Abstract
Biomass-fueled combined heat and power systems (CHPs) can potentially offer environmental benefits compared to conventional separate production technologies. This study presents the first environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) of a novel high-efficiency bio-based power (HBP) technology, which combines biomass gasification with a 199 kW solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) to produce heat and electricity. The aim is to identify the main sources of environmental impacts and to assess the potential environmental performance compared to benchmark technologies. The use of various biomass fuels and alternative allocation methods were scrutinized. The LCA results reveal that most of the environmental impacts of the energy supplied with the HBP technology are caused by the production of the biomass fuel. This contribution is higher for pelletized than for chipped biomass. Overall, HBP technology shows better environmental performance than heat from natural gas and electricity from the German/European grid. When comparing the HBP technology with the biomass-fueled ORC technology, the former offers significant benefits in terms of particulate matter (about 22 times lower), photochemical ozone formation (11 times lower), acidification (8 times lower) and terrestrial eutrophication (about 26 times lower). The environmental performance was not affected by the allocation parameter (exergy or economic) used. However, the tested substitution approaches showed to be inadequate to model multiple environmental impacts of CHP plants under the investigated context and goal.
Highlights
Compared to separate production of heat and electricity from fossil fuels, combined heat and power systems (CHPs) can potentially allow for significant reductions of climate change impact [1,2].In Europe, coupling heat and electricity generation from renewable sources is one of the most cost-effective decarbonization strategies [3,4,5]
An attributional life cycle assessment (LCA) (ALCA) approach is followed since the goal of this study is to identify the activities within high-efficiency bio-based power (HBP) causing the highest contribution to the environmental impacts, and not the consequences of changes in these activities [21,24]
H2020 HiEff-BioPower (HBP) project and allows for the use of various biomass types as feedstock. This LCA assessed the environmental impacts when operating the technology with three different fuels: wood chips, wood pellets, and Miscanthus pellets
Summary
Compared to separate production of heat and electricity from fossil fuels, combined heat and power systems (CHPs) can potentially allow for significant reductions of climate change impact [1,2].In Europe, coupling heat and electricity generation from renewable sources is one of the most cost-effective decarbonization strategies [3,4,5]. Compared to separate production of heat and electricity from fossil fuels, combined heat and power systems (CHPs) can potentially allow for significant reductions of climate change impact [1,2]. The environmental performance of biomass-fueled CHPs depends on the type of technology and on the type of biomass, its supply chain, and the environmental impact categories in focus [7,8]. Mature CHP technologies using solid biomass as fuels have often shown restricted fuel Maturelimited. CHP technologies using solid as fuels have often shown restricted fuel flexibility, flexibility, electric efficiencies, andbiomass high particulate matter emissions [9]. To overcome these limited electric efficiencies, and high particulate matter emissions [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
