Overview
Background
Marguerite Renouf BSc(Hons)/BA, PhD (Env Man) UQ is a Research Fellow at the School of Chemical Engineering's Water-Energy-Carbon Research Group (www.chemeng.uq.edu.au/water-energy-carbon).
She has worked in environmental research at UQ for 20 years, with a particular interest in the environmental evaluation of production systems and urban systems using environmental life cycle assessment (LCA), urban metabolism evaluation and eco-efficiency analysis. She is interested how we can produce and consume with less drain on the environment.
Since completing a PhD in 2011, she has driven a stream of research that evaluates the environmental performance of agri-based product supply chains and products (bio-fuels, bio-materials, food, beverages) using LCA. She has collaborated with industries and researchers in Australia and overseas to develop LCA tools for industry to support the identification of more environmentally-friendly production practices and processes.
Prior to this, her research was concerned with eco-efficiency in manufacturing industries (food processing, metal industries, retail and tourism sectors) and was a long-term contributor to UQ’s Working Group for Cleaner Production (now operating as the Eco-Efficienc Group), and its Director for three years (2009-2012).
Currently, Marguerite is a lead researcher with the CRC for Water Sensitive Cities, develop methods and metrics for quantifiying the water water-sensitive performance of Australian cities, using urban metabolism approaches. In this work she collaborates cloesely with urban planners, water manager and architects.
Availability
- Dr Marguerite Renouf is:
- Not available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science/Arts, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) methods for agri-food and bio-production
Refining methodologies for characterising and quantifying the environmental impacts of agriculture in 'life cycle assessment' (LCA). This is needed to ensure an accurate representation of the environmental impacts agriculture, for use in studies of food and bio-products. The environmental impacts of most interest are water quality impacts (eutrophication, eco-toxicity), water resource depletion as well as global warming potential.
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Environmental sustainability of food systems
Quantifying the environmental performance of food products and food systems using the 'life cycle assessment' (LCA) method. This is used to understand priority areas for improving the environmental sustainability of agriculture, food processing and distribution and retail.
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Water metabolism of cities
Developing and applying evaluation methods that quantify how efficiently water is used and managed in urban areas (cities, precincts, catchments). This is used to help urban planners and water managers make strategic and innovative decisions about how water systems are desgined, particularly in fast-growing cities.
Research impacts
Marguerite's PhD research used life cycle assessment (LCA) to test the environmental benefits of using sugarcane as feedstock for bio-energy, bio-fuels and bio-materials. This work has helped understand the consequences of agriculture's changing role as a provider of energy and materials in addition to food and fibre. For example, the Queensland Government policy on bio-fuels drew on Dr Renouf’s research and data about sugarcane ethanol.
An extension of this was industry-funded research to develop the CaneLCA eco-efficiency tool for susugarcane producers (available at eshop.uniquest.com.au). It has been used by researchers and agricultural extension personnel to inform about more sustainable sugarcane growing practices. For example, a sugar-industry project used the tool to validate the environmental benefits of improved sugarcane growing practices to protect water quality in the Great Barrier Reef. A tool of viticulture (VitLCA) has also been developed in collaboration with an agricultural University in France, which is being used to teach vineyard apprentices about sustainable viticulture practices.
Marguerite has influenced LCA developments in Australia. She has been an active member of the Australian Life Cycle Assessment Society (ALCAS), including a Board Member (2013-2017), Chair of the Australian Life Cycle Inventory (AusLCI) Database Agriculture Working Group (2008-2014) and the ALCAS Impact Assessment Committee (2013-ongoing), and on the conference organising committee (2013, 2015).
Her past contributions to UQ’s Working Group for Cleaner Production (1997 - 2012) helped support the Queensland Government's promotion of sustainable practices to Queensland manufacturing sectors (food processing, foundries, metal finishing, marine construction and general manufacturing). This included high-quality eco-efficiency information resources about (www.ecoefficiency.com.au), which continue to be a primary source of technical guidance for implementing eco-efficiency in these industries.
