The Study on Biomass Fraction Estimation for Waste Incinerated in Korea: A Case Study

Seongmin Kang, Seungjin Kim, Deakyeom Lee, Jeongwoo Lee, Ki-Hyun Kim and Eui-Chan Jeon
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Seongmin Kang: Department of Environment & Energy, Sejong University, Seoul 143-747, Korea
Seungjin Kim: Cooperate Course for Climate Change, Sejong University, Seoul 143-747, Korea
Deakyeom Lee: Cooperate Course for Climate Change, Sejong University, Seoul 143-747, Korea
Jeongwoo Lee: Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Sejong University, Seoul 143-747, Korea
Ki-Hyun Kim: Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
Eui-Chan Jeon: Department of Environment & Energy, Sejong University, Seoul 143-747, Korea

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 4, 1-9

Abstract: In this study, to determine the biomass fraction to apply to the estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the waste incineration sector, municipal solid waste, industrial waste, and sewage sludge incineration facilities were selected and analyzed, and the biomass fractions found in these facilities were compared. The biomass fractions of Municipal solid waste, industrial waste, and sewage sludge in incineration facilities were shown to be 57%, 41%, and 78%, on average, respectively. In the case of municipal solid waste and industrial waste incineration facilities, the values were similar to those of previous studies. However, the biomass fraction of wastes and sewage sludge except for municipal solid waste was found to be significantly different from the IPCC default. Accordingly, we believe that the biomass fractions used to estimate the GHG emissions of different incineration facilities should reflect the characteristics of each waste type. At present, the basic value given by the IPCC for biomass fraction is used in Korea to estimate the GHG emissions of each waste incineration facility. Some studies have found a difference between the value obtained using the basic value given by the IPCC and the value obtained using values that reflect the characteristics of Korea. In common with previous studies, in this study the biomass fraction of waste incineration facilities and sewage sludge incineration facilities except for municipal solid wastes showed a large difference, which is also expected to affect the estimation of GHG emissions. If further studies collect additional data on the biomass fraction of each waste type, this study along with the additional data collected will assist in the development of a state level greenhouse gas emission factor and contribute to the improvement of the reliability of the national GHG inventory.

Keywords: climate change; greenhouse gas; biomass fraction; waste incinerator (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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