IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i17p7622-d1470092.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Coniferous Biomass for Energy Valorization: A Thermo-Chemical Properties Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Bruno M. M. Teixeira

    (Laboratory of Thermal Sciences and Sustainability, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal)

  • Miguel Oliveira

    (Laboratory of Thermal Sciences and Sustainability, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
    CQ-VR, Chemistry Research Centre—Vila Real, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal)

  • Amadeu Duarte da Silva Borges

    (Laboratory of Thermal Sciences and Sustainability, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
    CQ-VR, Chemistry Research Centre—Vila Real, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
    Engineering Department, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal)

Abstract

Forest biomass energy, when utilized responsibly, presents a carbon-neutral and viable alternative to fossil fuels for energy storage. This research investigates the energy potential of various coniferous species, focusing on their complex chemical compositions and suitability for energy production. Key characteristics such as moisture content, volatile matter, ash content, and fixed carbon were analyzed, along with elemental composition (including nitrogen, carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen) and both gross and net heating values across different species. The proximate analysis revealed significant interspecies variations. For example, Pseudotsuga menziesii and Chamaecyparis lawsoniana exhibited the lowest moisture contents. Elemental analyses showed a broad range of values, with Larix decidua having the lowest nitrogen content and Sequoiadendron giganteum the highest carbon content. Gross and net heating values also varied considerably, with Podocarpus macrophyllus showing the lowest values and Pinus strobus the highest. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to identify underlying patterns, revealing correlations between the analyzed variables and the energy potential of the species. Additionally, PCA combined with cluster analysis allowed for the identification of coherent groups of species with similar characteristics. Overall, these findings highlight the diverse energy valorization potential inherent in coniferous species, underscoring the importance of considering specific chemical compositions for efficient energy production. The insights provided here are valuable for selecting coniferous species for energy valorization, emphasizing the need to consider both chemical composition and calorific potential.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruno M. M. Teixeira & Miguel Oliveira & Amadeu Duarte da Silva Borges, 2024. "Coniferous Biomass for Energy Valorization: A Thermo-Chemical Properties Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-19, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:17:p:7622-:d:1470092
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/17/7622/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/17/7622/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ravindranath, N. H. & Hall, D. O., 1995. "Biomass, Energy, and Environment: A Developing Country Perspective from India," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198564362.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Banerjee, Rangan, 2006. "Comparison of options for distributed generation in India," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 101-111, January.
    2. Tripathi, Arun K & Iyer, P.V.R & Chandra Kandpal, Tara, 1999. "Financial analysis of biomass gasifier based water pumping in India," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 24(6), pages 511-517.
    3. Liu, Gang & Lucas, Mario & Shen, Lei, 2008. "Rural household energy consumption and its impacts on eco-environment in Tibet: Taking Taktse county as an example," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(7), pages 1890-1908, September.
    4. Jingura, Raphael Muzondiwa & Musademba, Downmore & Kamusoko, Reckson, 2013. "A review of the state of biomass energy technologies in Zimbabwe," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 652-659.
    5. Wilberforce, Tabbi & El Hassan, Zaki & Durrant, A. & Thompson, J. & Soudan, Bassel & Olabi, A.G., 2019. "Overview of ocean power technology," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C), pages 165-181.
    6. Chauhan, Anurag & Saini, R.P., 2015. "Renewable energy based off-grid rural electrification in Uttarakhand state of India: Technology options, modelling method, barriers and recommendations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 662-681.
    7. Shamama Afreen & Nitasha Sharma & Rajiv Chaturvedi & Ranjith Gopalakrishnan & N. Ravindranath, 2011. "Forest policies and programs affecting vulnerability and adaptation to climate change," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 16(2), pages 177-197, February.
    8. Rahul Hiremath & Bimlesh Kumar & P. Balachandra & N. Ravindranath, 2010. "Sustainable bioenergy production strategies for rural India," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 15(6), pages 571-590, August.
    9. Kaundinya, Deepak Paramashivan & Balachandra, P. & Ravindranath, N.H., 2009. "Grid-connected versus stand-alone energy systems for decentralized power--A review of literature," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(8), pages 2041-2050, October.
    10. Bhutto, Abdul Waheed & Bazmi, Aqeel Ahmed & Zahedi, Gholamreza, 2011. "Greener energy: Issues and challenges for Pakistan--Biomass energy prospective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(6), pages 3207-3219, August.
    11. Bhattacharya, S.C., 2015. "Wood energy in India: Status and prospects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 310-316.
    12. Qier An & Haizhong An & Lang Wang & Xuan Huang, 2014. "Efficiency of household energy utilization in rural China," International Journal of Low-Carbon Technologies, Oxford University Press, vol. 9(2), pages 135-143.
    13. Gojiya, Anil & Deb, Dipankar & Iyer, Kannan K.R., 2019. "Feasibility study of power generation from agricultural residue in comparison with soil incorporation of residue," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 416-425.
    14. Cardoen, Dennis & Joshi, Piyush & Diels, Ludo & Sarma, Priyangshu M. & Pant, Deepak, 2015. "Agriculture biomass in India: Part 2. Post-harvest losses, cost and environmental impacts," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 143-153.
    15. Kaundinya, Deepak Paramashivan & Balachandra, P. & Ravindranath, N.H. & Ashok, Veilumuthu, 2013. "A GIS (geographical information system)-based spatial data mining approach for optimal location and capacity planning of distributed biomass power generation facilities: A case study of Tumkur distric," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 77-88.
    16. Rehman, Ibrahim Hafeezur & Malhotra, Preeti & Pal, Ram Chandra & Singh, Phool Badan, 2005. "Availability of kerosene to rural households: a case study from India," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(17), pages 2165-2174, November.
    17. Debyani Ghosh, 2008. "Renewable Energy Strategies for Indian Power Sector," Working Papers id:1715, eSocialSciences.
    18. Zheng, Y.H. & Li, Z.F. & Feng, S.F. & Lucas, M. & Wu, G.L. & Li, Y. & Li, C.H. & Jiang, G.M., 2010. "Biomass energy utilization in rural areas may contribute to alleviating energy crisis and global warming: A case study in a typical agro-village of Shandong, China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(9), pages 3132-3139, December.
    19. Pang, Rui-Zhi & Deng, Zhong-Qi & Hu, Jin-li, 2015. "Clean energy use and total-factor efficiencies: An international comparison," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 1158-1171.
    20. Purohit, Pallav, 2007. "Financial evaluation of renewable energy technologies for irrigation water pumping in India," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(6), pages 3134-3144, June.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:17:p:7622-:d:1470092. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.