Details

Title:

Greenhouse Gas Emission Comparison of Woody Biomass Systems with the Inclusion of Land-use in the Reference Fossil System

Author(s):

Haus, S., Gustavsson, L., Sathre, R.

Document(s):

Abstract:

While issues of land-use have been considered in many analyses of biomass systems, little attention has heretofore been paid to land-use in reference fossil systems. In this study we address this limitation by comparing forest biomass systems to reference fossil systems with explicit consideration of land-use in both systems. We estimate and compare the time profiles of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and cumulative radiative forcing (CRF) of woody biomass systems and reference fossil systems. A life cycle perspective is used that includes all elements of both systems and all GHG emissions along the full material and energy chains. We consider the growth dynamics of forests under different management regimes, as well as energy and material substitution effects. We determine the annual net emissions of CO2, N2O and CH4 for each system over a 240-year period. We then calculate time profiles of CRF as a proxy for climate change impacts. The results show greatest CRF reduction when fertilized forest management is applied in the woody biomass system. The results show the relevance of including land use options in both the biomass and the fossil system to accurately determine the climate impacts and benefits of forest management and product use.

Keywords:

greenhouse gases (GHG), life cycle assessment (LCA), cumulative radiative forcing (CRF), landscape scale, time dynamics, woody bioenergy

Topic:

Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability

Subtopic:

Sustainability assessment and criteria

Event:

21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

5DO.12.1

Pages:

1794 - 1799

ISBN:

978-88-89407-53-0

Paper DOI:

10.5071/21stEUBCE2013-5DO.12.1

Price:

FREE