contract researcher F/H LCA of agricultural systems producing biogas by methanization

Université de technologie de Compiègne is recruiting a contract researcher, as part of the METHABIOM project, to the Industrial Process Engineering (GPI) department.

Workplace

Compiègne

Contract type and expected recruitment dates

21 months fixed-term contract, to be filled as soon as possible

Gross monthly salary

According to experience and funding

Hourly volume

1,607 hours/year

Summary

One of the main objectives of the green transition in France is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 3% per year, a 4-fold reduction in emissions in 2050. The agriculture sector contributed 19% of GHG emissions in 2018, half of which was associated with livestock production and the production of synthetic fertilizers. To offset these emissions, biogas production in agriculture is one of the main levers, as it reduces our dependence on fossil fuels while improving the autonomy of crop fertilization by returning digesters to the soil. The sustainability of agricultural systems (SDE) producing biogas by methanization has recently been demonstrated by demonstrating their performance, notably in the reduction of greenhouse gases, fertilization autonomy by digesters and ecosystem services of intermediate crops valued in methanization.

There is, however, a wide diversity of methanizing SDE, and the conclusions to be drawn as to the sustainability of these multiple systems cannot be the same for all SDE. It is therefore important to be able to characterize this diversity and then build on it and evaluate their environmental performance by life cycle analyzes (LCA). This is one of the objectives of the project ADEME GRAINE MethaBiom (Evaluation of the sustainability of mixed operating systems integrating methanization for an improvement of the bioenergy value chain) carried by UniLaSalle in partnership with the University of Technology of Compiègne, the Regional Chamber of Agriculture of Hauts-de-France and AgroTransfer Resources & Territories.

Mission

Based on a typology of SDE methanizing in Hauts-de-France carried out in the framework of the MethaBiom project, the recruit will have the mission to carry out LCA of operating systems methanizing in Hauts-de-France in order to compare their environmental performance and issue recommendations to reduce GHG emissions. These LCA will need to consider SDE from agricultural practices in the field to the methanization process itself, to the transport of biomasses and digesters.

Main activities

The work will focus on:

· Perform operating system LCA according to ISO 14044;

· Complete existing databases, if necessary, on the basis of initial results (bibliographic search, data collection, surveys, etc.);

· Conduct a literature review of similar work at the national and international levels;

· Participation in the drafting of the Methabiom project deliverables;

· To value the results of the work carried out by the publication of scientific articles.

Skills

Operational knowledge and skills

· Knowledge and experience in life cycle analysis (LCA)

· Knowledge of agronomy (or experience with the agricultural world) and methanation not required but appreciated

· Project Management

· Written and oral expression and presentation techniques

· Analytical and synthesis capacity

· English language: B2 to C1 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

Behavioral skills

· Adaptability and organizational capacity

· Rigor

· Collaborative Skills

· Initiative and Listening

· Autonomy

· Relational ease.

Diploma, Training and Accreditation

- Diploma: doctorate

- Training area: environmental sciences.

Working Environment and Context

The person recruited will work in the UTC-ESCOM Integrated Renewable Matter Transformations (TIMR.) research joint unit.

The person recruited reports to the UTC project manager and will be required to work in close collaboration with the other project partners and in particular with UniLaSalle, the Chambre d’Agriculture Régionale des Hauts-de-France and AgroTransfer Ressources & Territories.

Travel is planned for the project.