IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v10y2018i11p4068-d180971.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Energy and Environmental Aspects of Using Eucalyptus from Brazil for Energy and Transportation Services in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Otavio Cavalett

    (Industrial Ecology Programme, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO7491 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Sigurd Norem Slettmo

    (Industrial Ecology Programme, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO7491 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Francesco Cherubini

    (Industrial Ecology Programme, Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), NO7491 Trondheim, Norway)

Abstract

The international market of woody biomass for bioenergy is expected to have a major role in future global scenarios aligning with a 2 or 1.5 °C target. However, the quantification of the environmental impacts of energy and transportation services from novel technologies and biomass production systems are yet to be extensively studied on a case-specific basis. We use a life cycle assessment approach to quantify environmental impacts of four bioenergy systems based on eucalyptus plantations established in abandoned pastureland in Brazil. The alternative bioenergy systems deliver energy and transportation services in Europe (cradle-to-gate analysis), including modern technologies for production of heat, electricity (with and without carbon capture and storage), and advanced liquid biofuels. We find that all bioenergy systems can achieve sizeable climate benefits, but in some cases at increased pressure in other impact categories. The most impacting activities are biomass transport stages, followed by eucalyptus stand establishment, and pellet production. An estimate of the potential large-scale bioenergy deployment of eucalyptus established in marginal areas in Brazil shows that up to 7 EJ of heat, 2.5 EJ of electricity, or 5 EJ of transportation biofuels per year can be delivered. This corresponds to a climate mitigation potential between 0.9% and 2.4% (0.29 and 0.83 GtCO 2 per year) of the global anthropogenic emissions in 2015, and between 5.7% and 16% of European emissions, depending on the specific bioenergy system considered. A sensitivity analysis indicated that the best environmental performance is achieved with on-site biomass storage, transportation of wood chips with trucks, pellets as energy carrier, and larger ship sizes. Our quantitative environmental analysis contributes to increased understanding of the potential benefits and tradeoffs of large-scale supply of biomass resources, and additional research can further improve resolution and integrate environmental impact indicators within a broader sustainability perspective, as indicated by the recently established sustainable development goals.

