IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v192y2017icp83-94.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Life cycle environmental impacts of cornstalk briquette fuel in China

Author

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

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Zhiwei & Lei, Tingzhou & Yang, Miao & Li, Zaifeng & Qi, Tian & Xin, Xiaofei & He, Xiaofeng & Ajayebi, Atta & Yan, Xiaoyu, 2017. "Life cycle environmental impacts of cornstalk briquette fuel in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 83-94.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:192:y:2017:i:c:p:83-94
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.01.071
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261917300892
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.01.071?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sartor, K. & Quoilin, S. & Dewallef, P., 2014. "Simulation and optimization of a CHP biomass plant and district heating network," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 474-483.
    2. Yan, Xiaoyu & Crookes, Roy J., 2009. "Life cycle analysis of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions for road transportation fuels in China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(9), pages 2505-2514, December.
    3. Laschi, Andrea & Marchi, Enrico & González-García, Sara, 2016. "Environmental performance of wood pellets' production through life cycle analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 469-480.
    4. Hu, Zhiyuan & Tan, Piqiang & Yan, Xiaoyu & Lou, Diming, 2008. "Life cycle energy, environment and economic assessment of soybean-based biodiesel as an alternative automotive fuel in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 1654-1658.
    5. Hu, Jianjun & Lei, Tingzhou & Wang, Zhiwei & Yan, Xiaoyu & Shi, Xinguang & Li, Zaifeng & He, Xiaofeng & Zhang, Quanguo, 2014. "Economic, environmental and social assessment of briquette fuel from agricultural residues in China – A study on flat die briquetting using corn stalk," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 557-566.
    6. Prasad, Lalta & Subbarao, P.M.V. & Subrahmanyam, J.P., 2015. "Experimental investigation on gasification characteristic of high lignin biomass (Pongamia shells)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 415-423.
    7. Kohl, Thomas & Teles, Moises & Melin, Kristian & Laukkanen, Timo & Järvinen, Mika & Park, Song Won & Guidici, Reinaldo, 2015. "Exergoeconomic assessment of CHP-integrated biomass upgrading," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 290-305.
    8. Gehrig, M. & Pelz, S. & Jaeger, D. & Hofmeister, G. & Groll, A. & Thorwarth, H. & Haslinger, W., 2015. "Implementation of a firebed cooling device and its influence on emissions and combustion parameters at a residential wood pellet boiler," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 310-316.
    9. Wang, Zhiwei & Lei, Tingzhou & Chang, Xia & Shi, Xinguang & Xiao, Ju & Li, Zaifeng & He, Xiaofeng & Zhu, Jinling & Yang, Shuhua, 2015. "Optimization of a biomass briquette fuel system based on grey relational analysis and analytic hierarchy process: A study using cornstalks in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 523-532.
    10. Truong, Nguyen Le & Gustavsson, Leif, 2013. "Integrated biomass-based production of district heat, electricity, motor fuels and pellets of different scales," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 623-632.
    11. Cutz, L. & Haro, P. & Santana, D. & Johnsson, F., 2016. "Assessment of biomass energy sources and technologies: The case of Central America," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 1411-1431.
    12. Kambo, Harpreet Singh & Dutta, Animesh, 2014. "Strength, storage, and combustion characteristics of densified lignocellulosic biomass produced via torrefaction and hydrothermal carbonization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 182-191.
    13. Tabata, Tomohiro & Okuda, Takaaki, 2012. "Life cycle assessment of woody biomass energy utilization: Case study in Gifu Prefecture, Japan," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 944-951.
    14. Selkimäki, Mari & Mola-Yudego, Blas & Röser, Dominik & Prinz, Robert & Sikanen, Lauri, 2010. "Present and future trends in pellet markets, raw materials, and supply logistics in Sweden and Finland," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(9), pages 3068-3075, December.
    15. Nishiguchi, Sho & Tabata, Tomohiro, 2016. "Assessment of social, economic, and environmental aspects of woody biomass energy utilization: Direct burning and wood pellets," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 1279-1286.
    16. Thallam Thattai, A. & Oldenbroek, V. & Schoenmakers, L. & Woudstra, T. & Aravind, P.V., 2016. "Experimental model validation and thermodynamic assessment on high percentage (up to 70%) biomass co-gasification at the 253MWe integrated gasification combined cycle power plant in Buggenum, The Neth," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 381-393.
