US EPA

1226437 

Journal Article 

Cost and Co sub(2)-Emission Reduction of Biomass Cascading: Methodological Aspects and Case Study of SRF Poplar 

Dornburg, V; Faaij, APC 

2005 

Yes 

Climatic Change
ISSN: 0165-0009
EISSN: 1573-1480 

Springer Science+Business Media 

71 

3 (Aug 2005) 

373-408 

This study presents and applies a coherent methodological framework to compare biomass cascading chains, i.e. the subsequent use of biomass for materials, recycling and energy recovery, considering land use, CO sub(2) emission reduction and economic performance. Example cascading chains of short rotation poplar wood are compared with each other on the basis of literature data. Results for these chains vary strongly, namely, from CO sub(2) mitigation benefits of 200[Equation]/Mg CO sub(2) to CO sub(2) mitigation costs of 2200[Equation]/Mg CO sub(2), and from net CO sub(2) emission reductions per hectare of biomass production of 28 Mg CO sub(2)/(ha yr) to net CO sub(2) emissions of 8 Mg CO sub(2)/(ha yr). Using a present-value approach to determine CO sub(2) emissions and costs affects the performance of long-term cascading chains significantly, i.e. cost and CO sub(2) emission reduction are decreased. In general, cascading has the potential to improve both CO sub(2) emission reduction per hectare and CO sub(2) mitigation costs of biomass usage. However, this strongly depends on the biomass applications combined in the cascading chain. Parameters that significantly influence the results are market prices and gross energy requirements of substituted materials and energy carriers, and the efficiency of biomass production. The method presented in this study is suitable to quantify land use, CO sub(2) emission reduction and economic performance of biomass cascading systems, and highlights the possible impact of time on the attractiveness of specific cascading chains. 

case studies; Wood; Emission control; Recycling; Waste management; Carbon dioxide; Land use; Economics; Biomass; Energy recovery; Atmospheric chemistry; mitigation; Energy efficiency; Climate change; Carbon dioxide emissions