A scenario using the raw LCI data from Felder and Dones (2007) is adapted to the system boundaries of the present study to account for fossil natural gas substitution. The LCIA results of this reference scenario correspond to a conventional LCA of an average lab or pilot-scale process. They are then compared at a scale of 8 MW^, in terms of thermal capacity of input wood, with the LCIA results for a conservative industrial process design – base case scenario – which has been developed with the thermo-economic process model
as described in Gassner and Marechal (2009a). This scenario is evaluated with and without Combined Heat and Power (CHP) production from excess heat by a steam Rankine cycle. This allows for comparing the impact of the byproducts and of the process integration.