    17. Roy, Murari Mohon & Corscadden, Kenny W., 2012. "An experimental study of combustion and emissions of biomass briquettes in a domestic wood stove," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 206-212.
    18. Adams, P.W.R. & Shirley, J.E.J. & McManus, M.C., 2015. "Comparative cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment of wood pellet production with torrefaction," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 367-380.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Fang, Yan Ru & Hossain, MD Shouquat & Peng, Shuan & Han, Ling & Yang, Pingjian, 2024. "Sustainable energy development of crop straw in five southern provinces of China: Bioenergy production, land, and water saving potential," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    2. Wang, Changbo & Zhang, Lixiao & Chang, Yuan & Pang, Mingyue, 2021. "Energy return on investment (EROI) of biomass conversion systems in China: Meta-analysis focused on system boundary unification," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    3. Andi Mehmeti & Vincenzo Candido & Kledja Canaj & Donato Castronuovo & Michele Perniola & Paola D’Antonio & Loriana Cardone, 2024. "Energy, Environmental, and Economic Sustainability of Saffron Cultivation: Insights from the First European (Italian) Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-22, January.
    4. Rukayya Ibrahim Muazu & Siddharth Gadkari & Jhuma Sadhukhan, 2022. "Integrated Life Cycle Assessment Modelling of Densified Fuel Production from Various Biomass Species," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-11, May.
    5. Quanguo Zhang & Youzhou Jiao & Chao He & Roger Ruan & Jianjun Hu & Jingzheng Ren & Sara Toniolo & Danping Jiang & Chaoyang Lu & Yameng Li & Yi Man & Huan Zhang & Zhiping Zhang & Chenxi Xia & Yi Wang &, 2024. "Biological fermentation pilot-scale systems and evaluation for commercial viability towards sustainable biohydrogen production," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    6. You, Siming & Tong, Huanhuan & Armin-Hoiland, Joel & Tong, Yen Wah & Wang, Chi-Hwa, 2017. "Techno-economic and greenhouse gas savings assessment of decentralized biomass gasification for electrifying the rural areas of Indonesia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 495-510.
    7. Anwar Ameen Hezam Saeed & Noorfidza Yub Harun & Muhammad Roil Bilad & Muhammad T. Afzal & Ashak Mahmud Parvez & Farah Amelia Shahirah Roslan & Syahirah Abdul Rahim & Vimmal Desiga Vinayagam & Haruna K, 2021. "Moisture Content Impact on Properties of Briquette Produced from Rice Husk Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-14, March.
    8. Deng, Lei & Torres-Rojas, Dorisel & Burford, Michael & Whitlow, Thomas H. & Lehmann, Johannes & Fisher, Elizabeth M., 2018. "Fuel sensitivity of biomass cookstove performance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 13-20.
    9. Pulighe, Giuseppe & Pirelli, Tiziana, 2023. "Assessing the sustainability of bioenergy pathways through a land-water-energy nexus approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    10. Junnian Song & Yang Pu & Wei Yang & Jingzheng Ren, 2019. "Highlighting Regional Energy-Economic-Environmental Benefits of Agricultural Bioresources Utilization: An Integrated Model from Life Cycle Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-18, July.
    11. Guo, Feihong & Chen, Jun & He, Yi & Gardy, Jabbar & Sun, Yahui & Jiang, Jingyu & Jiang, Xiaoxiang, 2022. "Upgrading agro-pellets by torrefaction and co-pelletization process using food waste as a pellet binder," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 213-224.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hu, Jianjun & Lei, Tingzhou & Wang, Zhiwei & Yan, Xiaoyu & Shi, Xinguang & Li, Zaifeng & He, Xiaofeng & Zhang, Quanguo, 2014. "Economic, environmental and social assessment of briquette fuel from agricultural residues in China – A study on flat die briquetting using corn stalk," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 557-566.
    2. Wang, Zhiwei & Li, Zaifeng & Lei, Tingzhou & Yang, Miao & Qi, Tian & Lin, Lu & Xin, Xiaofei & Ajayebi, Atta & Yang, Yantao & He, Xiaofeng & Yan, Xiaoyu, 2016. "Life cycle assessment of energy consumption and environmental emissions for cornstalk-based ethyl levulinate," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 170-181.
    3. Parkhurst, Kristen M. & Saffron, Christopher M. & Miller, Raymond O., 2016. "An energy analysis comparing biomass torrefaction in depots to wind with natural gas combustion for electricity generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 171-181.
