Carbon Implications of Converting a Coal-Fired Power Plant to Combustion of Torrefied Arundo Donax
The production of electricity from energy crops in existing coal-fired power plants is a viable alternative to produce renewable baseload power and sequester carbon. The pulverization systems in coal plants can be easily adapted to grind biomass if the fibrous structure of lignocellulosic biomass is...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Applied bioenergy 2014-10, Vol.1 (1) |
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Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | The production of electricity from energy crops
in existing coal-fired power plants is a viable alternative
to produce renewable baseload power and sequester
carbon. The pulverization systems in coal plants can be
easily adapted to grind biomass if the fibrous structure
of lignocellulosic biomass is weakened by torrefaction.
The objective of this paper is to evaluate the carbon
implications of using torrefied Arundo donax as a
replacement fuel for a combustion steam turbine generator.
This assessment encompasses the carbon impacts of
transportation, agriculture, torrefaction and combustion.
Data derive from field measurements of Arundo agronomy,
laboratory measurements of the torrefaction process and
literature research of agricultural and transportation
practices. Findings show that the agricultural machinery
operations, agricultural inputs (fertilizer, irrigation, etc.)
and transportation contributions to carbon emissions are
minimal, contributing less than 1 % to total emissions.
The vast majority of emissions arise from the biomass
torrefaction and combustion processes. These emissions
are largely offset by biomass farming, with carbon
sequestration above ground and below ground driving
net carbon emissions to very low levels. Below ground
sequestration contributes to a net negative emissions
profile, at least until saturation of soil organic content. |
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ISSN: | 2300-3553 2300-3553 |
DOI: | 10.2478/apbi-2014-0002 |