Assessment of environmental impact of biomass power plants to increase the social acceptance of renewable energy technologies

Abstract

Objective The objectives of the European Union (EU) policy agenda are to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and to decrease the dependence of EU member countries from fossil fuel sources. In order to achieve these policy objectives, in the last decades the number of biomass power plants has increased throughout the EU. This study analyzed the environmental impacts of the bioenergy systems at global and local level to support communication and information strategies to increase social acceptance and to reduce conflicts between stakeholders. The environmental impacts were estimated to a sample of biomass power plants in North Italy selected based on the size, feedstock and type (cogeneration or heating). The study aims to identify and evaluate the environmental impacts associated with the thermal energy production in biomass power plants using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. Materials and methods For each biomass district plant an LCA analysis was performed to: compare the environmental impacts associated with the production of the same functional unit, quantifying and valuating the environmental performance deriving from the production process life cycle, and highlighting the production phases with greater impact. Results The results show an average climate change impact by biomass energy plant of 45.84 gCO 2eq MJ −1 and a range between 14.93 gCO 2eq MJ −1 and 90.70 gCO 2eq MJ −1 . The results show that the size of the biomass energy plant (less than 1 MW or more than 1 MW) and the feedstock used (forest or sawmill woodchip) are two main variables that influence many categories of environmental impact.

Health Risks Associated with Occupational Exposure to Biological Air Pollutants Occurring during the Processing of Biomass for Energy Purposes: A Case Study

“…In the near future, the use of this energy source is expected to increase. Biomass brings local benefits, e.g., increasing the level of energy security, creating new workplaces and promoting regional development, and global environmental benefits, e.g., reduction of CO 2 [3,4].…”

Comparative Social Life Cycle Assessment of Two Biomass-to-Electricity Systems

“…Similarly, Kadiyala et al [ 14 ] evaluated the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with bioelectricity systems using different biomass feedstock categories. Paletto et al [ 15 ] also conducted a comprehensive review of environmental LCA studies of biomass power plants, identifying the size of the plant and the feedstock as key variables that influence many environmental impacts.…”

Combining Biomass Gasification and Solid Oxid Fuel Cell for Heat and Power Generation: An Early-Stage Life Cycle Assessment

“…In Europe, coupling heat and electricity generation from renewable sources is also one of the most cost-effective decarbonization strategies [3][4][5]. In particular, solid biomass has attracted increasing interest by policymakers and investors especially due to the high availability of local biomass from forests and wood processing industries in some regions [6]. The environmental performance of biomass-fueled CHPs depends not only on the type of technology but also on the type of biomass, its supply chain, and the environmental impact categories in focus [7,8].…”