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Identification of Suitable Areas for Biomass Power Plant Construction through Environmental Impact Assessment of Forest Harvesting Residues Transportation

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Pergola

    (Ages s.r.l. s—Academic Spin-off, University of Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10-85100 Potenza, Italy)

  • Angelo Rita

    (School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10. I-85100 Potenza, Italy)

  • Alfonso Tortora

    (School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10. I-85100 Potenza, Italy)

  • Maria Castellaneta

    (School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10. I-85100 Potenza, Italy)

  • Marco Borghetti

    (School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10. I-85100 Potenza, Italy)

  • Antonio Sergio De Franchi

    (School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10. I-85100 Potenza, Italy)

  • Antonio Lapolla

    (School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10. I-85100 Potenza, Italy)

  • Nicola Moretti

    (School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10. I-85100 Potenza, Italy)

  • Giovanni Pecora

    (School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10. I-85100 Potenza, Italy)

  • Domenico Pierangeli

    (School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10. I-85100 Potenza, Italy)

  • Luigi Todaro

    (School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10. I-85100 Potenza, Italy)

  • Francesco Ripullone

    (School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10. I-85100 Potenza, Italy)

Abstract

In accordance with European objectives, the Basilicata region intends to promote the use of energy systems and heat generators powered by lignocellulosic biomass, so the present study aimed to investigate the availability of logging residues and most suitable areas for the construction of bioenergy production plants. The life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was employed to conduct an environmental impact assessment of the biomass distribution and its transport, and spatial LCA was used to evaluate the impact of regional transport. One cubic meter kilometer (m 3 km −1 ) was used as the functional unit and a small lorry was considered for the transport. The results showed that the available harvesting residues amounted to 36,000 m 3 and their loading environmental impact accounted for 349 mPt m −3 . The impacts of transport (4.01 mPt m −3 ) ranged from 3.4 to 144,400 mPt km −1 forest parcel −1 , mainly affecting human health (95%) and, second, the ecosystem quality (5%). Three possible sites for bioenergy plant location were identified considering the environmental impact distribution due to feedstock transport. Findings from this research show the importance of considering the LCA of biomass acquisition in site selection and can fill the knowledge gaps in the available literature about spatial LCA.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Pergola & Angelo Rita & Alfonso Tortora & Maria Castellaneta & Marco Borghetti & Antonio Sergio De Franchi & Antonio Lapolla & Nicola Moretti & Giovanni Pecora & Domenico Pierangeli & Luigi Toda, 2020. "Identification of Suitable Areas for Biomass Power Plant Construction through Environmental Impact Assessment of Forest Harvesting Residues Transportation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:11:p:2699-:d:363874
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Luca Ciacci & Fabrizio Passarini, 2020. "Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Environmental and Energy Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-8, November.
    3. 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.
    4. Kocabaldır, Canan & Yücel, Mehmet Ali, 2023. "GIS-based multicriteria decision analysis for spatial planning of solar photovoltaic power plants in Çanakkale province, Turkey," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 455-467.
    5. Izabela Samson-Bręk & Marlena Owczuk & Anna Matuszewska & Krzysztof Biernat, 2022. "Environmental Assessment of the Life Cycle of Electricity Generation from Biogas in Polish Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-22, August.

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