Title:
Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Biomass Utilization for Electricity Generation in the European Union and the United States
Author(s):
Beagle, E., Belmont, E.
Document(s):
Paper
Slide presentation
Abstract:
Biomass utilization to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is a common practice in the European Union (EU). Such use in the United States (US) is limited. Biomass is increasingly being exported from the US to the EU. The complexity of bioenergy systems can be captured using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) techniques. This study utilizes LCA to assess the impact of biomass transportation, including type and distance, on the life cycle GHG emissions of bioenergy. Transportation types considered include truck, train and sea freight and each are assessed at realistic distances expected in bioenergy supply chains. Emission results for biomass firing alone and co-firing with coal at 20% are compared to a baseline coal-fired power plant. Results include life cycle emissions in terms of kg CO2eq per kWhel. For all cases considered, biomass utilization for electricity production results in fewer life cycle GHG emissions compared to the coal baseline, with emission reductions being as high as 80%. Utilization in the US and EU have similar overall emissions. Economic analysis results show that transportation has a significant effect on the additional cost for using biomass, and that costs for use in the US are comparable to costs for exporting to the EU.
Keywords:
biomass, coal, co-combustion, co-firing, greenhouse gases (GHG), life cycle assessment (LCA)
Topic:
Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability
Subtopic:
Environmental impacts of bioenergy
Event:
25th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
4CO.14.5
Pages:
1498 - 1510
ISBN:
978-88-89407-17-2
Paper DOI:
10.5071/25thEUBCE2017-4CO.14.5
Price:
FREE
