Environmental systems analysis of biogas systems - Part II: The environmental impact of replacing various reference systems
Author
Summary, in English
This paper analyses the overall environmental impact when biogas systems are introduced and replace various reference systems for energy generation, waste management and agricultural production. The analyses are based on Swedish conditions using a life-cycle perspective. The biogas systems included are based on different combinations of raw materials and final use of the biogas produced (heat, power and transportation fuel). A general conclusion is that biogas systems normally lead to environmental improvements, which in some cases are considerable. This is often due to indirect environmental benefits of changed land use and handling of organic waste products (e.g. reduced nitrogen leaching, emissions of ammonia and methane), which often exceed the direct environmental benefits achieved when fossil fuels are replaced by biogas (e.g. reduced emissions of carbon dioxide and air pollutants). Such indirect benefits are seldom considered when biogas is evaluated from an environmental point of view. The environmental impact from different biogas systems can, however, vary significantly due to factors such as the raw materials utilised, energy service provided and reference system replaced. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Department/s
Publishing year
2007
Language
English
Pages
326-344
Publication/Series
Biomass & Bioenergy
Volume
31
Issue
5
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Elsevier
Topic
- Energy Systems
Keywords
- life cycle perspective
- fossil fuel systems
- organic waste
- anaerobic digestion
- energy crops
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1873-2909