Suggested Citation

  • Otavio Cavalett & Sigurd Norem Slettmo & Francesco Cherubini, 2018. "Energy and Environmental Aspects of Using Eucalyptus from Brazil for Energy and Transportation Services in Europe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-18, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:11:p:4068-:d:180971
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/11/4068/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/11/4068/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    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. Dias, Goretty M. & Ayer, Nathan W. & Kariyapperuma, Kumudinie & Thevathasan, Naresh & Gordon, Andrew & Sidders, Derek & Johannesson, Gudmundur H., 2017. "Life cycle assessment of thermal energy production from short-rotation willow biomass in Southern Ontario, Canada," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 343-352.
    3. Rugani, Benedetto & Golkowska, Katarzyna & Vázquez-Rowe, Ian & Koster, Daniel & Benetto, Enrico & Verdonckt, Pieter, 2015. "Simulation of environmental impact scores within the life cycle of mixed wood chips from alternative short rotation coppice systems in Flanders (Belgium)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 449-464.
    4. Nunes, L.J.R. & Matias, J.C.O. & Catalão, J.P.S., 2014. "A review on torrefied biomass pellets as a sustainable alternative to coal in power generation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 153-160.
    5. Adams, P.W.R. & Shirley, J.E.J. & McManus, M.C., 2015. "Comparative cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of wood pellet production with torrefaction," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 367-380.
    6. Hoefnagels, Ric & Resch, Gustav & Junginger, Martin & Faaij, André, 2014. "International and domestic uses of solid biofuels under different renewable energy support scenarios in the European Union," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 139-157.
    7. Christian Wolf & Daniel Klein & Gabriele Weber-Blaschke & Klaus Richter, 2016. "Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Life Cycle Assessments for Wood Energy Services," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 20(4), pages 743-763, August.
    8. Geoffrey Guest & Ryan M. Bright & Francesco Cherubini & Ottar Michelsen & Anders Hammer Strømman, 2011. "Life Cycle Assessment of Biomass‐based Combined Heat and Power Plants," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 15(6), pages 908-921, December.
    9. Junginger, Martin & van Dam, Jinke & Zarrilli, Simonetta & Ali Mohamed, Fatin & Marchal, Didier & Faaij, Andre, 2011. "Opportunities and barriers for international bioenergy trade," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(4), pages 2028-2042, April.
    10. de Oliveira Silva, Rafael & Barioni, Luis Gustavo & Hall, J. A. Julian & Moretti, Antonio Carlos & Fonseca Veloso, Rui & Alexander, Peter & Crespolini, Mariane & Moran, Dominic, 2017. "Sustainable intensification of Brazilian livestock production through optimized pasture restoration," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 201-211.
    11. Avery S. Cohn & Juliana Gil & Thomas Berger & Heitor Pellegrina & Chantal Toledo, "undated". "Patterns and Processes of Pasture to Crop Conversion in Brazil: Evidence from Mato Grosso State," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 8ce99775615f42b98ff43f530, Mathematica Policy Research.
    12. Charles Breton & Pierre Blanchet & Ben Amor & Robert Beauregard & Wen-Shao Chang, 2018. "Assessing the Climate Change Impacts of Biogenic Carbon in Buildings: A Critical Review of Two Main Dynamic Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-30, June.
    13. Marloes Caduff & Mark A.J. Huijbregts & Annette Koehler & Hans-Jörg Althaus & Stefanie Hellweg, 2014. "Scaling Relationships in Life Cycle Assessment," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 18(3), pages 393-406, May.
    14. Laschi, Andrea & Marchi, Enrico & González-García, Sara, 2016. "Environmental performance of wood pellets' production through life cycle analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 469-480.
    15. Sunde, K. & Brekke, A. & Solberg, B., 2011. "Environmental impacts and costs of woody Biomass-to-Liquid (BTL) production and use -- A review," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(8), pages 591-602, October.
    16. Cherubini, Francesco & Fuglestvedt, Jan & Gasser, Thomas & Reisinger, Andy & Cavalett, Otávio & Huijbregts, Mark A.J. & Johansson, Daniel J.A. & Jørgensen, Susanne V. & Raugei, Marco & Schivley, Greg , 2016. "Bridging the gap between impact assessment methods and climate science," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 129-140.
    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. Mateus Torres Nazari & Janaína Mazutti & Luana Girardi Basso & Luciane Maria Colla & Luciana Brandli, 2021. "Biofuels and their connections with the sustainable development goals: a bibliometric and systematic review," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(8), pages 11139-11156, August.
    2. 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).
    3. Cavalcanti, Eduardo J.C. & Carvalho, Monica & B. Azevedo, Jonathan L., 2019. "Exergoenvironmental results of a eucalyptus biomass-fired power plant," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    4. Rodrigo Saravia de los Reyes & Gonzalo Fernández-Sánchez & María Dolores Esteban & Raúl Rubén Rodríguez, 2020. "Carbon Footprint of a Port Infrastructure from a Life Cycle Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-15, October.
    5. Da Huang & Mei Han, 2021. "Research on Evaluation Method of Freight Transportation Environmental Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-13, March.
    6. Róger Moya & Carolina Tenorio & Gloria Oporto, 2019. "Short Rotation Wood Crops in Latin American: A Review on Status and Potential Uses as Biofuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-20, February.

