Forest-derived methane in the Swedish transport sector: A closing window? (original) (raw)
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Energies
This case study investigates the potentials, greenhouse gas (GHG), and energy performance of forest residue biofuels produced by new and emerging production technologies, which are commercially implemented in Sweden for heavy transport. The biofuel options included are ethanol (ED 95), hydro-processed vegetable oil (HVO), and liquefied biogas (LBG) produced from logging residues in forestry and sawdust generated in sawmills. The calculated life cycle GHG emissions, based on the EU Renewable Energy Directive calculation methodology, for all three pathways are in the range of 6–11 g CO2eq./MJ, corresponding to 88–94% GHG emission reductions as compared to fossil fuel. Critical parameters are the enzyme configuration for ethanol, hydrogen supply systems and bio-oil technology for HVO, and gasifier size for LBG. The energy input is ranging from 0.16 to 0.43 MJ/MJ biofuel and the total conversion efficiency from the feedstock to biofuel, including high-value by-products (excluding heat),...
International Journal of Forest Engineering, 2012
Use of bioenergy based on woody biomass has become increasingly important in recent years, especially in European countries. In three case studies from Scandinavia, we conducted life cycle assessment (LCA) of alternative wood fuel supply chains (WFSCs) with respect to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy use, and costs. Case study 1 is a local Norwegian supply chain, while case studies 2 and 3 are international WFSCs, where woody biomass is exported to Sweden from respectively lowland and mountain forests in Norway. The GHG emissions and energy use in the case of wood chip exportation from Norway to Sweden were lower than in the local alternative use of the biomass. The emissions were 31.7 kg CO 2e /m 3 solid over bark (67.4 kg CO 2e /MWh) for case study 1; 22.2 kg CO 2e /m 3 solid over bark (47.2 kg CO 2e /MWh) for case study 2; and 23.9 kg CO 2e /m 3 solid over bark (50.8 kg CO 2e /MWh) for case study 3. From a GHG point of view, WFSCs with relatively long transport distances were best when transportation was by railway and the combustion plant had high efficiency. The highest GHG emissions occurred in the truck transportation and chipping operations. Energy input-output ratios show that for case studies 1, 2, and 3, respectively, the fossil fuel energy inputs were 4.5%, 3.4%, and 4% of the bioenergy produced. Forest fuels from mountain forests in Norway seem promising for filling the high demand for wood fuel in Sweden, where bioenergy use is relatively high. In all case studies, the GHG balance was positive, especially when wood fuel plants substituted energy production from coal and oil plants. The cost analysis showed that wood chip import from Norway to Sweden was economically feasible.
Biomass and Bioenergy, 2003
The Swedish forest industry sector produces timber, energy and other commodities, but has to consider the vested interests of other parties. This paper adopts a perspective whereby the modern forest industry sector is regarded as a system for the production of energy products, and where traditional forest industry products are seen as commodities that are released as energy at the end of their lives. Assisted by a review of the literature, the market forces a ecting forest fuels are assessed from the perspectives of forest owners, machine contractors and purchasers of forest fuels.
2019
The maritime transport sector is currently highly dependent on oil-based fuels. International regulations enforce tight limits regarding NOx emissions from the exhaust gases and maximum sulphur content in the fuel, enhancing the sector interest towards the development of cleaner alternative fuels. A transition to biomass-based liquid fuels is of interest as a solution for reducing pollutant emissions and for CO2 emissions mitigation. This thesis investigates the techno-economic and environmental impacts of methanol production from solid wood residues in maritime transport of Sweden. Methanol seems to be a promising alternative to heavy and light fossil oils as maritime fuel, and sawmills residues are an abundant resource in Sweden. The study considers the entire methanol production chain, from assessing the availability of sawmill by-products until delivering the methanol to the Swedish ports. The analysis considers two methanol blending scenarios until year 2035, i.e., M5 and M25. ...
Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering, 2017
Potential competition for biomass for current and future bioenergy/biofuel uses in Brazil, Denmark, Sweden and the USA were compared. In each of these countries, bioenergy and biofuels are already important in their energy mix. However, there is limited competition for biomass between bioenergy (heat/power/residential/industrial) and transportation biofuel applications. This situation is likely to continue until advanced biofuel technology becomes much more commercially established. In each of these countries, biomass is predominantly used to produce bioenergy, even in those regions where biofuels are significant component of their transportation sector (Brazil, Sweden and USA). The vast majority of biofuel production continues to be based on sugar, starch and oil rich feedstocks, while bioenergyis produced almost exclusively from forest biomass with agricultural biomass having a small, but increasing, secondary role. Current and proposed commercial scale biomass-to-ethanol facilities almost exclusively use agriculture derived residues (corn stover/wheat straw/sugarcane bagasse). Competition for biomass feedstocks for bioenergy/biofuel applications, is most likely to occur for agricultural biomass with coproduct lignin and other residues used to concomitantly produce heat and electricity on site at biofuel production facilities.
Energy use and environmental impact of roundwood and forest fuel production in Sweden
2010
The increasing awareness of climate change issues, unstable fossil fuel prices and concerns about energy security are leading to a rising demand for forest products. If meeting this demand involves increased harvesting it is essential to employ efficient systems that allow sustainable forest management. This thesis examines the environmental performance of the Swedish forestry system and potential opportunities to improve this system. The focus was on roundwood and forest fuel procurement and timber transport, which were evaluated using a Life Cycle Assessment perspective. To evaluate the greenhouse gas savings from forest fuel, the dynamics of soil carbon stocks and the potential to replace fossil fuel were examined.
Availability and Use of Wood-based Fuels in Finland in 2020
2010
In the context of the Government's Climate and Energy Strategy, it is estimated that the primary use of wood-based fuels in Finland will be about 100 TWh by the year 2020. The overall target set for forest chips is 25 TWh. The objective of the research carried out by Metsäteho Oy and Pöyry Energy Oy was to produce as realistic as possible a total analysis of the possibilities of increasing the use of solid wood-based fuels, and especially forest chips, in Finland by 2020. The study showed that the growth objective set in the Government's Climate and Energy Strategy can be attained through the supply and consumption of wood-based fuels. The emission trade had a strong influence on the competitiveness of wood-based fuels and the use of such fuels in energy plants. Increasing the proportion of wood-based fuels is very difficult at the current pricing level of emission rights (about 15 €/t CO2). Considering the huge resources required by the forest chip production system and the...