Willow biomass energy generation efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction potential

Abstract

This study evaluates the efficiency of energy generation from willow chips and analyses the potential to reduce GHG emissions depending on the biomass transport distance to a conversion facility. The potential amount of electrical energy ranged from 59.2 GJ·ha-1 to 136.8 GJ·ha-1 when produced using combustion and co-combustion, respectively. The total energy in CHP generation ranged from 295.9 GJ·ha-1 to 321.8 GJ·ha-1 for gasification and co-combustion, respectively. It should be stressed that the largest amount of energy was produced using combustion in a heat-only boiler station. Total GHG emissions from willow chips production and transport of 25 km was 73.0 kgCO2 eq.·Mg-1 d.m. Increasing the transport distance to 50, 100, and 200 km resulted in the growth of GHG emissions by 6%, 17%, and 39%, respectively. The highest potential for reducing GHG emissions (62.5 MgCO2 eq.·ha-1) was achieved in a heat-only boiler station with the shortest transport distance. The index was 3-11% lower when energy was generated in CHP systems. The lowest potential for the reduction of GHG emissions was achieved in biomass conversion to electrical energy in the combustion process.