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Multi-Criteria and Life Cycle Assessment of Wood-Based Bioenergy Alternatives for Residential Heating: A Sustainability Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Mario Martín-Gamboa

    (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

  • Luis C. Dias

    (CeBER and Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra, Av. Dias da Silva 165, 3004-512 Coimbra, Portugal
    INESCC—Institute for Systems Engineering and Computers at Coimbra, 3030-290 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Paula Quinteiro

    (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

  • Fausto Freire

    (ADAI-LAETA, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Polo II Campus, R. Luís Reis Santos, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal)

  • Luís Arroja

    (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

  • Ana Cláudia Dias

    (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

Abstract

Moving towards a global bioeconomy can mitigate climate change and the depletion of fossil fuels. Within this context, this work applies a set of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) tools to prioritise the selection of five alternative bioenergy systems for residential heating based on the combination of three commercial technologies (pellet, wood stove and traditional fireplace) and two different feedstocks (eucalypt and maritime pine species). Several combinations of MCDA methods and weighting approaches were compared to assess how much results can differ. Eight indicators were used for a sustainability assessment of the alternatives while four MCDA methods were applied for the prioritisation: Weighted Sum Method (WSM), Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), Elimination and Choice Expressing Reality (ELECTRE), and Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluation (PROMETHEE). Regarding the sustainability performance indicators, the highest environmental impacts were calculated for the fireplace alternatives, and there was not a best environmental option. Also, no clear trend was found for the economic and social dimensions. The application of MCDA tools shows that wood stove alternatives have the best sustainability performance, in particular wood stove with combustion of maritime pine logs (highest scores in the ranking). Regarding the worst alternative, fireplaces with combustion of eucalypt logs ranked last in all MCDA rankings. Finally, a sensitivity analysis for the weighting of the performance indicators confirmed wood stoves with combustion of maritime pine logs as the leading alternative and the key role of the analysts within this type of MCDA studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Mario Martín-Gamboa & Luis C. Dias & Paula Quinteiro & Fausto Freire & Luís Arroja & Ana Cláudia Dias, 2019. "Multi-Criteria and Life Cycle Assessment of Wood-Based Bioenergy Alternatives for Residential Heating: A Sustainability Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:22:p:4391-:d:288451
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Alicja Stoltmann, 2020. "Hybrid Multi-Criteria Method of Analyzing the Location of Distributed Renewable Energy Sources," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-22, August.
    2. Mario Martín-Gamboa & Paula Quinteiro & Ana Cláudia Dias & Diego Iribarren, 2021. "Comparative Social Life Cycle Assessment of Two Biomass-to-Electricity Systems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Jelena Topić Božič & Urška Fric & Ante Čikić & Simon Muhič, 2024. "Life Cycle Assessment of Using Firewood and Wood Pellets in Slovenia as Two Primary Wood-Based Heating Systems and Their Environmental Impact," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-14, February.
    4. Przemysław Motyl & Marcin Wikło & Julita Bukalska & Bartosz Piechnik & Rafał Kalbarczyk, 2020. "A New Design for Wood Stoves Based on Numerical Analysis and Experimental Research," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-11, February.
    5. Sławomir Francik & Adrian Knapczyk & Artur Knapczyk & Renata Francik, 2020. "Decision Support System for the Production of Miscanthus and Willow Briquettes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-24, March.
    6. Mariana Abreu & Luís Silva & Belina Ribeiro & Alice Ferreira & Luís Alves & Susana M. Paixão & Luísa Gouveia & Patrícia Moura & Florbela Carvalheiro & Luís C. Duarte & Ana Luisa Fernando & Alberto Rei, 2022. "Low Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) Energy Crops to Bioenergy and Biofuels—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-68, June.
    7. Martín-Gamboa, Mario & Dias, Ana Cláudia & Iribarren, Diego, 2022. "Definition, assessment and prioritisation of strategies to mitigate social life-cycle impacts across the supply chain of bioelectricity: A case study in Portugal," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 1110-1118.
    8. Olga Porro & Francesc Pardo-Bosch & Núria Agell & Mónica Sánchez, 2020. "Understanding Location Decisions of Energy Multinational Enterprises within the European Smart Cities’ Context: An Integrated AHP and Extended Fuzzy Linguistic TOPSIS Method," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-29, May.
    9. Janis Edmunds Daugavietis & Raimonda Soloha & Elina Dace & Jelena Ziemele, 2022. "A Comparison of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Methods for Sustainability Assessment of District Heating Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-23, March.

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