Title:
External Costs Associated to Dedicated Cynara Cardunculus Cultivation in Marginal Rainfed Lands for Local Bioenergy Production
Author(s):
Lago, C., Gamarra, A., Herrera, I., Lechón, Y.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Renewable energy promotion based on bioenergy must avoid the competition for land between different uses or crops to be more sustainable and to meet the global demand. In this sense, making available for local bioenergy deployment marginal and abandoned lands could help to several key issues simultaneously, such as sustainable energy production and mitigation of rural abandonment. Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) is a well-adapted crop to Mediterranean rainfed conditions, being able to be grown in marginal and abandoned lands. Cardoon cultivated in marginal lands is characterized by low inputs requirements and lesser yields. This study is focused on the environmental behavior of five cardoon scenarios and the external cost associated with three impact categories: climate change, acidification and terrestrial eutrophication. This study analyses the uses of agricultural bioenergy crops using two different conversion technologies: heat and power production and two processes to convert biomass on heat: domestic heat combustion and district heating. The results for the climate change category show that the agricultural phase generates the most of the impacts from 56-62% for heat scenarios and from 55 to 57% in electricity scenarios. Pelletizing stages present similar impacts with a contribution between 28 and 30% in the heat production and between 26 and 27% for electricity production. The transport stage and emissions associated with combustion for domestic heat and district heating are also quite similar, close to 6%, and considering the electricity power plant scenario, the contribution varies between 5 and 6%.. GHG emissions savings vary from 60-62 % in the case of heating generation, being lower (36-39%) for the electricity value chain. Aligned with the environmental analysis, from the external costs perspective, the cardoon for heating application has potential benefits. However, the impact due to PM2,5 emissions must be considered a relevant disadvantage and measures of control should be developed.
Keywords:
life cycle assessment (LCA), local bioenergy production, marginal lands, external costs, Cynara Cardunculus L.
Topic:
Sustainable Bioeconomy: Impacts and Policies
Subtopic:
Environmental Impacts
Event:
29th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
4CO.11.4
Pages:
1100 - 1106
ISBN:
978-88-89407-21-9
Paper DOI:
10.5071/29thEUBCE2021-4CO.11.4
Price:
FREE
