Life cycle environmental impacts of cornstalk briquette fuel in China

Zhiwei Wang, Tingzhou Lei, Miao Yang, Zaifeng Li, Tian Qi, Xiaofei Xin, Xiaofeng He, Atta Ajayebi and Xiaoyu Yan

Applied Energy, 2017, vol. 192, issue C, 83-94

Abstract: The use of agricultural residues to produce biomass briquette fuel (BBF) can reduce waste of resources and consumption of fossil fuels. We report the first detailed environmental impact assessment of cornstalk-based BBF in China using a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA). The LCA study was conducted based on a typical large-scale cornstalk BBF demonstration project in China with an integrated and automated production system. The key life cycle stages such as cornstalk growth, cornstalk transportation, BBF production, transportation and utilisation were investigated. Our results suggest that cornstalk BBF in China is much more environmentally friendly than coal and is favourable when compared with other types of solid fuels produced from different biomass feedstock. For example, the climate change and fossil depletion impacts of cornstalk BBF in China (11gCO2eq./MJ and 2goileq./MJ, respectively) are an order of magnitude lower than those of coal (146gCO2eq./MJ and 26goileq./MJ, respectively). The results of this study can assist policy makers in evaluating the potential benefits of the large scale use of BBF made from agricultural residues.

Keywords: Biomass briquette fuel (BBF); Cornstalk; Environmental impact; Life cycle assessment (LCA) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.01.071

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