Works
Search Professor Marguerite Renouf’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2014
Journal Article
Environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) of aviation biofuel from microalgae, Pongamia pinnata, and sugarcane molasses
Cox, Kelly, Renouf, Marguerite, Dargan, Aidan, Turner, Christopher and Klein-Marcuschamer, Daniel (2014). Environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) of aviation biofuel from microalgae, Pongamia pinnata, and sugarcane molasses. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining, 8 (4), 579-593. doi: 10.1002/bbb.1488
Featured
2013
Journal Article
Bio-production from Australian sugarcane: an environmental investigation of product diversification in an agro-industry
Renouf, Marguerite A., Pagan, Robert J. and Wegener, Malcolm K. (2013). Bio-production from Australian sugarcane: an environmental investigation of product diversification in an agro-industry. Journal of Cleaner Production, 39, 87-96. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.08.036
Featured
2011
Journal Article
Life cycle assessment of Australian sugarcane products with a focus on cane processing
Renouf, Marguerite A., Pagan, Robert J. and Wegener, Malcolm K. (2011). Life cycle assessment of Australian sugarcane products with a focus on cane processing. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 16 (2), 125-137. doi: 10.1007/s11367-010-0233-y
Featured
2010
Journal Article
Life cycle assessment of Australian sugarcane production with a focus on sugarcane growing
Renouf, Marguerite Anne, Wegener, Malcolm K. and Pagan, Robert J. (2010). Life cycle assessment of Australian sugarcane production with a focus on sugarcane growing. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 15 (9), 927-937. doi: 10.1007/s11367-010-0226-x
Featured
2008
Journal Article
An environmental life cycle assessment comparing Australian sugarcane with US corn and UK sugar beet as producers of sugars for fermentation
Renouf, M. A., Wegener, M. K. and Nielsen, L. K. (2008). An environmental life cycle assessment comparing Australian sugarcane with US corn and UK sugar beet as producers of sugars for fermentation. Biomass and Bioenergy, 32 (12), 1144-1155. doi: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2008.02.012
2024
Journal Article
Profitability and environmental implications of innovative practice changes and irrigation improvements
Connolly, Caleb, Renouf, Marguerite A., Nothard, Brendon, Milbank, Harry and Poggio, Mark J. (2024). Profitability and environmental implications of innovative practice changes and irrigation improvements. Sugar Industry international, 149 (12), 817-823. doi: 10.36961/si32562
2024
Journal Article
Conceptual process design, techno-economics, and greenhouse gas analysis of furfuryl alcohol production via transfer hydrogenation
Fraga, Gabriel, Ramirez, Jerome, Renouf, Marguerite and Batalha, Nuno (2024). Conceptual process design, techno-economics, and greenhouse gas analysis of furfuryl alcohol production via transfer hydrogenation. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 12 (28), 10604-10614. doi: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c03588
2024
Journal Article
Water-related liveability assessment: indicators for evaluation of urban design
Sochacka, Beata A., Renouf, Marguerite A. and Kenway, Steven J. (2024). Water-related liveability assessment: indicators for evaluation of urban design. Sustainable Cities and Society, 101 105103, 105103. doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2023.105103
2024
Conference Publication
Life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from changes in cane-growing practices
Renouf, Marguerite, Chamberlain, Sonya, Schroeder, Bernard, Westmore, Elisa and Quirk, Michael (2024). Life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from changes in cane-growing practices. Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists.
2023
Journal Article
SeqFLoW: a systematic approach to identify and select food waste valorisation opportunities
Jones, R. E., Renouf, M. A., Speight, R. E., Blinco, J. L. and O'Hara, I. M. (2023). SeqFLoW: a systematic approach to identify and select food waste valorisation opportunities. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 189 106732. doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106732
2023
Conference Publication
Profitability and environmental implications of innovative practice changes and irrigation improvements
Connolly, C., Renouf, M. A., Nothard, B., Milbank, H. and Poggio, M. J. (2023). Profitability and environmental implications of innovative practice changes and irrigation improvements. 44th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists (ASSCT 2023), Cairns, QLD, Australia, 18-21 April 2023. Mackay, QLD, Australia: Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists.
