Climate effects of woody biomass and fossil fuel use in stand-alone and integrated energy systems

Panel: 4. Mobility, transport, and smart and sustainable cities

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Le Truong Nguyen, Linnaeus University, Sweden
Leif Gustavsson, Linnaeus University, Sweden

Abstract

Biomass is a key resource in a society based on renewable energy, but is a limited resource and the use of biomass in one sector will influence its availability for other sectors. The global energy system is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, and the climate impacts of CO2 occur regardless of the source of emissions. As a result, the climatic effects of biomass use in an energy system depend largely on which biomass feedstock and bioenergy pathway is being used, and what type of fossil fuel pathway is being replaced. In this study, we evaluate the CO2 emissions and climate effects of woody biomass and fossil fuel use. We analyse the potential production of electricity, heat or transport distance when using one kWh of woody biomass and fossil energy system designed to provide the same service to society as the most energy efficient bioenergy systems. The fuel cycle inputs are included in the analyses and are based on different state-of-the art as well as emerging technologies for energy conversion. We quantify the primary energy use and annual CO2 emission of different bioenergy and fossil alternatives. We then calculate the cumulative CO2 emission and climate effects in terms of cumulative radiative forcing for the fossil and bioenergy systems. The results show that primary energy use, CO2 emission, and cumulative radiative forcing vary strongly between the studied alternatives. The use of bioelectricity and electric vehicles instead of biomotor fuel-based vehicles gives about twice the transport distance per unit of consumed woody biomass. Integrated energy systems that supply a package of energy services including electricity, heat and transport distance reduce the primary energy use and increase the climate benefits of woody biomass. The replacement of coal for heat and electricity production by the here studied woody biomass gives large climate benefits immediately.