LAPSE:2023.28429
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.28429
GHG Emissions and Efficiency of Energy Generation through Anaerobic Fermentation of Wetland Biomass
April 11, 2023
We conducted the Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of energy production from biogas for maize and three types of wetland biomass: reed Phragmites australis, sedges Carex elata, and Carex gracilis, and “grassy vegetation” of wet meadows (WM). Biogas energy produced from maize reached over 90 GJ ha−1, which was more than four times higher than that gained from wetland biomass. However, an estimation of energy efficiency (EE) calculated as a ratio of energy input to the energy produced in a biogas plant showed that the wet fermentation (WF) of maize was similar to the values obtained for dry fermentation (DF) of sedge biomass (~0.30 GJ GJ−1). The greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions released during preparation of the feedstock and operation of the biogas plant were 150 g CO2 eq. kWhel.−1 for DF of sedges and 262 g CO2 eq. kWhel.−1 for WF of Phragmites. Compared to the prevailing coal-based power generation in Central Europe, anaerobic digestion (AD) of wetland biomass could contribute to a reduction in GHG emissions by 74% to 85%. However, calculations covering the GHG emissions during the entire process “from field to field” seem to disqualify AD of conservation biomass as valid low-GHG energy supply technology. Estimated emissions ranged between 795 g CO2 eq. kWhel.−1 for DF of Phragmites and 2738 g CO2 eq. kWhel.−1 for the WM and, in most cases, exceeded those related to fossil fuel technologies.
Keywords
biogas production, conservation biomass, Energy Efficiency, GHG emissions, wetlands
Suggested Citation
Czubaszek R, Wysocka-Czubaszek A, Banaszuk P. GHG Emissions and Efficiency of Energy Generation through Anaerobic Fermentation of Wetland Biomass. (2023). LAPSE:2023.28429
Author Affiliations
Czubaszek R: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A Str., 15-351 Bialystok, Poland [ORCID]
Wysocka-Czubaszek A: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A Str., 15-351 Bialystok, Poland [ORCID]
Banaszuk P: Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A Str., 15-351 Bialystok, Poland [ORCID]
Journal Name
Energies
Volume
13
Issue
24
Article Number
E6497
Year
2020
Publication Date
2020-12-09
Published Version
ISSN
1996-1073
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Original Submission
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PII: en13246497, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.28429
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doi:10.3390/en13246497
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Apr 11, 2023
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