2022
Book Chapter
Urban metabolism and water sensitive cities governance: designing and evaluating water-secure, resilient, sustainable, liveable cities
Kenway, Steven J., Renouf, Marguerite, Allan, J., Islam, K.M.N., Tarakemehzadeh, N., Moravej, M., Sochacka, B. and Surendran, M. (2022). Urban metabolism and water sensitive cities governance: designing and evaluating water-secure, resilient, sustainable, liveable cities. Routledge handbook of urban water governance. (pp. 297-315) edited by Thomas Bolognesi, Francisco Silva Pinto and Megan Farrelly. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003057574-26
2022
Conference Publication
The role of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) technologies to improve water performance of residential infill
Moravej, Mojtaba, Kenway, Steven, Renouf, Marguerite and Urich, Christian (2022). The role of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) technologies to improve water performance of residential infill. OzWater22, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 10-12 May 2022.
2022
Journal Article
What roles do architectural design and on-site water servicing technologies play in the water performance of residential infill?
Moravej, Mojtaba, Renouf, Marguerite A., Kenway, Steven and Urich, Christian (2022). What roles do architectural design and on-site water servicing technologies play in the water performance of residential infill?. Water Research, 213 118109, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118109
2022
Conference Publication
Profitability and environmental implications of practice changes driven by soil health in Central and Northern Queensland
Connolly, C., Renouf, M. A., Nothard, B., Bakir, H. and Poggio, M. (2022). Profitability and environmental implications of practice changes driven by soil health in Central and Northern Queensland. 43rd Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, ASSCT 2022, Mackay, QLD, Australia, 19-22 April 2022. Mackay, QLD, Australia: Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists.
2021
Conference Publication
The local influence of residential infill on the urban water flows: a multi-city analysis
Moravej, M., Kenway, S., Renouf, M., Urich, C., Sainsbury, O., Bertram, N. and London, G. (2021). The local influence of residential infill on the urban water flows: a multi-city analysis. 24th International Congress on Modelling and Simulation (MODSIM2021), Sydney, Australia, 5-9 December 2021. Sydney, Australia: Modelling and Simulation Society of Australia and New Zealand.
2021
Journal Article
A multi-regional input-output analysis of direct and virtual urban water flows to reduce city water footprints in Australia
Islam, K M Nazmul, Kenway, Steven J., Renouf, Marguerite A., Wiedmann, Thomas and Lam, Ka Leung (2021). A multi-regional input-output analysis of direct and virtual urban water flows to reduce city water footprints in Australia. Sustainable Cities and Society, 75 103236, 103236. doi: 10.1016/j.scs.2021.103236
2021
Journal Article
Liveability and its interpretation in urban water management: systematic literature review
Sochacka, Beata A., Kenway, Steven J. and Renouf, Marguerite A. (2021). Liveability and its interpretation in urban water management: systematic literature review. Cities, 113 103154, 103154. doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2021.103154
2021
Journal Article
A review of the water-related energy consumption of the food system in nexus studies
Islam, K.M.Nazmul, Kenway, Steven J., Renouf, Marguerite A., Lam, Ka Leung and Wiedmann, Thomas (2021). A review of the water-related energy consumption of the food system in nexus studies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 279 123414, 123414. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123414
2021
Journal Article
Site-scale Urban Water Mass Balance Assessment (SUWMBA) to quantify water performance of urban design-technology-environment configurations
Moravej, Mojtaba, Renouf, Marguerite A., Lam, Ka Leung, Kenway, Steven J. and Urich, Christian (2021). Site-scale Urban Water Mass Balance Assessment (SUWMBA) to quantify water performance of urban design-technology-environment configurations. Water Research, 188 116477, 116477. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116477
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Marguerite Renouf is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Master Philosophy
Contribution of alternative water sources to urban water security
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steven Kenway
-
Doctor Philosophy
Framework for Integrated urban water management for infill development with limited dependency on urban infrastructure.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steven Kenway
Completed supervision
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2024
Master Philosophy
Contribution of Alternative Water Sources to Urban Water Security (UWS) in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steven Kenway
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the relationship between urban water management and liveability: conceptualisations and opportunities for assessment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steven Kenway
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Water performance evaluation of infill development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steven Kenway
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the food-water-energy-greenhouse gas emissions nexus in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steven Kenway
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Environmental Consequences of Land use Changes for Bioenergy Crop Production at a Regional Scale
Associate Advisor
Media
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