technical analysis show that batteries, assuming size is optimised for different supply and demand scenarios proposed by the National Grid, are able to supply 6.04%, 13.5% and 29.1% of the total variable peak demand in 2016, 2020 and 2035, respectively while CCGT plants supply the rest of the demand. Particularly, to phase out CCGT variable generation from the UK grid in 2035, electricity supply from wind and solar needs to increase by 1.33 times their predicted supply in National Grid's FES. The environmental implications of replacing CCGT by batteries are studied and compared through a simplified life cycle assessment (LCA). Results from LCA studies show that if batteries are used in place of CCGT, it can reduce up to 87% of greenhouse gas emissions and that is an estimated 1.98 MtCO 2 eq. for an optimal supply, 29.1%, of variable peak demand in 2035.

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2019

Agricultural systems, Aug 1, 2024

Environmental Chemistry Letters, Oct 17, 2012

Biosystems Engineering, Jul 1, 2009

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2020

Scientific Reports, Oct 23, 2020

Sustainability

Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science, 2019

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2021

Scientific Reports, 2020

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2020

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2019

To achieve the UK targets for cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a steady reduction of 3% sh... more To achieve the UK targets for cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a steady reduction of 3% should be achieved and maintained every year by the whole UK economy. This is the requirement for UK in order to achieve the potential target of 1.5 degrees C of global warming. Different techniques (e.g. land management and use change, ocean fertilisation, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, biochar, direct air capture) have been proposed to remove GHG; but their implementation can have large and unforeseen effects considering all the impacts across the economy. Some techniques such as afforestation, bioenergy, carbon capture and storage could potentially have large land use change and affect the food chains.
Methodological approaches, such life cycle assessment (LCA), have been widely adopted to assess different greenhouse gas removal techniques (GGRTs). LCA allows to account for all the impacts from raw material extraction, production, transport, use and waste disposal of a production systems, product or service. In particular consequential LCA approaches have been used to assess the consequences of the various applications of greenhouse gas removal techniques. However consequential LCA is largely based on assumptions and large uncertainties are bound to this approach. Further there is no consensus on the LCA methodology to assess GGRTs, let alone the results, and a fair comparison of the efficacy and cost of the different GHGTs is required to have an accurate assessment of the benefits of GGRTs.
This research proposal is an attempt in reducing the lack of consistency and increase accuracy and robustness of the impacts of alternative GGRTs. The main aim of this project is to harmonise the various LCA approaches to assess GGRTs, including biochar application, biomass carbon storage, land management change, ocean fertilisation and direct air capture. The project also aims to systematically test and assess the uncertainties related to the application of the consequential LCA to GGRTs to improve consequential LCA approaches for greenhouse gas removal. The new approaches are compared with other consortia and research projects targeted to greenhouse gas removal techniques and will be used in a consequential LCA of specific case studies for each greenhouse gas removal group.
The methodology adopted consists in a systematic review across economic sectors and focuses on the specific methods of analysing consequential impacts and uncertainties in the analyses (e.g. assumptions about economic responses). Selected case studies will be used to test the current approaches to identify and rank the importance of the various sources of uncertainties (and other strengths and weaknesses) related to consequential LCA. This will be combined with a series of workshops with other researchers and key advisers involved in assessing GGRTs to harmonise the developed approaches. The advisors will form an advisory panel and will represent areas of the economy, policy and third sector organisations that would be affected by large scale implementation of GGRTs. This will feed into an upgrading process of current consequential LCA methods with the aim of making the assessment of GGRTs more robust and more accurate to achieve a real and substantial reduction of global warming (at least 1-10 Gt of CO2eq per year worldwide).