IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/enepol/v128y2019icp267-275.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Comparative life cycle assessment of biomass utilization for electricity generation in the European Union and the United States

Author

Listed:
  • Beagle, E.
  • Belmont, E.

Abstract

Biomass utilization is a strategy to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the European Union (EU) but bioenergy in the United States (US) is currently limited. As a result, biomass is increasingly exported from the US to the EU, but changes to the policy landscape are poised to alter this. This study utilizes Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess impacts of biomass transportation on bioenergy life cycle GHG emissions. Transportation modes considered include truck, train and sea freight and each are assessed at realistic distances expected in bioenergy supply chains. Emissions for biomass firing alone and co-firing with coal using wood chips and pellets are compared to a baseline coal-fired power plant. Results include life cycle emissions for each case, and sensitivity analysis is presented for variation in power plant efficiency and biomass heating value. A generalized model for estimation of bioenergy emissions is presented. In nearly all cases, biomass utilization for electricity production produces lower life cycle GHG emissions compared to the coal baseline, with emission reductions as high as 76%. Utilization in the US and EU have similar overall emissions at long US distances. Policy implications are discussed in the context of current US and EU policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Beagle, E. & Belmont, E., 2019. "Comparative life cycle assessment of biomass utilization for electricity generation in the European Union and the United States," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 267-275.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:128:y:2019:i:c:p:267-275
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.01.006
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421519300060
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.01.006?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ehrig, Rita & Behrendt, Frank, 2013. "Co-firing of imported wood pellets – An option to efficiently save CO2 emissions in Europe?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 283-300.
    2. Julia Hansson & Roman Hackl, 2016. "The potential influence of sustainability criteria on the European Union pellets market—the example of Sweden," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(4), pages 413-429, July.
    3. Beagle, E. & Belmont, E., 2016. "Technoeconomic assessment of beetle kill biomass co-firing in existing coal fired power plants in the Western United States," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 429-438.
    4. Gonzales, Daniela & Searcy, Erin M. & Ekşioğlu, Sandra D., 2013. "Cost analysis for high-volume and long-haul transportation of densified biomass feedstock," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 48-61.
    5. Kocoloski, Matt & Michael Griffin, W. & Scott Matthews, H., 2011. "Impacts of facility size and location decisions on ethanol production cost," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 47-56, January.
    6. Sastre, C.M. & Maletta, E. & González-Arechavala, Y. & Ciria, P. & Santos, A.M. & del Val, A. & Pérez, P. & Carrasco, J., 2014. "Centralised electricity production from winter cereals biomass grown under central-northern Spain conditions: Global warming and energy yield assessments," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 737-748.
    7. Heller, Martin C & Keoleian, Gregory A & Mann, Margaret K & Volk, Timothy A, 2004. "Life cycle energy and environmental benefits of generating electricity from willow biomass," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(7), pages 1023-1042.
    8. Hansson, Julia & Berndes, Gran & Johnsson, Filip & Kjrstad, Jan, 2009. "Co-firing biomass with coal for electricity generation--An assessment of the potential in EU27," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 1444-1455, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Xiaoyue & Huang, Guohe & Liu, Lirong & Li, Kailong, 2022. "Development of a stochastic multistage lifecycle programming model for electric power system planning – A case study for the Province of Saskatchewan, Canada," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    2. Karim Naderi Mahdei & Seyed Mohammad Jafar Esfahani & Philippe Lebailly & Thomas Dogot & Steven Passel & Hossein Azadi, 2023. "Environmental impact assessment and efficiency of cotton: the case of Northeast Iran," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(9), pages 10301-10321, September.
    3. Yan Xu & Kun Yang & Jiahui Zhou & Guohao Zhao, 2020. "Coal-Biomass Co-Firing Power Generation Technology: Current Status, Challenges and Policy Implications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-18, May.
    4. Loução, Pedro O. & Ribau, João P. & Ferreira, Ana F., 2019. "Life cycle and decision analysis of electricity production from biomass – Portugal case study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 452-480.
    5. Mahmud, M.A. Parvez & Huda, Nazmul & Farjana, Shahjadi Hisan & Lang, Candace, 2020. "Life-cycle impact assessment of renewable electricity generation systems in the United States," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 1028-1045.
