IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v9y2016i11p922-d82418.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Biomass Residues to Renewable Energy: A Life Cycle Perspective Applied at a Local Scale

Author

Listed:
  • Esmeralda Neri

    (Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, ALMA Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy)

  • Daniele Cespi

    (Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, ALMA Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy
    Environmental management and consulting (EMC) Innovation Lab S.r.l., Viale Italia 29, 47921 Rimini, Italy)

  • Leonardo Setti

    (Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, ALMA Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy
    Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca Industriale “Energia e Ambiente”, Via Angherà 22, 47900 Rimini, Italy)

  • Erica Gombi

    (Consorzio Azienda Multiservizi Intercomunale (Con.Ami), 40026 Imola, Italy)

  • Elena Bernardi

    (Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, ALMA Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy
    Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca Industriale “Energia e Ambiente”, Via Angherà 22, 47900 Rimini, Italy)

  • Ivano Vassura

    (Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, ALMA Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy
    Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca Industriale “Energia e Ambiente”, Via Angherà 22, 47900 Rimini, Italy)

  • Fabrizio Passarini

    (Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, ALMA Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy
    Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca Industriale “Energia e Ambiente”, Via Angherà 22, 47900 Rimini, Italy)

Abstract

Italy, like every country member of the European Union (EU), will have to achieve the objectives required by the Energy Roadmap 2050. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the environmental impacts of residue recovery arising from the management of public and private green feedstocks, activity of the cooperative “Green City” in the Bologna district, and usage in a centralized heating system to produce thermal energy for public buildings. Results, obtained using the ReCipe impact assessment method, are compared with scores achieved by a traditional methane boiler. The study shows some advantages of the biomass-based system in terms of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions and consumption of non-renewable fuels, which affect climate change (−41%) and fossil resources depletion (−40%), compared to the use of natural gas (NG). Moreover, scores from network analysis denote the great contribution of feedstock transportation (98% of the cumulative impact). The main reason is attributable to all requirements to cover distances, in particular due to stages involved in the fuel supply chains. Therefore, it is clear that greater environmental benefits could be achieved by reducing supply transport distances or using more sustainable engines.

