Life Cycle Assessment of the use of solid biomass for electricity (H
Transcript of Life Cycle Assessment of the use of solid biomass for electricity (H
123 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
JRC Enlargement & Integration Programme
Life Cycle Assessment of the use of solid biomass for electricity
Horst Fehrenbach
Workshop by JRC and the National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”
Moscow, 22 - 23 October 2013
223 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
1. IFEU profile
2. Important aspects of LCA on solid biomass
3. The LCA methodology
4. Some LCA results
5. Helpful tools to support LC greenhouse gas calculations
6. Summary
Overview
323 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
1. IFEU profile
2. Important aspects of LCA on solid biomass
3. The LCA methodology
4. Some LCA results
5. Helpful tools to support LC greenhouse gas calculations
6. Summary
Overview
423 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
Who we are – what we do
IFEU Profile1
IFEU since 1978
• Independent scientific research institute
• Organised as a private non profit company with currently about 60 employees
• Research / consulting on environmental aspects of
- Energy (including Renewable Energy)- Transport- Waste Management- Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)- Environmental Impact Assessment- Renewable Resources- Environmental Education
523 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
Who we are – what we do
IFEU Profile1
IFEU focuses regarding the topic of biomass
• Research / consulting on environmental aspects of- transport biofuels
- biomass-based electricity and heat- biorefinery systems- biobased materials- agricultural goods and food
• Potentials and future scenarios
• Sustainability assessment (development of criteria + methods)
• Standardized GHG models
623 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
Overview
IFEU - Recent and on-going projects1
Several Studies for Vattenfall in the field of:
Sustainable procurement of woody biomass forelectricity production in Berlin.
Wood Cascades - Regional strategies for an extension of the use of wood for energy - on behalf of German Fed. Min. of Environment
Meilensteine 2030 (Milestones 2030) - Elements and milestones of a sustainable bioenergy strategy- on behalf of German Fed. Min. of Environment
BioGrace II - funded by the European IEE
723 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
1. IFEU profile
2. Important aspects of LCA on solid biomass
3. The LCA methodology
4. Some LCA results
5. Helpful tools to support LC greenhouse gas calculations
6. Summary
Overview
2
823 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
Aspects about the energy use of solid biomass
Important aspects of LCA on solid biomass2
Wood is the “mother of all fuels”
Wood is still the most prevalent type of bioenergy
There are many types of solid biomass and how to gain it
The Economist
What type of energy production will be replaced by solid biomass?
traditional
fuel wood
78%
Electricity from
biomass - 8%
Heat from biomass - 8%
transport biofuels - 6%
923 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
There are many types of solid biomass:���� different issues
Important aspects of LCA on solid biomass2
Wood from forestry: ���� carbon cycle balanced?is there a carbon debt?Sustainable forest management?
Wood from Short rotation forestry/coppices:���� is there a land use change?
Residues and waste: ���� is there an alternative use in place?
The Economist
1023 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
What type of energy production will be replaced by solid biomass?
Important aspects of LCA on solid biomass2
• Co-firing? ���� direct substitution of standard fuel
• Mono-combustion in dedicated biomass-fired • power plants• Heating plants• CHP plants
���� What is substituted? Average mix/ marginal mix
1123 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
1. IFEU profile
2. Important aspects of LCA on solid biomass
3. The LCA methodology
4. Some LCA results
5. Helpful tools to support LC greenhouse gas calculations
6. Summary
Overview
2
1223 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
The LCA approach
the LCA methodology3
Inventory analysis
Impact assessment
Interpretation
ISO 14040 & 14044 for Life Cycle Assessment
Goal and scope definition
1323 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
Functional unit
the LCA methodology3
“Quantified performance of a product system for use as a reference unit” (ISO 14040).
According to solid biomass the functional unit maybe:
• 1 MJ of fuel (lower heating value)• 1 MJ (kWh) of electricity• 1 ha of area required for biomass production• …
Must be in line with the goal of the LCA
1423 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
LCA –System boundary
the LCA methodology3
bioenergyFossil fuel reference system lime
Fuel Pesticides
forestry
Co-products
or system expansion � equivalent
products (added
to reference
system)
Raw material
production
Utilisation
Transport
Processing
Resource extraction
either
allocation
1523 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
Impact assessment categories
the LCA methodology3
Impact category indicator Substances (LCI)
Energy demand Sum of depletable primary energy carriers
Crude oil, natural gas, coal, Uranium, …
Greenhouse effect CO2 equivalents Carbon dioxide, dinitrogen monoxide, methane,
different CFCs, methyl bromide, …
Acidification SO2 equivalents Sulphur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, nitrogen oxides,
ammonia, …
Eutrophication PO4 equivalents Nitrogen oxides, ammonia, phosphate, nitrate
Human toxicity Fine particulate
matter
Dust (<PM10), precursors: Sulphur dioxide, hydrogen
chloride, nitrogen oxides, ammonia, hydrocarbons
Photosmog Ethen equivalents Hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide,
chlorinated hydrocarbons, …
Ozone depletion ´CFC11 equivalents CFC, halone, methyl bromide, …
1623 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
Normalization and ranking
the LCA methodology3
• NormalizationSpecific contribution of environmental impacts:
Expressing the LCA results in Person Average
Values (PAV) corresponding to current average
per-capita emission and consumption in Europe.
