Sustainable Renewable Energy by Means of Using Residual Forest Biomass

Esperanza Mateos and Leyre Ormaetxea
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Esperanza Mateos: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU Rafael Moreno ‘Pitxitxi’, n 3, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
Leyre Ormaetxea: Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain

Energies, 2018, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: The substitution of energy based on fossil fuel by bioenergy could be an effective solution to reduce external energy dependency, thereby promoting sustainable development. This article details a study of the use of biomass residues produced in the forestry sector as a consequence of field operations of the two predominant forest species ( Pinus radiata D. Don and Ecualyptus globulus Labill) of Biscay (Spain). The potential of forest residues is estimated to be 66,600 dry Mg year − 1 . These residues would provide 1307 TJ year − 1 . Energy parameters, ultimate and proximate analyses, and the level of emissions of the forest residues are performed in order to estimate their characteristics as fuel. The research done has shown very similar values in terms of the net calorific value of the residues of P. radiata (19.45 MJ kg − 1 ) and E. globulus (19.48 MJ kg − 1 ). The determined emission factors indicate a reduction in gas emissions: CO (23–25%), CO 2 (22–25%), SO 2 (87–91%) and dust (11–38%) and an increase of 11–37% in NO x compared to hard coal. Estimation of the emission factors of the residual biomass allows the environmental impacts, that are potentially produced by biofuel, to be estimated.

Keywords: aboveground biomass; forest biomass residue; bioenergy potential; emission factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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