IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v66y2014icp90-98.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Carbon footprint of selected biomass to biogas production chains and GHG reduction potential in transportation use

Author

Listed:
  • Uusitalo, V.
  • Havukainen, J.
  • Manninen, K.
  • Höhn, J.
  • Lehtonen, E.
  • Rasi, S.
  • Soukka, R.
  • Horttanainen, M.

Abstract

Biogas is a biofuel which can be used as an energy source for gas-operated vehicles or for electricity and heat production. This paper studies the greenhouse gas emissions from biowaste, waste water treatment plant sludge and agricultural biomass based biogas use as a transportation fuel and compares the transportation use with the electricity and heat production and composting of feedstock. The research is conducted using Life cycle assessment methods and the calculation follow the directive 2009/28/EC, ISO 14040 standard and Greenhouse Gas Protocol. The use of biogas in transportation sector led in all studied cases to reductions of GHG emissions compared to fossil transportation fuels. The GHG reductions varied from 49% to 84%. Biogas production and use in electricity and heat production also led to GHG reductions compared to composting of feedstock but the reductions are not as high as in transportation use in most of cases. In addition if biogas is already used in energy production, it should be considered carefully whether the advantages of directing biogas to transportation purposes are profitable from a GHG emission point of view. However the GHG reductions are heavily depended on local energy systems. This creates challenges for the policy makers and leads to need for system scale comparisons. The wider use of biogas as a transportation fuel has a potential for high GHG emission reductions in the transportation sector.

Suggested Citation

  • Uusitalo, V. & Havukainen, J. & Manninen, K. & Höhn, J. & Lehtonen, E. & Rasi, S. & Soukka, R. & Horttanainen, M., 2014. "Carbon footprint of selected biomass to biogas production chains and GHG reduction potential in transportation use," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 90-98.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:66:y:2014:i:c:p:90-98
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2013.12.004
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096014811300668X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2013.12.004?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. Poeschl, Martina & Ward, Shane & Owende, Philip, 2010. "Prospects for expanded utilization of biogas in Germany," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(7), pages 1782-1797, September.
    2. Voorspools, Kris R. & D'haeseleer, William D., 2000. "An evaluation method for calculating the emission responsibility of specific electric applications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(13), pages 967-980, November.
    3. Patterson, Tim & Esteves, Sandra & Dinsdale, Richard & Guwy, Alan, 2011. "An evaluation of the policy and techno-economic factors affecting the potential for biogas upgrading for transport fuel use in the UK," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 1806-1816, March.
    4. Uusitalo, V. & Soukka, R. & Horttanainen, M. & Niskanen, A. & Havukainen, J., 2013. "Economics and greenhouse gas balance of biogas use systems in the Finnish transportation sector," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 132-140.
    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. Ingrao, Carlo & Rana, Roberto & Tricase, Caterina & Lombardi, Mariarosaria, 2015. "Application of Carbon Footprint to an agro-biogas supply chain in Southern Italy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 75-88.
    2. Lee, Sangho & Yi, Ui Hyung & Jang, Hyungjoon & Park, Cheolwoong & Kim, Changgi, 2021. "Evaluation of emission characteristics of a stoichiometric natural gas engine fueled with compressed natural gas and biomethane," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    3. Magdalena Muradin & Joanna Kulczycka, 2020. "The Identification of Hotspots in the Bioenergy Production Chain," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-17, November.
    4. Labanca, A.R.C. & Cunha, A.G. & Ribeiro, R.P. & Zucolotto, C.G. & Cevolani, M.B. & Schettino, M.A., 2022. "Technological solution for distributing vehicular hydrogen using dry plasma reforming of natural gas and biogas," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(P2), pages 11-21.
    5. Auburger, Sebastian & Jacobs, Anna & Märländer, Bernward & Bahrs, Enno, 2016. "Economic optimization of feedstock mix for energy production with biogas technology in Germany with a special focus on sugar beets – Effects on greenhouse gas emissions and energy balances," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 1-11.
    6. Alessio Ilari & Daniele Duca & Kofi Armah Boakye-Yiadom & Thomas Gasperini & Giuseppe Toscano, 2022. "Carbon Footprint and Feedstock Quality of a Real Biomass Power Plant Fed with Forestry and Agricultural Residues," Resources, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-20, January.
    7. Budzianowski, Wojciech M. & Postawa, Karol, 2017. "Renewable energy from biogas with reduced carbon dioxide footprint: Implications of applying different plant configurations and operating pressures," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P2), pages 852-868.
    8. Ana Kodba & Tomislav Pukšec & Neven Duić, 2023. "Analysis of Specific Greenhouse Gas Emissions Savings from Biogas Production Based on Agricultural Residues and Industrial By-Products," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-15, April.
    9. Lim, Cheolsoo & Kim, Daigon & Song, Changkeun & Kim, Jeongsoo & Han, Jinseok & Cha, Jun-Seok, 2015. "Performance and emission characteristics of a vehicle fueled with enriched biogas and natural gases," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 17-29.
    10. Uusitalo, V. & Havukainen, J. & Soukka, R. & Väisänen, S. & Havukainen, M. & Luoranen, M., 2015. "Systematic approach for recognizing limiting factors for growth of biomethane use in transportation sector – A case study in Finland," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 479-488.
    11. Khoshgoftar Manesh, M.H. & Rezazadeh, A. & Kabiri, S., 2020. "A feasibility study on the potential, economic, and environmental advantages of biogas production from poultry manure in Iran," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 87-106.

