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Environmental Assessment of a Hybrid Solar-Biomass Energy Supplying System: A Case Study

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  • Congguang Zhang

    (College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
    Western Scientific Observation and Experiment Station of Development and Utilization of Rural Renewable Energy of Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
    Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA)

  • Jiaming Sun

    (College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Jieying Ma

    (College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China)

  • Fuqing Xu

    (Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University, Wooster, OH 44691, USA
    School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China)

  • Ling Qiu

    (College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
    Western Scientific Observation and Experiment Station of Development and Utilization of Rural Renewable Energy of Ministry of Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China)

Abstract

Local energy supply by renewable energy, such as solar energy and biomass, using distributed energy systems plays an important role in global energy structure. This study investigated the environmental performance of a hybrid solar-biomass energy supplying system by life-cycle assessment method. The results showed that in terms of environmental and energy impacts, the construction stage and the disassembly and recycling stage of the system contribute little to the whole life-cycle environmental impacts. According to the results of most of the selected impact categories, the solar subsystem contributed the most environmental emissions during construction stage, followed by the two anaerobic reactors; therefore, the excessive pursuit of high solar energy proportion can correspondingly lead to even more serious environmental problems. The integrated energy supplying system significantly reduces non-renewable energy consumption, climate change impacts, acidification as well as eutrophication effects due to the replacement of alternatives such as lignite coal, and from fertilizer production. The present hybrid solar-biomass energy supplying system not only produces clean thermal energy but also reduces the disposal of organic wastes and produces valuable agricultural products.

Suggested Citation

  • Congguang Zhang & Jiaming Sun & Jieying Ma & Fuqing Xu & Ling Qiu, 2019. "Environmental Assessment of a Hybrid Solar-Biomass Energy Supplying System: A Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-14, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:12:p:2222-:d:242464
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    References listed on IDEAS

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