Abstract
The depletion of fossil fuels and climate change concerns are drivers for the development and expansion of bioenergy. Promoting biomass is vital to move civilization toward a low-carbon economy. To meet European Union targets, it is required to increase the use of agricultural residues (including straw) for power generation. Using agricultural residues without accounting for their energy consumed and carbon dioxide emissions distorts the energy and environmental balance, and their analysis is the purpose of this study. In this paper, a life cycle analysis method is applied. The allocation of carbon dioxide emissions and energy inputs in the crop production by allocating between a product (grain) and a byproduct (straw) is modeled. Selected crop yield and the residue-to-crop ratio impact on the above indicators are investigated. We reveal that straw formation can consume between 30% and 70% of the total energy inputs and, therefore, emits relative carbon dioxide emissions. For cereal crops, this energy can be up to 40% of the lower heating value of straw. Energy and environmental indicators of a straw return-to-field technology and straw power generation systems are examined.
Highlights
Since the Industrial Revolution, the world economy has developed on fossil fuel consumption [1]
Our study revealed that the use of straw for power generation saves more carbon dioxide emissions compared with the straw return-tofield technology (Figure 10)
Agricultural residues including straw play a significant role in renewable energy supply systems
Summary
Since the Industrial Revolution, the world economy has developed on fossil fuel consumption [1]. Our modern civilization relies heavily on fossil fuels (their annual consumption is around 82% of the primary energy consumption) [2]. Their combustion emits greenhouse gasses are causing an increase in the average temperature in the atmosphere. Extending a prosperous civilization requires energy consumption [3]. Climate changes are worse than expected earlier [4]. In 2017, human-induced warming exceeded 1 ◦ C above the pre-industrial level. The Paris Agreement of 2015 was aimed to achieve a balance between anthropogenic emissions and the removals of these gasses
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