Title:
Apple Orchard's Woody Residues as a Potential Bioenergy Source: A Lca Case Study in South Tyrol (Italy)
Author(s):
Boschiero, M., Neri, P., Kelderer, M., Zerbe, S.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
Apple orchardīs woody residues (AWR), such as pruning residues and removed trees, could be considered as an alternative biomass source for bioenergy production. A life cycle assessment (LCA) is carried out to assess the greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts of harvesting AWR for energy purposes in South Tyrol (N-Italy). Two different scenarios are investigated: the customary management of AWR, where pruning residues are chipped and let on the ground and removed trees are partly burned in private house-stoves and partly sent to compost plants, and an alternative scenario which implies the harvesting of the whole AWR for energy purposes. Later a comparison with the traditional fossil fuels is carried out. Preliminary results of this study show that producing energy from AWR produces several environmental benefits, such as greenhouse gas emissions savings and a reduction in non-renewable energy consumption. Furthermore, it seems that the self-consumption of this bioenergy minimizes the environmental impacts. However, these preliminary results should be interpreted with the awareness of some critical problems encountered during the analysis.
Keywords:
agricultural residues, life cycle assessment (LCA), sustainability, lignocellulosic sources
Topic:
Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability
Subtopic:
Sustainability assessment and criteria
Event:
21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
5CV.2.23
Pages:
1995 - 2000
ISBN:
978-88-89407-53-0
Paper DOI:
10.5071/21stEUBCE2013-5CV.2.23
Price:
FREE
