IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i9p3881-d1389276.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Energy Gain and Carbon Footprint in the Production of Bioelectricity and Wood Pellets in Croatia

Author

Listed:
  • Zdravko Pandur

    (Institute of Forest Engineering, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 23, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Marin Bačić

    (Institute of Forest Engineering, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 23, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Marijan Šušnjar

    (Institute of Forest Engineering, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 23, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Matija Landekić

    (Institute of Forest Engineering, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 23, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Mario Šporčić

    (Institute of Forest Engineering, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 23, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Iva Ištok

    (Institute of Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 23, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

Abstract

The paper presents the process of electricity and thermal energy production in a cogeneration plant and the process of wood pellet production. The aim of this study was to analyze the energy gain—EROI for energy products that are created as a product contained in electrical and thermal energy and the energy contained in wood pellets. According to the obtained results, the production of only electrical energy from wood biomass in a cogeneration plant was not sustainable from an energy point of view, since the obtained electrical energy was only 1.46 times greater than the input wood energy (EROI el = 1.46), while the obtained energy of the produced wood pellets was 4.82 (EROI pel = 4.82). According to the results of equivalent carbon emission, positive net value was achieved only with cogeneration plant and pellet plant working in synergy. Wood is a renewable source of energy, and its economic use can create a significant energy gain. However, due to the trend of using renewable energy sources and the increasing need for electricity, such a process of obtaining electricity is financially profitable, although it is not justified from the energy profitability and environmental sustainability point of view.