    6. Stephen J. Ramos & Umit Yilmaz, 2023. "Energy transition and city–port symbiosis in biomass import–export regions," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 25(2), pages 406-428, June.
    7. Jan Den Boer & Arkadiusz Dyjakon & Emilia Den Boer & Daniel García-Galindo & Techane Bosona & Girma Gebresenbet, 2020. "Life-Cycle Assessment of the Use of Peach Pruning Residues for Electricity Generation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-16, May.
    8. Giada La Scalia & Luca Adelfio & Concetta Manuela La Fata & Rosa Micale, 2022. "Economic and Environmental Assessment of Biomass Power Plants in Southern Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-14, August.
    9. Roy, Dibyendu & Samanta, Samiran & Ghosh, Sudip, 2020. "Performance assessment of a biomass fuelled advanced hybrid power generation system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 639-661.
    10. Magdalena Muradin & Joanna Kulczycka, 2020. "The Identification of Hotspots in the Bioenergy Production Chain," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-17, November.
    11. Selim Karkour & Yuki Ichisugi & Amila Abeynayaka & Norihiro Itsubo, 2020. "External-Cost Estimation of Electricity Generation in G20 Countries: Case Study Using a Global Life-Cycle Impact-Assessment Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-35, March.
    12. Han Peng & Songyin Li & Linjian Shangguan & Yisa Fan & Hai Zhang, 2023. "Analysis of Wind Turbine Equipment Failure and Intelligent Operation and Maintenance Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-35, May.
    13. Alessio Ilari & Daniele Duca & Kofi Armah Boakye-Yiadom & Thomas Gasperini & Giuseppe Toscano, 2022. "Carbon Footprint and Feedstock Quality of a Real Biomass Power Plant Fed with Forestry and Agricultural Residues," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-20, January.
    14. Gao, Chengkang & Zhu, Sulong & An, Nan & Na, Hongming & You, Huan & Gao, Chengbo, 2021. "Comprehensive comparison of multiple renewable power generation methods: A combination analysis of life cycle assessment and ecological footprint," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    15. Mahmoud G. Hemeida & Ashraf M. Hemeida & Tomonobu Senjyu & Dina Osheba, 2022. "Renewable Energy Resources Technologies and Life Cycle Assessment: Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-36, December.
    16. Marta Mańkowska & Michał Pluciński & Izabela Kotowska, 2021. "Biomass Sea-Based Supply Chains and the Secondary Ports in the Era of Decarbonization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-24, March.
    17. Cooper, Nathanial & Panteli, Anna & Shah, Nilay, 2019. "Linear estimators of biomass yield maps for improved biomass supply chain optimisation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    18. Stanislav Yankovsky & Anton Tolokol’nikov & Albina Misyukova & Geniy Kuznetsov, 2021. "On the Effect of the Distances between Coal and Wood Particles during Their Joint Pyrolysis on Sulfur Oxides Formation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-14, December.
    19. Martín-Gamboa, Mario & Marques, Pedro & Freire, Fausto & Arroja, Luís & Dias, Ana Cláudia, 2020. "Life cycle assessment of biomass pellets: A review of methodological choices and results," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    20. Hosseini, Seyed Mohsen & Kanagaraj, N. & Sadeghi, Shahrbanoo & Yousefi, Hossein, 2022. "Midpoint and endpoint impacts of electricity generation by renewable and nonrenewable technologies: A case study of Alberta, Canada," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 22-39.
    21. Bellocchi, S. & De Iulio, R. & Guidi, G. & Manno, M. & Nastasi, B. & Noussan, M. & Prina, M.G. & Roberto, R., 2020. "Analysis of smart energy system approach in local alpine regions - A case study in Northern Italy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    22. Resmond L. Reaño & Victor Antonio N. de Padua & Anthony B. Halog, 2021. "Energy Efficiency and Life Cycle Assessment with System Dynamics of Electricity Production from Rice Straw Using a Combined Gasification and Internal Combustion Engine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-19, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Moiseyev, Alexander & Solberg, Birger & Kallio, A. Maarit I., 2014. "The impact of subsidies and carbon pricing on the wood biomass use for energy in the EU," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 161-167.
