A Path Forward for Low Carbon Power from Biomass
| Autor: | Howard J. Herzog, Amanda D. Cuellar |
|---|---|
| Přispěvatelé: | MIT Energy Initiative, Herzog, Howard J. |
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2015 |
| Předmět: |
Control and Optimization
Natural resource economics Energy Engineering and Power Technology Biomass Carbon sequestration lcsh:Technology jel:Q40 Bioenergy jel:Q jel:Q43 jel:Q42 jel:Q41 Economics jel:Q48 jel:Q47 Electrical and Electronic Engineering co-firing biomass CCS renewable energy bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration (BECCS) negative emissions Engineering (miscellaneous) jel:Q49 Renewable Energy Sustainability and the Environment business.industry lcsh:T jel:Q0 jel:Q4 Renewable energy Carbon neutrality Biofuel Greenhouse gas business Low-carbon power Energy (miscellaneous) |
| Zdroj: | Energies Volume 8 Issue 3 Pages 1701-1715 Energies, Vol 8, Iss 3, Pp 1701-1715 (2015) MDPI Publishing |
| ISSN: | 1996-1073 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/en8031701 |
| Popis: | The two major pathways for energy utilization from biomass are conversion to a liquid fuel (i.e., biofuels) or conversion to electricity (i.e., biopower). In the United States (US), biomass policy has focused on biofuels. However, this paper will investigate three options for biopower: low co-firing (co-firing scenarios refer to combusting a given percentage of biomass with coal) (5%–10% biomass), medium co-firing (15%–20% biomass), and dedicated biomass firing (100% biomass). We analyze the economic and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions impact of each of these options, with and without CO[subscript 2] capture and storage (CCS). Our analysis shows that in the absence of land use change emissions, all biomass co-combustion scenarios result in a decrease in GHG emissions over coal generation alone. The two biggest barriers to biopower are concerns about carbon neutrality of biomass fuels and the high cost compared to today’s electricity prices. This paper recommends two policy actions. First, the need to define sustainability criteria and initiate a certification process so that biomass providers have a fixed set of guidelines to determine whether their feedstocks qualify as renewable energy sources. Second, the need for a consistent, predictable policy that provides the economic incentives to make biopower economically attractive. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|