Title:
Study of the Production of Pelletized Biofuels from Mediterranean Scrub Biomass
Author(s):
Bados, R., Esteban, L.S., Pérez, P., Mediavilla, I., Fernández, M.J., Barro, R., Corredor, R., Carrasco, J.E.
Document(s):
Paper
Slide presentation
Abstract:
This work has been carried out within the framework of the LIFE+ ENERBIOSCRUB project (LIFE13 ENV/ES/000660), whose objective is the mobilization of new biomass resources while reducing the risk of forest fires by obtaining sustainable solid biofuels from shrub lands, with high flammability risk, in the South of Europe. The objective of this work is to study the pre-treatment energetic balance of biomass obtained from clearings of four typical Mediterranean shrub formations (broom, broom and heather, rockrose and gorse), the quality of the pellets produced, and a complete life cycle assessment from harvesting to biofuel factory gate. Regarding the results obtained, it can be concluded that the specific energy demand necessary for comminution and pelletizing at pilot plant level, without considering drying process, and including only the main equipment (not ancillary), is comprised between 452.66 MJ/tDM for gorse, and 576.32 MJ/tDM for broom and heather. Considering the energy consumed in the processes and the pellets energetic properties, the best results have been obtained with broom scrub biomass. The broom pellets obtained fulfill the analyzed parameters required by ISO 17225-2 for commercial applications as class B. The rest of pellets, with an adequate treatment based on the reduction of moisture and ash content, could fulfill the parameters to be classified as industrial pellets class I3. The average results obtained in the life cycle assessment of pre-treatment stage with scrub biomass feedstocks, show an energy demand of 24.58% of the energy contained in the pelletized fuel (on low heating value basis), and 4.63 g CO2 eq/MJ of GHG emissions, when an industrial installation is considered.
Keywords:
biomass, energy balance, life cycle assessment (LCA), pelletization, solid biofuel
Topic:
Biomass Conversion Technologies for Heating, Cooling and Electricity
Subtopic:
Production and Supply of Solid Biofuels
Event:
25th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
2CO.13.2
Pages:
500 - 505
ISBN:
978-88-89407-17-2
Paper DOI:
10.5071/25thEUBCE2017-2CO.13.2
Price:
FREE
