Embodied energy and environmental impacts of a biomass boiler: a life cycle approach
The 2030 policy framework for climate and energy, proposed by the European Commission, aims towards the reduction of European greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in comparison to the 1990 level and to increase the share of renewable energy of at least the 27% of the European's energy consumption of...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AIMS Press
2015-05-01
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| Series: | AIMS Energy |
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| Online Access: | http://www.aimspress.com/energy/article/276/fulltext.html |
| _version_ | 1818471926766501888 |
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| author | Sonia Longo Maurizio Cellura Francesco Guarino Vincenzo La Rocca Giuseppe Maniscalco Massimo Morale |
| author_facet | Sonia Longo Maurizio Cellura Francesco Guarino Vincenzo La Rocca Giuseppe Maniscalco Massimo Morale |
| author_sort | Sonia Longo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The 2030 policy framework for climate and energy, proposed by the European Commission, aims towards the reduction of European greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in comparison to the 1990 level and to increase the share of renewable energy of at least the 27% of the European's energy consumption of 2030. The use of biomass as sustainable and renewable energy source may be a viable tool for achieving the above goals. However, renewable energy technologies are not totally clean because they cause energy and environmental impacts during their life cycle, and in particular they are responsible of air pollutant emissions. In this context, the paper assesses the energy and environmental impacts of a 46 kW biomass boiler by applying the Life Cycle Assessment methodology, as regulated by the international standards of series ISO 14040, ISO 21930 and EN 15804. The following life-cycle steps are included in the analysis: raw materials and energy supply, manufacturing, installation, operation, transport, and end-of-life. The results of the analysis, showing a life-cycle primary energy consumption of about 2,622 GJ and emissions of about 21,664 kg CO<sub>2eq</sub>, can be used as a basis for assessing the real advantages due to the use of biomass boilers for heating and hot water production. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T03:58:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c17e35d1aa0b4bad920a6086a92f7918 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2333-8334 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T03:58:26Z |
| publishDate | 2015-05-01 |
| publisher | AIMS Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AIMS Energy |
| spelling | doaj.art-c17e35d1aa0b4bad920a6086a92f79182022-12-22T02:13:40ZengAIMS PressAIMS Energy2333-83342015-05-013221422610.3934/energy.2015.2.214201502214Embodied energy and environmental impacts of a biomass boiler: a life cycle approachSonia Longo0Maurizio Cellura1Francesco Guarino2Vincenzo La Rocca3Giuseppe Maniscalco4Massimo Morale5Dipartimento di Energia, Ingegneria dell'Informazione e Modelli Matematici—Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDipartimento di Energia, Ingegneria dell'Informazione e Modelli Matematici—Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDipartimento di Energia, Ingegneria dell'Informazione e Modelli Matematici—Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDipartimento di Energia, Ingegneria dell'Informazione e Modelli Matematici—Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDipartimento di Energia, Ingegneria dell'Informazione e Modelli Matematici—Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDipartimento di Energia, Ingegneria dell'Informazione e Modelli Matematici—Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, ItalyThe 2030 policy framework for climate and energy, proposed by the European Commission, aims towards the reduction of European greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in comparison to the 1990 level and to increase the share of renewable energy of at least the 27% of the European's energy consumption of 2030. The use of biomass as sustainable and renewable energy source may be a viable tool for achieving the above goals. However, renewable energy technologies are not totally clean because they cause energy and environmental impacts during their life cycle, and in particular they are responsible of air pollutant emissions. In this context, the paper assesses the energy and environmental impacts of a 46 kW biomass boiler by applying the Life Cycle Assessment methodology, as regulated by the international standards of series ISO 14040, ISO 21930 and EN 15804. The following life-cycle steps are included in the analysis: raw materials and energy supply, manufacturing, installation, operation, transport, and end-of-life. The results of the analysis, showing a life-cycle primary energy consumption of about 2,622 GJ and emissions of about 21,664 kg CO<sub>2eq</sub>, can be used as a basis for assessing the real advantages due to the use of biomass boilers for heating and hot water production.http://www.aimspress.com/energy/article/276/fulltext.htmllife cycle assessmentembodied energybiomass boilerenvironmental impactsrenewable energy technologygreenhouse gas emissions |
| spellingShingle | Sonia Longo Maurizio Cellura Francesco Guarino Vincenzo La Rocca Giuseppe Maniscalco Massimo Morale Embodied energy and environmental impacts of a biomass boiler: a life cycle approach AIMS Energy life cycle assessment embodied energy biomass boiler environmental impacts renewable energy technology greenhouse gas emissions |
| title | Embodied energy and environmental impacts of a biomass boiler: a life cycle approach |
| title_full | Embodied energy and environmental impacts of a biomass boiler: a life cycle approach |
| title_fullStr | Embodied energy and environmental impacts of a biomass boiler: a life cycle approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Embodied energy and environmental impacts of a biomass boiler: a life cycle approach |
| title_short | Embodied energy and environmental impacts of a biomass boiler: a life cycle approach |
| title_sort | embodied energy and environmental impacts of a biomass boiler a life cycle approach |
| topic | life cycle assessment embodied energy biomass boiler environmental impacts renewable energy technology greenhouse gas emissions |
| url | http://www.aimspress.com/energy/article/276/fulltext.html |
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