Suggested Citation

  • Zdravko Pandur & Marin Bačić & Marijan Šušnjar & Matija Landekić & Mario Šporčić & Iva Ištok, 2024. "Energy Gain and Carbon Footprint in the Production of Bioelectricity and Wood Pellets in Croatia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-14, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:9:p:3881-:d:1389276
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/9/3881/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/9/3881/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jerry L. Holechek & Hatim M. E. Geli & Mohammed N. Sawalhah & Raul Valdez, 2022. "A Global Assessment: Can Renewable Energy Replace Fossil Fuels by 2050?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-22, April.
    2. Pelletier, Chloé & Rogaume, Yann & Dieckhoff, Léa & Bardeau, Guillaume & Pons, Marie-Noëlle & Dufour, Anthony, 2019. "Effect of combustion technology and biogenic CO2 impact factor on global warming potential of wood-to-heat chains," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1381-1388.
    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. Wei Wang & Leonid Melnyk & Oleksandra Kubatko & Bohdan Kovalov & Luc Hens, 2023. "Economic and Technological Efficiency of Renewable Energy Technologies Implementation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-19, May.
    2. Zhang, Chao & Zhao, Yangsheng & Feng, Zijun & Meng, Qiaorong & Wang, Lei & Lu, Yang, 2023. "Thermal maturity and chemical structure evolution of lump long-flame coal during superheated water vapor–based in situ pyrolysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PC).
    3. Ahmed Hussain Elmetwaly & Ramy Adel Younis & Abdelazeem Abdallah Abdelsalam & Ahmed Ibrahim Omar & Mohamed Metwally Mahmoud & Faisal Alsaif & Adel El-Shahat & Mohamed Attya Saad, 2023. "Modeling, Simulation, and Experimental Validation of a Novel MPPT for Hybrid Renewable Sources Integrated with UPQC: An Application of Jellyfish Search Optimizer," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-30, March.
    4. Elfarra, Barakat & Yasmeen, Rizwana & Shah, Wasi Ul Hassan, 2024. "The impact of energy security, energy mix, technological advancement, trade openness, and political stability on energy efficiency: Evidence from Arab countries," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 295(C).
    5. Hagreaves Kumba & Oludolapo A. Olanrewaju & Ratidzo Pasipamire, 2024. "Integration of Renewable Energy Technologies for Sustainable Development in South Africa: A Focus on Grid-Connected PV Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-22, June.
    6. Daiva Makutėnienė & Algirdas Justinas Staugaitis & Bernardas Vaznonis & Gunta Grīnberga-Zālīte, 2023. "The Relationship between Energy Consumption and Economic Growth in the Baltic Countries’ Agriculture: A Non-Linear Framework," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-22, February.
    7. Junqiu Fan & Jing Zhang & Long Yuan & Rujing Yan & Yu He & Weixing Zhao & Nang Nin, 2024. "Deep Low-Carbon Economic Optimization Using CCUS and Two-Stage P2G with Multiple Hydrogen Utilizations for an Integrated Energy System with a High Penetration Level of Renewables," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-20, July.
    8. Evgeny Chupakhin & Olga Babich & Stanislav Sukhikh & Svetlana Ivanova & Ekaterina Budenkova & Olga Kalashnikova & Alexander Prosekov & Olga Kriger & Vyacheslav Dolganyuk, 2022. "Bioengineering and Molecular Biology of Miscanthus," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-14, July.
    9. Simona Domazetovska & Vladimir Strezov & Risto V. Filkoski & Tao Kan, 2023. "Exploring the Potential of Biomass Pyrolysis for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Production: A Comparative Study of Corn Cob, Vine Rod, and Sunflower," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-14, September.
    10. Ćalasan, Martin & Abdel Aleem, Shady H.E. & Hasanien, Hany M. & Alaas, Zuhair M. & Ali, Ziad M., 2023. "An innovative approach for mathematical modeling and parameter estimation of PEM fuel cells based on iterative Lambert W function," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    11. Grzegorz Pełka & Marta Jach-Nocoń & Marcin Paprocki & Artur Jachimowski & Wojciech Luboń & Adam Nocoń & Mateusz Wygoda & Paweł Wyczesany & Przemysław Pachytel & Tomasz Mirowski, 2023. "Comparison of Emissions and Efficiency of Two Types of Burners When Burning Wood Pellets from Different Suppliers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-18, February.
    12. Obu Samson Showers & Sunetra Chowdhury, 2024. "Enhancing Energy Supply Reliability for University Lecture Halls Using Photovoltaic-Battery Microgrids: A South African Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-26, June.
    13. Dauren A. Yessengaliyev & Yerlan U. Zhumagaliyev & Adilbek A. Tazhibayev & Zhomart A. Bekbossynov & Zhadyrassyn S. Sarkulova & Gulya A. Issengaliyeva & Zheniskul U. Zhubandykova & Viktor V. Semenikhin, 2024. "Energy Efficiency Trends in Petroleum Extraction: A Bibliometric Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-13, June.
    14. Yang Ni & Bin Peng & Jiayao Wang & Farshad Golnary & Wei Li, 2023. "A Short Review on the Time-Domain Numerical Simulations for Structural Responses in Horizontal-Axis Offshore Wind Turbines," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-19, December.
    15. Wentao Li & Mingfeng Wang & Fanbin Meng & Yifei Zhang & Bo Zhang, 2022. "A Review on the Effects of Pretreatment and Process Parameters on Properties of Pellets," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-23, October.
    16. Siti Rokhiyah Ahmad Usuldin & Zul Ilham & Adi Ainurzaman Jamaludin & Rahayu Ahmad & Wan Abd Al Qadr Imad Wan-Mohtar, 2023. "Enhancing Biomass-Exopolysaccharides Production of Lignosus rhinocerus in a High-Scale Stirred-Tank Bioreactor and Its Potential Lipid as Bioenergy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-18, February.
    17. Evgeniya I. Lysakova & Andrey V. Minakov & Angelica D. Skorobogatova, 2023. "Effect of Nanoparticle and Carbon Nanotube Additives on Thermal Stability of Hydrocarbon-Based Drilling Fluids," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-20, September.
    18. Shammya Afroze & Amal Najeebah Shalihah Binti Sofri & Md Sumon Reza & Zhanar Baktybaevna Iskakova & Asset Kabyshev & Kairat A. Kuterbekov & Kenzhebatyr Z. Bekmyrza & Lidiya Taimuratova & Mohammad Raki, 2023. "Solar-Powered Water Electrolysis Using Hybrid Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC) for Green Hydrogen—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-22, November.
    19. Lu Wang & Zhijun Jin & Xiaowei Huang & Runchao Liu & Yutong Su & Qian Zhang, 2024. "Hydrogen Adsorption in Porous Geological Materials: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-21, February.
    20. Rafael Ninno Muniz & Carlos Tavares da Costa Júnior & William Gouvêa Buratto & Ademir Nied & Gabriel Villarrubia González, 2023. "The Sustainability Concept: A Review Focusing on Energy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-22, September.

    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:9:p:3881-:d:1389276. 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.