Suggested Citation

  • Esmeralda Neri & Daniele Cespi & Leonardo Setti & Erica Gombi & Elena Bernardi & Ivano Vassura & Fabrizio Passarini, 2016. "Biomass Residues to Renewable Energy: A Life Cycle Perspective Applied at a Local Scale," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-15, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:9:y:2016:i:11:p:922-:d:82418
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/11/922/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/9/11/922/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Orsi, Francesco & Muratori, Matteo & Rocco, Matteo & Colombo, Emanuela & Rizzoni, Giorgio, 2016. "A multi-dimensional well-to-wheels analysis of passenger vehicles in different regions: Primary energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and economic cost," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 197-209.
    2. Sarah C. Davis & Derek Kauneckis & Natalie A. Kruse & Kimberley E. Miller & Michael Zimmer & Geoffrey D. Dabelko, 2016. "Closing the loop: integrative systems management of waste in food, energy, and water systems," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 6(1), pages 11-24, March.
    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. Andrzej Sitka & Wiesław Jodkowski & Piotr Szulc & Daniel Smykowski & Bogusław Szumiło, 2021. "Study of the Properties and Particulate Matter Content of the Gas from the Innovative Pilot-Scale Gasification Installation with Integrated Ceramic Filter," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-11, November.
    2. Elena Tamburini & Mattias Gaglio & Giuseppe Castaldelli & Elisa Anna Fano, 2020. "Biogas from Agri-Food and Agricultural Waste Can Appreciate Agro-Ecosystem Services: The Case Study of Emilia Romagna Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Xuyang Cui & Junhong Yang & Xinyu Shi & Wanning Lei & Tao Huang & Chao Bai, 2019. "Experimental Investigation on the Energy Consumption, Physical, and Thermal Properties of a Novel Pellet Fuel Made from Wood Residues with Microalgae as a Binder," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-26, September.
    4. M. A. Parvez Mahmud & Nazmul Huda & Shahjadi Hisan Farjana & Candace Lang, 2018. "Environmental Impacts of Solar-Photovoltaic and Solar-Thermal Systems with Life-Cycle Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, September.
    5. Gheorghe Lazaroiu & Lucian Mihaescu & Gabriel Negreanu & Constantin Pana & Ionel Pisa & Alexandru Cernat & Dana-Alexandra Ciupageanu, 2018. "Experimental Investigations of Innovative Biomass Energy Harnessing Solutions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-18, December.
    6. Christina Moulogianni & Thomas Bournaris, 2017. "Biomass Production from Crops Residues: Ranking of Agro-Energy Regions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-12, July.
    7. Flavio Scrucca & Grazia Barberio & Laura Cutaia & Caterina Rinaldi, 2023. "Woodchips from Forest Residues as a Sustainable and Circular Biofuel for Electricity Production: Evidence from an Environmental Life Cycle Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-16, December.
    8. Daniela Nicoleta Sahlian & Adriana Florina Popa & Raluca Florentina Creţu, 2021. "Does the Increase in Renewable Energy Influence GDP Growth? An EU-28 Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-16, August.
    9. Adamantia Zoi Vougioukli & Eleni Didaskalou & Dimitrios Georgakellos, 2017. "Financial Appraisal of Small Hydro-Power Considering the Cradle-to-Grave Environmental Cost: A Case from Greece," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-20, March.
    10. Shahjadi Hisan Farjana & Olubukola Tokede & Mahmud Ashraf, 2023. "Environmental Impact Assessment of Waste Wood-to-Energy Recovery in Australia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-22, May.
    11. Effrosyni Giama & Elli Kyriaki & Athanasios Papaevaggelou & Agis Papadopoulos, 2023. "Energy and Environmental Analysis of Renewable Energy Systems Focused on Biomass Technologies for Residential Applications: The Life Cycle Energy Analysis Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-22, May.
    12. Lajili, M. & Guizani, C. & Escudero Sanz, F.J. & Jeguirim, M., 2018. "Fast pyrolysis and steam gasification of pellets prepared from olive oil mill residues," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 61-68.
    13. Víctor M. Soltero & Ricardo Chacartegui & Carlos Ortiz & Gonzalo Quirosa, 2018. "Techno-Economic Analysis of Rural 4th Generation Biomass District Heating," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-20, November.
    14. Zafar Alam & Yoshinobu Watanabe & Shazia Hanif & Tatsuro Sato & Tokihiko Fujimoto, 2021. "Community-Based Business on Small Hydropower (SHP) in Rural Japan: A Case Study on a Community Owned SHP Model of Ohito Agricultural Cooperative," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-14, June.
    15. Francesco Pomponi & Bernardino D’Amico & Alice M. Moncaster, 2017. "A Method to Facilitate Uncertainty Analysis in LCAs of Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-15, April.
    16. Brinkman, Marnix L.J. & Wicke, Birka & Faaij, André P.C. & van der Hilst, Floor, 2019. "Projecting socio-economic impacts of bioenergy: Current status and limitations of ex-ante quantification methods," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    17. Rukshan Jayathilake & Souman Rudra, 2017. "Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Equivalence Ratio (ER) and Feedstock Particle Size on Birchwood Gasification," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-19, August.
    18. Benedek, József & Sebestyén, Tihamér-Tibor & Bartók, Blanka, 2018. "Evaluation of renewable energy sources in peripheral areas and renewable energy-based rural development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 516-535.
    19. Ridoan Karim & Mohammad Ershadul Karim & Firdaus Muhammad-Sukki & Siti Hawa Abu-Bakar & Nurul Aini Bani & Abu Bakar Munir & Ahmed Imran Kabir & Jorge Alfredo Ardila-Rey & Abdullahi Abubakar Mas’ud, 2018. "Nuclear Energy Development in Bangladesh: A Study of Opportunities and Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-15, June.
    20. Arkadiusz Dyjakon, 2018. "Harvesting and Baling of Pruned Biomass in Apple Orchards for Energy Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-14, June.

