Life cycle human health and ecotoxicological impacts assessment of electricity production from wood biomass compared to coal fuel

Weldu, Yemane W.; Assefa, Getachew; Jolliet, Olivier

doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.11.101

Cited by 47 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…There are no doubts that coal use results in environmental degradation and causes negative health consequences [20,21]. According to [22], where the human health and ecotoxicological impacts of electricity production from wood to coal fuel were compared, "Improvements in power plant efficiency, silviculture management, and reduced transport distance have the potential to reduce the respiratory effects of bioenergy systems." In terms of emissions, studies mainly deal with pollutant emissions produced by the combustion of solid fuels by households or industrial activities [23][24][25][26].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

CO2 Efficiency Break Points for Processes Associated to Wood and Coal Transport and Heating

et al. 2019

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This paper aims to deal with CO2 emissions in energy production process in an original way, based on calculations of total specific CO2 emissions, depending on the type of fuel and the transport distance. This paper has ambition to set a break point from where it is not worthwhile to use wood as an energy carrier as the alternative to coal. The reason for our study is the social urgency of selected problem. For example, in the area of public sector decision-making, wood heating is promoted regardless of the availability within the reasonable distance. From the current state of the research, it is also clear that none of the studies compare coal and biomass fuel transportation from the point of view of CO2 production. For this purpose, an original methodology has been proposed. It is based on a modified life cycle assessment (LCA), supplemented with a system of equations. The proposed methodology has a generalizable nature, and therefore, it can be applied to different regions. However, calculation inputs and modelling are based on specific site data. Based on the presented numerical analysis, the key finding is the break point for associated processes at a distance of 1779.64 km, since when that it is better to burn brown coal than wood in terms of total CO2 emissions. We can conclude that, in some cases, it is more efficient to use coal instead of wood as fuel in terms of CO2 emissions, particularly in regard to transport distance and type of transport.

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Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

CO2 Efficiency Break Points for Processes Associated to Wood and Coal Transport and Heating

et al. 2019

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“…Several recent studies have focused on the life cycle assessment of human health impacts related to biofuel production. For instance, Weldu et al [21] analyzed the human health impacts of electricity production from wood biomass in Alberta, Canada, and concluded that bioenergy pathways showed better performance in human health, but not in respiratory effects. Yang [17] investigated the life cycle human cancer-and non-cancer-effects of corn ethanol production in the U.S.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human Health Impacts of Aviation Biofuel Production: Exploring the Application of Different Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) Methods for Biofuel Supply Chains

2020

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The life cycle human health (HH) impacts related to aviation biofuels have been understood in a limited way. Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods for assessing HH are often associated with a high level of uncertainty and a low level of consensus. As a result, it remains challenging to perform a robust assessment of HH impacts with a suitable LCIA method. This study aims to systematically compare six commonly used LCIA methods for quantifying HH impacts, in order to empirically understand the potential impacts of aviation biofuel production on HH and how the results are affected by the choice of methods. Three aviation biofuel production pathways based on different feedstocks (sugarcane, eucalyptus, and macauba) were analyzed and compared to fossil aviation biofuels, on the basis of a functional unit of 1 MJ aviation fuel. The majority of the LCIA methods suggest that, in respect to midpoint impacts, macauba-based biofuel is associated with the lowest impacts and eucalyptus-based biofuel the highest; whereas at endpoint level, the results are more scattered. The LCIA methods agree that biomass conversion into aviation biofuel, H2 production, and feedstock cultivation are major contributors to life cycle HH impacts. Additionally, we provide a guideline for determining an appropriate method for assessing HH impacts.

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“…Meanwhile, it has led to many researchers predicting that coal will remain the biggest energy source for China in the foreseeable future (Meng & Xiong, 2018). However, low efficiency of coal consumption has induced huge pollution emissions and severe environmental destruction, which is widely acknowledged as one important contributor to the growing rate of various diseases such as lung cancer, respiratory illness, and cardiovascular disease (Qu, Xu, Qu, Yan, & Wang, 2017;Weldu, Assefa, & Jolliet, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Technical Characteristics in the Diffusion of Cleaner Residential Heating System in China: The Case of Air-Source Heat Pump Technology

Zhou

et al. 2019

Tropical Conservation Science

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This study aims to explore the technical characteristics that affect user satisfaction with air-source heat pump technology which is recognized as one typical cleaner residential heating system and being promoted in China in response to the national "coal to electricity" policy. Moderated hierarchical linear regression analysis was conducted to analyze data from a questionnaire survey of 256 residents in suburban Beijing. Empirical results indicated that product convenience, product design, product reliability, product knowledge, and total cost, respectively, affect user satisfaction, but product safety has no significant effect on user satisfaction. Meanwhile, total cost is an important contingent factor that might weaken the positive effects of product convenience (or product design) on user satisfaction. Our research provides empirical evidence for identifying factors that influence user satisfaction with cleaner residential heating system in response to new energy policy and further provides useful managerial implications for market practice.

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Life cycle human health and ecotoxicological impacts assessment of electricity production from wood biomass compared to coal fuel

Cited by 47 publications

References 22 publications

CO2 Efficiency Break Points for Processes Associated to Wood and Coal Transport and Heating

CO2 Efficiency Break Points for Processes Associated to Wood and Coal Transport and Heating

Human Health Impacts of Aviation Biofuel Production: Exploring the Application of Different Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) Methods for Biofuel Supply Chains

Technical Characteristics in the Diffusion of Cleaner Residential Heating System in China: The Case of Air-Source Heat Pump Technology

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