    4. Wang, Zhiwei & Lei, Tingzhou & Chang, Xia & Shi, Xinguang & Xiao, Ju & Li, Zaifeng & He, Xiaofeng & Zhu, Jinling & Yang, Shuhua, 2015. "Optimization of a biomass briquette fuel system based on grey relational analysis and analytic hierarchy process: A study using cornstalks in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 523-532.
    5. Wang, Changbo & Chang, Yuan & Zhang, Lixiao & Pang, Mingyue & Hao, Yan, 2017. "A life-cycle comparison of the energy, environmental and economic impacts of coal versus wood pellets for generating heat in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 374-384.
    6. Zhu, Youjian & Yang, Wei & Fan, Jiyuan & Kan, Tao & Zhang, Wennan & Liu, Heng & Cheng, Wei & Yang, Haiping & Wu, Xuehong & Chen, Hanping, 2018. "Effect of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose addition on particulate matter emissions during biomass pellet combustion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 925-934.
    7. Proskurina, Svetlana & Alakangas, Eija & Heinimö, Jussi & Mikkilä, Mirja & Vakkilainen, Esa, 2017. "A survey analysis of the wood pellet industry in Finland: Future perspectives," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 692-704.
    8. Martín-Gamboa, Mario & Marques, Pedro & Freire, Fausto & Arroja, Luís & Dias, Ana Cláudia, 2020. "Life cycle assessment of biomass pellets: A review of methodological choices and results," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    9. Wang, Changbo & Zhang, Lixiao & Chang, Yuan & Pang, Mingyue, 2021. "Energy return on investment (EROI) of biomass conversion systems in China: Meta-analysis focused on system boundary unification," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    10. Liu, Huacai & Huang, Yanqin & Yuan, Hongyou & Yin, Xiuli & Wu, Chuangzhi, 2018. "Life cycle assessment of biofuels in China: Status and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 301-322.
    11. Piyarath Saosee & Boonrod Sajjakulnukit & Shabbir H. Gheewala, 2020. "Life Cycle Assessment of Wood Pellet Production in Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-23, August.
    12. Nunes, João & Freitas, Helena, 2016. "An indicator to assess the pellet production per forest area. A case-study from Portugal," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 99-105.
    13. Promdee, Kittiphop & Chanvidhwatanakit, Jirawat & Satitkune, Somruedee & Boonmee, Chakkrich & Kawichai, Thitipong & Jarernprasert, Sittipong & Vitidsant, Tharapong, 2017. "Characterization of carbon materials and differences from activated carbon particle (ACP) and coal briquettes product (CBP) derived from coconut shell via rotary kiln," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 1175-1186.
    14. Liu, Xiaodan & Feng, Xuping & He, Yong, 2019. "Rapid discrimination of the categories of the biomass pellets using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 176-182.
    15. Ou, Xunmin & Zhang, Xiliang & Chang, Shiyan, 2010. "Scenario analysis on alternative fuel/vehicle for China's future road transport: Life-cycle energy demand and GHG emissions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 3943-3956, August.
    16. Guo, Feihong & Chen, Jun & He, Yi & Gardy, Jabbar & Sun, Yahui & Jiang, Jingyu & Jiang, Xiaoxiang, 2022. "Upgrading agro-pellets by torrefaction and co-pelletization process using food waste as a pellet binder," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 213-224.
    17. Gebrezgabher, Solomie & Amewu, S. & Njenga, M., 2018. "Adoption and economic impact of briquettes as cooking fuel: the case of women fish smokers in Ghana," IWMI Books, Reports H049000, International Water Management Institute.
    18. Wöhler, Marius & Andersen, Jes Sig & Becker, Gero & Persson, Henrik & Reichert, Gabriel & Schön, Claudia & Schmidl, Christoph & Jaeger, Dirk & Pelz, Stefan K., 2016. "Investigation of real life operation of biomass room heating appliances – Results of a European survey," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 240-249.
    19. Karner, K. & Dißauer, C. & Enigl, M. & Strasser, C. & Schmid, E., 2017. "Environmental trade-offs between residential oil-fired and wood pellet heating systems: Forecast scenarios for Austria until 2030," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 868-879.
    20. Junnian Song & Yang Pu & Wei Yang & Jingzheng Ren, 2019. "Highlighting Regional Energy-Economic-Environmental Benefits of Agricultural Bioresources Utilization: An Integrated Model from Life Cycle Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-18, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:192:y:2017:i:c:p:83-94. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.