Today, innovations in GTL technology, e.g. micro-channel technology, have led to improvements in efficiency of productivity and infra- structure. Introduction of the micro-channel technology will enable transformation of energy and chemical processing industries by greatly reducing the size of chemical reactor hardware. The main characteristic of micro-channel technology is parallel arrays of micro-channels, with typical diameter dimensions in the 0.1–5.0 mm range. Processes are accelerated by reducing heat and mass transfer distance, whereby system volumes can be reduced 10-fold or more compared with the conventional hardware [18–20].
Thus, the development of small-scale GTL technology offers future possibilities for converting bio gas from anaerobic digestion to liquid fuels, facilitating distribution and flexible use. However, when nominating novel systems there is a need to analyse the energetic and environmental performance in a systems perspective and to compare it with that of conventional techniques. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is an inter- nationally accepted method for measuring environmental performance and a useful tool for analyzing products or services. LCA enhances the understanding of how alternative systems compare with each other, but also how different sub-processes in a system affect the overall results [21]. LCA methodology aims at change, or improvement: some- times in more direct ways (decision-making) and sometimes in more indirect ways (influencing market behavior, identifying improvement possibilities) [22].