EU Directive 2009/28/CE sets challenging goals for renewable energy by 2020 but also strict requirements for the sustainability of bioenergy and biofuels, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) saving from fossil fuel substitution (60% from 2018). Different biomass-to-energy pathways are examined in terms of Energy Return on Energy Invested (EROEI) and GHG emissions, in order to verify the compliance with EU limits. First, the study analyses biofuels produced from various types of biomass. Biodiesel from different microalgae species (Botryococcus braunii, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Spirulina) is compared with first generation biofuels (biodiesel from oilseed crops and bioethanol from sugarbeet), and with second generation biofuels from woody biomass. The analysis shows that the primary energy requirement to produce 1 MJ of biodiesel from Botrycoccus algae is 0,60-0,65 MJ, similarly to the case of biofuels from oilseed crops, sugarbeet and woody biomass (0,60-0,85 MJ). Biodiesel production from other microalgae species is not competitive, since the energy requirement exceeds the energy content of the biofuel. The second part of the study aims to compare energy production from different small scale power plants (1 and 10 MWe): diesel engines fuelled with raw bio-oil from algae and oilseed crops, spark engines fuelled with bioethanol from sugarbeet and woody biomass, Organic Rankine Cycle fired with wood chips. The calculations show that electricity production from algae and other biomass crops does not meet EU sustainability requirements. The GHG emission saving from the use of biofuels and bioliquids fulfil the EU criteria only in the case of biodiesel from sunflower (around 65% GHG saving) fired in a diesel engine and of wood chips (from 60 to 90% GHG saving) used in a ORC plant. Cultivation, harvesting, processing, transport and energy conversion phases are taken into account considering specific contributions in terms of land use emissions, feedstock, and energy consumptions.

ALGAENRG: Sustainability analysis of bioenergy and biofuels from algae according to EU renewable directive / Garofani, G.; Crocetta, Andrea; CERINO ABDIN, Giulio; Noussan, Michel; Poggio, Alberto; Roberto, R.. - STAMPA. - (2012). (Intervento presentato al convegno The 2nd International Conference on Algal Biomass, Biofuels and Bioproducts tenutosi a San Diego (USA) nel 10-13 june 2012).

ALGAENRG: Sustainability analysis of bioenergy and biofuels from algae according to EU renewable directive

CROCETTA, ANDREA;CERINO ABDIN, GIULIO;NOUSSAN, MICHEL;POGGIO, ALBERTO;
2012

Abstract

EU Directive 2009/28/CE sets challenging goals for renewable energy by 2020 but also strict requirements for the sustainability of bioenergy and biofuels, in terms of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) saving from fossil fuel substitution (60% from 2018). Different biomass-to-energy pathways are examined in terms of Energy Return on Energy Invested (EROEI) and GHG emissions, in order to verify the compliance with EU limits. First, the study analyses biofuels produced from various types of biomass. Biodiesel from different microalgae species (Botryococcus braunii, Dunaliella tertiolecta, Spirulina) is compared with first generation biofuels (biodiesel from oilseed crops and bioethanol from sugarbeet), and with second generation biofuels from woody biomass. The analysis shows that the primary energy requirement to produce 1 MJ of biodiesel from Botrycoccus algae is 0,60-0,65 MJ, similarly to the case of biofuels from oilseed crops, sugarbeet and woody biomass (0,60-0,85 MJ). Biodiesel production from other microalgae species is not competitive, since the energy requirement exceeds the energy content of the biofuel. The second part of the study aims to compare energy production from different small scale power plants (1 and 10 MWe): diesel engines fuelled with raw bio-oil from algae and oilseed crops, spark engines fuelled with bioethanol from sugarbeet and woody biomass, Organic Rankine Cycle fired with wood chips. The calculations show that electricity production from algae and other biomass crops does not meet EU sustainability requirements. The GHG emission saving from the use of biofuels and bioliquids fulfil the EU criteria only in the case of biodiesel from sunflower (around 65% GHG saving) fired in a diesel engine and of wood chips (from 60 to 90% GHG saving) used in a ORC plant. Cultivation, harvesting, processing, transport and energy conversion phases are taken into account considering specific contributions in terms of land use emissions, feedstock, and energy consumptions.
2012
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11583/2501602
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