Abstract
Reducing dependence on fossil fuels and mitigation of GHG emissions is a main focus in the energy strategy of many Countries. In the case of Demark, for instance, the long-term target of the energy policy is to reach 100% renewable energy system. This can be achieved by drastic reduction of the energy demand, optimization of production/distribution and substitution of fossil fuels with biomasses. However, a large increase in biomass consumption will finally induce conversion of arable and currently cultivated land into fields dedicated to energy crops production determining significant environmental consequences related to land use changes. In this study the global warming potential impact associated with six alternative bioenergy systems based on willow and Miscanthus was assessed by means of life-cycle assessment. The results showed that bioenergy production may generate higher global warming impacts than the reference fossil fuel system, when the impacts from indirect land use changes are accounted for. In a life-cycle perspective, only highly-efficient co-firing with fossil fuel achieved a (modest) GHG emission reduction.
Highlights
The long-term target of the energy policy in Denmark is to achieve a 100% renewable energy system by 2050 [1]
The results showed that bioenergy production may generate higher global warming impacts than the reference fossil fuel system, when the impacts from indirect land use changes are accounted for
The reason for that lies on the fact that this LCA accounted for iLUC impacts which magnitude dramatically affected the overall results
Summary
The long-term target of the energy policy in Denmark is to achieve a 100% renewable energy system by 2050 [1]. Biomass is not unlimited in supply, and its production involves considerable environmental costs. These are mostly related to land use changes (LUC) [7], i.e. the conversion of land from one use (e.g. forest, grassland or food/feed crop cultivation) to another use (e.g. energy crop cultivation). The iLUC refers to the market forces-driven land use changes occurring as a reaction to food (or feed) displacement on the food (or feed) market [8,9]. The dLUC represents the change in the land use allocation of a given region that caused this displacement to occur in the first place
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