Life cycle energy and environmental benefits of generating electricity from willow biomass

Biomass is a key renewable energy source expected to play an important role in US electricity production under stricter emission regulations and renewable portfolio standards. Willow energy crops are being developed in the northeast US as a fuel source for increasing biomass energy and bioproduct demands. A life cycle inventory is presented that characterizes the full cradle-to-grave energy and environmental performance of willow biomass-to-electricity. A willow biomass production model is developed using demonstration-scale field experience from New York. Scenarios are presented that mimic anticipated cofiring operations, including supplemental use of wood residues, at an existing coal-fired generating facility. At a cofiring rate of 10% biomass, the system net energy ratio (electricity delivered divided by total fossil fuel consumed) increases by 8.9% and net global warming potential decreases by 7–10%. Net SO2 emissions are reduced by 9.5% and a significant reduction in NOx emissions is expected. In addition, we estimate system performance of using willow biomass in dedicated biomass gasification and direct-fired generating facilities and demonstrate that the pollution avoided (relative to the current electricity grid) is comparable to other renewables such as PV and wind.

[1]  M. Mann,et al.  A life cycle assessment of biomass cofiring in a coal-fired power plant , 2001 .

[2]  M. K. Mann,et al.  Life Cycle Assessment of Coal-fired Power Production , 1999 .

[3]  P. Czepiel,et al.  Use of stable isotopes to determine methane oxidation in landfill cover soils , 1998 .

[4]  M. Greger,et al.  Can heavy metal tolerant clones of Salix be used as vegetation filters on heavy metal contaminated land , 1994 .

[5]  R. Overend.  The average haul distance and transportation work factors for biomass delivered to a central plant , 1982 .

[6]  J. Houghton.  Climate change 1994 : radiative forcing of climate change and an evaluation of the IPCC IS92 emission scenarios , 1995 .

[7]  AfDB AfDB,et al.  African Development Report 2010 , 2000 .

[8]  Gregory A. Keoleian,et al.  Modeling the life cycle energy and environmental performance of amorphous silicon BIPV roofing in the US , 2003 .

[9]  Gabriel Gallagher,et al.  Biomass for electricity generation , 2001 .

[10]  Katherine E. Seiferlein.  Annual Energy Review 2000 , 2001 .

[11]  M. M. DeLong.  Economic development through biomass system integration: Summary report , 1995 .

[12]  Lawrence P. Abrahamson,et al.  Willow biomass producer's handbook. , 2002 .

[13]  D. Tillman.  Biomass cofiring: the technology, the experience, the combustion consequences , 2000 .

[14]  Hans-Jürgen Dr. Klüppel,et al.  The Revision of ISO Standards 14040-3 - ISO 14040: Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Principles and framework - ISO 14044: Environmental management – Life cycle assessment – Requirements and guidelines , 2005 .

[15]  Traian I. Teodorescu,et al.  Influence of plantation site and wastewater sludge fertilization on the performance and foliar nutrient status of two willow species grown under SRIC in southern Quebec (Canada) , 2001 .

[16]  Liselotte Schleisner,et al.  Life cycle assessment of a wind farm and related externalities , 2000 .

[17]  G. Keoleian,et al.  Life cycle assessment of a willow bioenergy cropping system , 2003 .