• RankingEnvironmental relevance:
What is the meaning of individual criteria in
relation to the scientific state of the art, public
awareness, and the political situation?
1723 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
1. IFEU profile
2. Important aspects of LCA on solid biomass
3. The LCA methodology
4. Some LCA results
5. Helpful tools to support LC greenhouse gas calculations
6. Summary
Overview
4
1823 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
Source: IFEU 2012 (Gärtner et al.)
Some options of using fuel wood
LCA results4
Credits Expenditures �
Expenditure / credit
electricity
Expenditure combustion
Credit heat
Expenditure feedstock
procurementCHP plant
power plant
boiler
Pellet heating
CHP plant
power plant
boiler
Pellet heating
CHP plant
power plant
boiler
Pellet heating
CHP plant
power plant
boiler
Pellet heating
Cumulated energy demand
Global warming
Acidification
Fine particulate matter
PAV per tonne of wood
1923 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
Source: IFEU 2012 (Gärtner et al.)
Some options how to use fuel wood
LCA results4
Credits Expenditures �
CHP plant
power plant
boiler
Pellet heating
CHP plant
power plant
boiler
Pellet heating
CHP plant
power plant
boiler
Pellet heating
CHP plant
power plant
boiler
Pellet heating
Cumulated energy demand
Global warming
Acidification
Fine particulate matter
PAV per tonne of wood
Net results: Expenditures minus credits
Environmental relevance
medium
very high
high
high
2023 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
Source: IFEU 2012 (Gärtner et al.)
LCA results4
Some options of fuel wood and other biofuels Credits Expenditures �
Cumulated energy demand
Global warming
Acidification
Eutrophication
-Disadvantage of PAV per hectare and year in favour of ����wood use wood use
SRF poplar
SRF willow
SRF robinia
Wheat � Ethanol
maize � biogas
SRF poplar
SRF willow
SRF robinia
Wheat � Ethanol
maize � biogas
SRF poplar
SRF willow
SRF robinia
Wheat � Ethanol
maize � biogas
SRF poplar
SRF willow
SRF robinia
Wheat � Ethanol
maize � biogas
2123 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
Source: IFEU 2012
Conclusions
LCA results4
Energy use of woody biomass compared to reference system:
significant advantages in relevant impact categories (in particular global warming)
also disadvantages in categories of medium relevance (e.g. acidification)
Overall a good environmental performance
Energy use of woody biomass compared to other biofuels:
Significant advantages in all categories compared to bioethanol or biogas
2223 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
1. IFEU profile
2. Important aspects of LCA on solid biomass
3. The LCA methodology
4. Some LCA results
5. Helpful tools to support LC greenhouse gas calculations
6. Summary
Overview
5
2323 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
Source: IFEU 2012
The way from LCA to Sustainability Assessment
Helpful tools GHG calculation5
The key issue:
Life cycle assessment (LCA):is an expert tool, complicated to implement into
legal process with mandatory requirements.
The Discussion triggering the European “RED Way”
Addressing the Life Cycle by 1 indicator (GHG emission)
Setting strict methodical rules for the GHG calculation
Including further environmental and social themes which not covered or hard to cover by a standard LCA.
2423 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
Source: IFEU 2012
GHG calculation – standardized models
Helpful tools GHG calculation5
RED rules:
Covering the complete life cycle
land use change.
allocation according to lower heating value of co-products
Defined comparator
Still leaves methodical issues open, does not determine background data
� BioGrace project: to frame the calculation by
� constituting “standard values”
� providing a XLS-tool in line with the default values
� and enabling the calculation of actual values.
2523 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
Source: IFEU 2012
BioGrace
Helpful tools GHG calculation5
I: biofuels and other bioliquids
II: solid and gaseous biomass for electricity/heat/cooling:
• Spreadsheets in line with RED rules; recognition by
the EU Commission forthcoming.
• Spreadsheets cover the pathways corresponding with
the default values.
• Spreeadsheets can be adapted to actual situations
also for advanced techniques and for biochemicals.
2723 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
1. IFEU profile
2. Important aspects of LCA on solid biomass
3. The LCA methodology
4. Some LCA results
5. Helpful tools to support LC greenhouse gas calculations
6. Summary
Overview
6
2823 October 2013Horst Fehrenbach
Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
HeidelbergGermany
Summary
6
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a suitable tool to
� Identify environmental potentials to optimise environmental
benefits and minimise environmental burdens
� Give advice to decision makers about environmental potentials
and priorities for optimisations
The results show overall advantages of solid biomass for
electricity and heat production compared to fossil
reference systems as well as to other biofuels.
As long as forest carbon stocks are preserved by
sustainable forest management (carbon accounting).