    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. Audoly, Richard & Vogt-Schilb, Adrien & Guivarch, Céline & Pfeiffer, Alexander, 2018. "Pathways toward zero-carbon electricity required for climate stabilization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 884-901.
    2. Devi Buehler & Ranka Junge, 2016. "Global Trends and Current Status of Commercial Urban Rooftop Farming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(11), pages 1-16, October.
    3. Zhou, Xi-Yin & Xu, Zhicheng & Zheng, Jialin & Zhou, Ya & Lei, Kun & Fu, Jiafeng & Khu, Soon-Thiam & Yang, Junfeng, 2023. "Internal spillover effect of carbon emission between transportation sectors and electricity generation sectors," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 356-366.
    4. Xianchun Tan & Yuan Zeng & Baihe Gu & Yi Wang & Baoguang Xu, 2018. "Scenario Analysis of Urban Road Transportation Energy Demand and GHG Emissions in China—A Case Study for Chongqing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-32, June.
    5. Cai, Beiming & Jiang, Ling & Liu, Yu & Wang, Feng & Zhang, Wei & Yan, Xu & Ge, Zhenzi, 2023. "Regional trends and socioeconomic drivers of energy-related water use in China from 2007 to 2017," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    6. Isabella Yunfei Zeng & Jingrui Chen & Ziheng Niu & Qingfei Liu & Tian Wu, 2022. "The GHG Emissions Assessment of Online Car-Hailing Development under the Intervention of Evaluation Policies in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-25, February.
    7. Wu, Ziyang & Wang, Can & Wolfram, Paul & Zhang, Yaxin & Sun, Xin & Hertwich, Edgar, 2019. "Assessing electric vehicle policy with region-specific carbon footprints," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    8. Baccanelli, Margaret & Langé, Stefano & Rocco, Matteo V. & Pellegrini, Laura A. & Colombo, Emanuela, 2016. "Low temperature techniques for natural gas purification and LNG production: An energy and exergy analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 546-559.
    9. Khan, Muhammad Imran & Shahrestani, Mehdi & Hayat, Tasawar & Shakoor, Abdul & Vahdati, Maria, 2019. "Life cycle (well-to-wheel) energy and environmental assessment of natural gas as transportation fuel in Pakistan," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 1738-1752.
    10. Li, Junqiang & Ren, Hao & Wang, Mingyue, 2021. "How to escape the dilemma of charging infrastructure construction? A multi-sectorial stochastic evolutionary game model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    11. Ruoso, Ana Cristina & Ribeiro, José Luis Duarte, 2022. "An assessment of barriers and solutions for the deployment of electric vehicles in the Brazilian market," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 218-229.
    12. Di Lullo, Giovanni & Zhang, Hao & Kumar, Amit, 2016. "Evaluation of uncertainty in the well-to-tank and combustion greenhouse gas emissions of various transportation fuels," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 413-426.
    13. Maselli, Michele & Pelegrina, Juliano & Marotti de Mello, Adriana & Ribeiro Souza, João Valsecchi & Marx, Roberto & Priarone, Paolo C., 2025. "Electric or internal combustion vehicles? A Life Cycle Assessment in São Paulo," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    14. Morganti, Kai & Al-Abdullah, Marwan & Alzubail, Abdullah & Kalghatgi, Gautam & Viollet, Yoann & Head, Robert & Khan, Ahmad & Abdul-Manan, Amir, 2017. "Synergistic engine-fuel technologies for light-duty vehicles: Fuel economy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 1538-1561.
    15. Xiaoxu Guo & Ruibing Kou & Xiang He, 2024. "Towards Carbon Neutrality: Machine Learning Analysis of Vehicle Emissions in Canada," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-18, November.
    16. Zeng, Yuan & Tan, Xianchun & Gu, Baihe & Wang, Yi & Xu, Baoguang, 2016. "Greenhouse gas emissions of motor vehicles in Chinese cities and the implication for China’s mitigation targets," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 1016-1025.
    17. Krzysztof Biernat & Zdzisław Chłopek & Paulina Luiza Grzelak, 2023. "Influence of the Use of EtG Synthetic Fuel in Spark-Ignition Engines on Vehicle Fuel Consumption and Pollutant Emissions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-12, August.
    18. Hill, Graeme & Heidrich, Oliver & Creutzig, Felix & Blythe, Phil, 2019. "The role of electric vehicles in near-term mitigation pathways and achieving the UK’s carbon budget," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    19. Mansour, Charbel J. & Haddad, Marc G., 2017. "Well-to-wheel assessment for informing transition strategies to low-carbon fuel-vehicles in developing countries dependent on fuel imports: A case-study of road transport in Lebanon," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 167-181.
    20. Choi, Wonjae & Song, Han Ho, 2018. "Well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions of battery electric vehicles in countries dependent on the import of fuels through maritime transportation: A South Korean case study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 135-147.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:gam:jeners:v:9:y:2016:i:11:p:922-:d:82418. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.