    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. Lim, Cheolsoo & Kim, Daigon & Song, Changkeun & Kim, Jeongsoo & Han, Jinseok & Cha, Jun-Seok, 2015. "Performance and emission characteristics of a vehicle fueled with enriched biogas and natural gases," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 17-29.
    2. Leino, M. & Uusitalo, V. & Grönman, A. & Nerg, J. & Horttanainen, M. & Soukka, R. & Pyrhönen, J., 2016. "Economics and greenhouse gas balance of distributed electricity production at sawmills using hermetic turbogenerator," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 102-111.
    3. Stürmer, Bernhard & Novakovits, Philipp & Luidolt, Alexander & Zweiler, Richard, 2019. "Potential of renewable methane by anaerobic digestion from existing plant stock – An economic reflection of an Austrian region," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 920-929.
    4. Uusitalo, V. & Havukainen, J. & Soukka, R. & Väisänen, S. & Havukainen, M. & Luoranen, M., 2015. "Systematic approach for recognizing limiting factors for growth of biomethane use in transportation sector – A case study in Finland," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 479-488.
    5. Cong, Rong-Gang & Caro, Dario & Thomsen, Marianne, 2017. "Is it beneficial to use biogas in the Danish transport sector?–An environmental-economic analysis," MPRA Paper 112291, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Budzianowski, Wojciech M. & Postawa, Karol, 2017. "Renewable energy from biogas with reduced carbon dioxide footprint: Implications of applying different plant configurations and operating pressures," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P2), pages 852-868.
    7. Anna Pääkkönen & Kalle Aro & Pami Aalto & Jukka Konttinen & Matti Kojo, 2019. "The Potential of Biomethane in Replacing Fossil Fuels in Heavy Transport—A Case Study on Finland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-19, August.
    8. Scholz, Marco & Melin, Thomas & Wessling, Matthias, 2013. "Transforming biogas into biomethane using membrane technology," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 17(C), pages 199-212.
    9. Vélez, Fredy & Segovia, José J. & Martín, M. Carmen & Antolín, Gregorio & Chejne, Farid & Quijano, Ana, 2012. "A technical, economical and market review of organic Rankine cycles for the conversion of low-grade heat for power generation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(6), pages 4175-4189.
    10. Joshua M. Pearce, 2012. "Limitations of Nuclear Power as a Sustainable Energy Source," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(6), pages 1-15, June.
    11. Pöschl, Martina & Ward, Shane & Owende, Philip, 2010. "Evaluation of energy efficiency of various biogas production and utilization pathways," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(11), pages 3305-3321, November.
    12. Premier, G.C. & Kim, J.R. & Massanet-Nicolau, J. & Kyazze, G. & Esteves, S.R.R. & Penumathsa, B.K.V. & Rodríguez, J. & Maddy, J. & Dinsdale, R.M. & Guwy, A.J., 2013. "Integration of biohydrogen, biomethane and bioelectrochemical systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 188-192.
    13. Budzianowski, Wojciech Marcin, 2011. "Can ‘negative net CO2 emissions’ from decarbonised biogas-to-electricity contribute to solving Poland’s carbon capture and sequestration dilemmas?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(11), pages 6318-6325.
    14. Goulding, D. & Fitzpatrick, D. & O'Connor, R. & Browne, J.D. & Power, N.M., 2019. "Introducing gaseous transport fuel to Ireland: A strategic infrastructure framework," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 548-557.
    15. Nenming Wang & Guwen Tang, 2022. "A Review on Environmental Efficiency Evaluation of New Energy Vehicles Using Life Cycle Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-35, March.
    16. Wang, Jun & Xue, Qingwen & Guo, Ting & Mei, Zili & Long, Enshen & Wen, Qian & Huang, Wei & Luo, Tao & Huang, Ruyi, 2018. "A review on CFD simulating method for biogas fermentation material fluid," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 64-73.
    17. Khan, Muhammad Usman & Lee, Jonathan Tian En & Bashir, Muhammad Aamir & Dissanayake, Pavani Dulanja & Ok, Yong Sik & Tong, Yen Wah & Shariati, Mohammad Ali & Wu, Sarah & Ahring, Birgitte Kiaer, 2021. "Current status of biogas upgrading for direct biomethane use: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    18. Filippo Beltrami & Fulvio Fontini & Monica Giulietti & Luigi Grossi, 2022. "The Zonal and Seasonal CO2 Marginal Emissions Factors for the Italian Power Market," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 83(2), pages 381-411, October.
    19. Edwards, Joel & Othman, Maazuza & Burn, Stewart, 2015. "A review of policy drivers and barriers for the use of anaerobic digestion in Europe, the United States and Australia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 815-828.
    20. Herbes, Carsten & Rilling, Benedikt & Ringel, Marc, 2021. "Policy frameworks and voluntary markets for biomethane – How do different policies influence providers’ product strategies?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).

    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:renene:v:66:y:2014:i:c:p:90-98. 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.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    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.