    2. Roni, Md.S. & Eksioglu, Sandra D. & Searcy, Erin & Jha, Krishna, 2014. "A supply chain network design model for biomass co-firing in coal-fired power plants," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 115-134.
    3. Xinhua Shen & Raghava R. Kommalapati & Ziaul Huque, 2015. "The Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Power Generation from Lignocellulosic Biomass," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(10), pages 1-14, September.
    4. Restrepo, Álvaro & Bazzo, Edson, 2016. "Co-firing: An exergoenvironmental analysis applied to power plants modified for burning coal and rice straw," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 107-119.
    5. Elodie Le Cadre & Frederic Lantz & Pierre-André Jouvet, 2011. "The bioenergies development: the role of biofuels and the C02 price," Working Papers hal-02505389, HAL.
    6. Nian, Victor, 2016. "The carbon neutrality of electricity generation from woody biomass and coal, a critical comparative evaluation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1069-1080.
    7. Sastre, Carlos M. & Carrasco, Juan & Barro, Ruth & González-Arechavala, Yolanda & Maletta, Emiliano & Santos, Ana M. & Ciria, Pilar, 2016. "Improving bioenergy sustainability evaluations by using soil nitrogen balance coupled with life cycle assessment: A case study for electricity generated from rye biomass," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 847-863.
    8. Tabata, Tomohiro & Okuda, Takaaki, 2012. "Life cycle assessment of woody biomass energy utilization: Case study in Gifu Prefecture, Japan," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 944-951.
    9. Shafie, S.M. & Mahlia, T.M.I. & Masjuki, H.H., 2013. "Life cycle assessment of rice straw co-firing with coal power generation in Malaysia," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 284-294.
    10. Hoefnagels, Ric & Banse, Martin & Dornburg, Veronika & Faaij, André, 2013. "Macro-economic impact of large-scale deployment of biomass resources for energy and materials on a national level—A combined approach for the Netherlands," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 727-744.
    11. Haji Esmaeili, Seyed Ali & Szmerekovsky, Joseph & Sobhani, Ahmad & Dybing, Alan & Peterson, Tim O., 2020. "Sustainable biomass supply chain network design with biomass switching incentives for first-generation bioethanol producers," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    12. Pöschl, Martina & Ward, Shane & Owende, Philip, 2010. "Evaluation of energy efficiency of various biogas production and utilization pathways," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(11), pages 3305-3321, November.
    13. Thakkar, Jignesh & Kumar, Amit & Ghatora, Sonia & Canter, Christina, 2016. "Energy balance and greenhouse gas emissions from the production and sequestration of charcoal from agricultural residues," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 558-567.
    14. Toka, Agorasti & Iakovou, Eleftherios & Vlachos, Dimitrios & Tsolakis, Naoum & Grigoriadou, Anastasia-Loukia, 2014. "Managing the diffusion of biomass in the residential energy sector: An illustrative real-world case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 56-69.
    15. Akbulut, Abdullah, 2012. "Techno-economic analysis of electricity and heat generation from farm-scale biogas plant: Çiçekdağı case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 44(1), pages 381-390.
    16. Mei, Bin & Wetzstein, Michael, 2017. "Burning wood pellets for US electricity generation? A regime switching analysis," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 434-441.
    17. Leonel J. R. Nunes & João C. O. Matias, 2020. "Biomass Torrefaction as a Key Driver for the Sustainable Development and Decarbonization of Energy Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-9, January.
    18. Escudero, Marcos & Jiménez, Ángel & González, Celina & López, Ignacio, 2013. "Quantitative analysis of potential power production and environmental benefits of Biomass Integrated Gasification Combined Cycles in the European Union," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 63-75.
    19. Jean Nepomuscene Ntihuga & Thomas Senn & Peter Gschwind & Reinhard Kohlus, 2013. "Estimating Energy- and Eco-Balances for Continuous Bio-Ethanol Production Using a Blenke Cascade System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-19, April.
    20. Xiaoxian Zhang & Fang Ma, 2015. "Emergy Evaluation of Different Straw Reuse Technologies in Northeast China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-18, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:128:y:2019:i:c:p:267-275. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.