Title:
Techno-economic and Life-cycle Assessment of Forest Residues Supply Chain and Combined Heat Power Generation in Rural Communities: a Case Study in Canada
Author(s):
Gonzales-Calienes, G., Kannangara, M., Bensebaa, F.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
Bioenergy systems are ideal candidates to provide heat and power for remote and rural communities when biomass feedstocks are available locally at low cost. Detailed economic and environmental analyses using local data are required to properly assess the sustainability of bioenergy production taking into account a life cycle approach from wood biomass feedstock supply and logistics to conversion into bioenergy. This study presents an integrated techno-economic assessment (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) to quantify energy production cost and environmental impacts, with focus on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in order to evaluate the feasibility of wood residues gasification in rural and remote communities in Canada to reduce its over-dependence on fossil fuel-based power generation and enable the off-grid electrification of these areas. Available forest harvesting residues are used as fuel feedstock in a combined heat and power (CHP) using a micro-scale gasifier. Rather than using generic data inputs, actual biomass supply chains and operation scale data are used in this study. These data are based on current forest biomass practices in the Matapedia region, a rural community located in the province of Quebec. Three feedstock supply chain scenarios based on wood chips, regular pellets and torrefied wood pellets were identified and analyzed. Costs and GHG emissions per unit of energy produced using a gasification and an internal combustion system have been obtained for each feedstock type. The impact of the delivery distance has been assessed. Results indicate wood chips is the preferred fuel for CHP systems for feedstock transportation up to 250 km. Wood pellets become economically viable when larger delivery distances are required. The GHG analysis showed torrefied wood pellets have the lowest lifecycle emissions despite having the highest overall cost.
Keywords:
biomass gasification, economic analysis, forest residues, combined heat and power generation (CHP), life cycle assessment (LCA), rural community
Topic:
Biomass, Bio-Based Products and Bioenergy Integration
Subtopic:
Biomass integration into energy systems
Event:
31st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
3CV.4.4
Pages:
495 - 507
ISBN:
978-88-89407-23-3
Paper DOI:
10.5071/31stEUBCE2023-3CV.4.4
Price:
FREE
