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Comparative life cycle carbon footprint assessment of three DME-power polygeneration systems based on biomass gasification

Author

Listed:
  • Yang, Lili
  • Shan, Rongli
  • Xu, Wenwu
  • Cui, Peizhe
  • Wang, Shuai
  • Wang, Yinglong
  • Zhu, Zhaoyou

Abstract

The transition towards sustainable energy systems necessitates the development of innovative pathways for the efficient and low-carbon utilization of biomass resources. This study presents the first comprehensive comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of three biomass gasification-based polygeneration systems co-producing dimethyl ether (DME) and power. The carbon footprints (CF) and environmental profiles of the Gasi-SCLC, Gasi-WGS, and Gasi-ALE configurations were quantified and compared. The results show that the Gasi-SCLC system demonstrates the most favorable performance with a CF of 0.1427 kg CO2-eq/MJ, which is significantly lower than that of the Gasi-WGS system (0.2405 kg CO2-eq/MJ) and the Gasi-ALE system (0.3108 kg CO2-eq/MJ). A key methodological innovation of this study lies in its regionalized integrated analysis. The Gasi-ALE pathway assesses the impact of CF under different regional grid configurations, providing actionable insights for regional policy formulation. Sensitivity analysis identifies electricity consumption and DME yield as the primary factors driving the variability of CF. Furthermore, an assessment across five impact categories, conducted using GaBi software, confirms that the Gasi-ALE system imposes the highest overall environmental burden. This study provides critical data and a scientific foundation for promoting the sustainable use of biomass energy and supporting the development of a low-carbon economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Lili & Shan, Rongli & Xu, Wenwu & Cui, Peizhe & Wang, Shuai & Wang, Yinglong & Zhu, Zhaoyou, 2026. "Comparative life cycle carbon footprint assessment of three DME-power polygeneration systems based on biomass gasification," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:259:y:2026:i:c:s0960148125027697
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.125105
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    References listed on IDEAS

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