| Title | A simplified methodology for estimating the Carbon Footprint of heat generation by forest woodchips as a support tool for sustainability assessment in decision-making |
|---|---|
| Publication Type | Articolo su Rivista peer-reviewed |
| Year of Publication | 2023 |
| Authors | Scrucca, Flavio, Barberio Grazia, Cutaia Laura, and Rinaldi Caterina |
| Journal | Cleaner Environmental Systems |
| Volume | 9 |
| Type of Article | Article |
| ISSN | 26667894 |
| Keywords | Bio-energy, biofuels, Biomass, carbon footprint, Circular fuel, decision making, Decisions makings, Emission control, Energy productions, Forest woodchip, forestry, Global sustainability, Greenhouse gases, Heat generation, LCA, life cycle, Supply chains, Support tool, Sustainability assessment, Sustainable development, wood chip |
| Abstract | Energy production from biomass is very strategic for the achievement of global sustainability goals and the use of biofuels for decentralized energy production in medium-small size plants, which conforms to global fossil energy and GHG reduction targets, is expected to increase in the short-medium term. This paper proposes a simplified methodology for estimating the Carbon Footprint associated with heat generation by forest woodchips. The methodology includes all the relevant life cycle phases and is based on the specific fuel and plant characteristics, so it can effectively support sustainability assessment in decision-making regarding biomass projects through proper Carbon Footprint estimates. The application of the methodology showed results in the range of about 6–12 gCO2eq/MJ, depending on the case study characteristics, that agree with the impact values range observed from previous literature. The basic idea that the use of forest woodchips is particularly strategic for sustainable energy production within a “local” wood-energy supply chain (short transport distance) was confirmed. Furthermore, the methodology allowed to estimate indicative transportation distances for which forest woodchips can be considered environmentally competitive compared to alternative renewable sources such as, for instance, wood pellets. © 2023 |
| Notes | Cited by: 0; All Open Access, Gold Open Access |
| URL | https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85163498912&doi=10.1016%2fj.cesys.2023.100126&partnerID=40&md5=30b37307bc32f6ec882cf1480cabf940 |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.cesys.2023.100126 |
| Citation Key | Scrucca2023 |