    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. 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.
    2. Piyarath Saosee & Boonrod Sajjakulnukit & Shabbir H. Gheewala, 2020. "Life Cycle Assessment of Wood Pellet Production in Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-23, August.
    3. 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).
    4. Karner, K. & Dißauer, C. & Enigl, M. & Strasser, C. & Schmid, E., 2017. "Environmental trade-offs between residential oil-fired and wood pellet heating systems: Forecast scenarios for Austria until 2030," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 868-879.
    5. repec:aud:audfin:v:21:y:2019:i:50:p:75 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Schipfer, Fabian & Kranzl, Lukas, 2019. "Techno-economic evaluation of biomass-to-end-use chains based on densified bioenergy carriers (dBECs)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 715-724.
    7. Cleary, Julian & Caspersen, John P., 2015. "Comparing the life cycle impacts of using harvest residue as feedstock for small- and large-scale bioenergy systems (part I)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 917-926.
    8. Wang, Zhiwei & Lei, Tingzhou & Yang, Miao & Li, Zaifeng & Qi, Tian & Xin, Xiaofei & He, Xiaofeng & Ajayebi, Atta & Yan, Xiaoyu, 2017. "Life cycle environmental impacts of cornstalk briquette fuel in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 83-94.
    9. Proskurina, Svetlana & Rimppi, Heli & Heinimö, Jussi & Hansson, Julia & Orlov, Anton & Raghu, KC & Vakkilainen, Esa, 2016. "Logistical, economic, environmental and regulatory conditions for future wood pellet transportation by sea to Europe: The case of Northwest Russian seaports," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 38-50.
    10. Xian, Hui & Colson, Gregory & Mei, Bin & Wetzstein, Michael E., 2015. "Co-firing coal with wood pellets for U.S. electricity generation: A real options analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 106-116.
    11. Barrette, Julie & Thiffault, Evelyne & Achim, Alexis & Junginger, Martin & Pothier, David & De Grandpré, Louis, 2017. "A financial analysis of the potential of dead trees from the boreal forest of eastern Canada to serve as feedstock for wood pellet export," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 410-425.
    12. Sahoo, Kamalakanta & Bilek, Edward & Bergman, Richard & Mani, Sudhagar, 2019. "Techno-economic analysis of producing solid biofuels and biochar from forest residues using portable systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 578-590.
    13. Stolarski, Mariusz J. & Stachowicz, Paweł & Dudziec, Paweł, 2022. "Wood pellet quality depending on dendromass species," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 498-508.
    14. Lenka Štofová & Petra Szaryszová & Bohuslava Mihalčová, 2021. "Testing the Bioeconomic Options of Transitioning to Solid Recovered Fuel: A Case Study of a Thermal Power Plant in Slovakia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-20, March.
    15. Stefan Dragos Cirstea & Andreea Cirstea & Irimie Emil Popa & Gabriel Radu, 2019. "The Role of Bioenergy in Transition to a Sustainable Bioeconomy – Study on EU Countries," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 21(50), pages 1-75, February.
    16. Gasparatos, Alexandros & Doll, Christopher N.H. & Esteban, Miguel & Ahmed, Abubakari & Olang, Tabitha A., 2017. "Renewable energy and biodiversity: Implications for transitioning to a Green Economy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 161-184.
    17. Niko Heeren & Stefanie Hellweg, 2019. "Tracking Construction Material over Space and Time: Prospective and Geo‐referenced Modeling of Building Stocks and Construction Material Flows," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(1), pages 253-267, February.
    18. Shanshan Wang & Jiaxin Chen & Michael T. Ter‐Mikaelian & Annie Levasseur & Hongqiang Yang, 2022. "From carbon neutral to climate neutral: Dynamic life cycle assessment for wood‐based panels produced in China," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(4), pages 1437-1449, August.
    19. Parkhurst, Kristen M. & Saffron, Christopher M. & Miller, Raymond O., 2016. "An energy analysis comparing biomass torrefaction in depots to wind with natural gas combustion for electricity generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 171-181.
    20. Rentizelas, Athanasios A. & Li, Jun, 2016. "Techno-economic and carbon emissions analysis of biomass torrefaction downstream in international bioenergy supply chains for co-firing," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 129-142.
    21. van Tol, M.C.M. & Moncada, J.A. & Lukszo, Z. & Weijnen, M., 2021. "Modelling the interaction between policies and international trade flows for liquid biofuels: an agent-based modelling approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).

    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:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:11:p:4068-:d:180971. 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.