1. Assessing the sustainability of biomass valorisation : Sustainability indicators and biofuels case study Anne-Lise FEVRE, PhD Student

2. Project presentation 3 years thesis : December 2005 to December 2008 Financing : Champagne Ardenne and Picardie regions Subject : Dedicated to the IAR cluster Research teams : - University of technology of Troyes (UTT) Team : Research and interdisciplinary studies on sustainable development  Sustainability, assessment, industrial ecology,... - National research institute on industrial environment and risks (INERIS) Team : Modelling and economic analysis for risks management  Air quality, pollutants transports, economic tools,...

3. Context and subject : The IAR cluster and sustainable development  How to guarantee effective integration of sustainability in the IAR cluster activities ? IAR cluster activities = highly concerned by sustainability challenges :  climate change and fossil energy resources depletion,  global environmental pollution, and health,  biodiversity, eco-friendly agricultural practices,... The cluster and projects assessment : - R&D projects labelling scheme - IAR cluster results assessment (indicators list) No sustainability criteria used for the moment  Need for tools to implement SD in the IAR cluster activities

4. Research programme targets 1. Develop, for the IAR cluster, a decision support system to assess R&D projects sustainability, using SD indicators. 2. Study the sustainability of the production of biofuels for transports (among the first activities of the IAR cluster) My implication in the IAR cluster : - INERIS & UTT = members of the cluster - AL Fèvre = Member of the strategic orientation comity (sustainability, resources mobilisation, risk assessments, …) Member of the Biofuels Commission Thesis frame comity : include cluster administrators Frequent interactions with cluster members and decision makers to assess and validate work.

5. Decision support system Characteristics : - quantitative or qualitative indicators, limited number - indicators are distributed according to sustainability themes - themes selected upon their relevance for the cluster and its SD vision - If possible : 1 synthetic indicator calculated for each theme - use = “ex-ante” R&D projects assessment (labelling scheme) - legitimacy guarantee : interactions with members of the cluster - results interpretation : helped with provided guidelines. Tool = SD indicators list

6. Approach : What do we need to assess? In a “cradle to grave” logic : 1. What are the characteristics of the biomass valorisation projects? 2. What are the potential impacts that can be listed at each step? 3. What is the information needed to assess this impact? 4. Which kind of indicator is necessary? 5. How to synthesize the information? (especially with qualitative information) Decision support system

7. Biofuels for transports case study Steps : 1. Decision support system (indicators) test : Tool validation, 1st conclusions for the the site sustainability. 2. Deeper sustainability analysis : Specific conclusions and recommendations according to available data.  Being considered : partnership with Bazancourt biorefinery.  Assess the sustainability performance of the biofuel production made by one of the IAR cluster production sites (1st generation biofuels for transport).

8. Interests for Bazancourt production site - Biorefinery site : quasi unique in Europe, - Implementation of industrial ecology principles : material and energy flows exchanges, - Emblematic site of the IAR cluster. Our aim :  How those synergies impact the sustainability assessment of ethanol production? (especially for non-renewable energy consumption and GHG emissions)

9. Stakes For biofuels production : - Identify improvement tracks for the sustainability of biofuels production in France - Bring problems of the world-wide biofuels production to light For the IAR cluster : - Help to make choices between the different biomass valorisation possibilities - Bring elements to the debate on the transition to the 2nd biofuels generation - Contribute to give a real and operational sustainability logic in the IAR cluster - Analyse the stakes and interests of a biorefinery site (especially for biofuels production) from the sustainability point of view.