The effects of location, feedstock availability, and supply-chain logistics on the greenhouse gas emissions of forest-biomass energy utilization in Finland
Jäppinen, Eero (2013-10-04)
Väitöskirja
Jäppinen, Eero
04.10.2013
Lappeenranta University of Technology
Acta Universitatis Lappeenrantaensis
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-265-449-6
https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-265-449-6
Tiivistelmä
Forest biomass represents a geographically distributed feedstock, and geographical location
affects the greenhouse gas (GHG) performance of a given forest-bioenergy system in several
ways. For example, biomass availability, forest operations, transportation possibilities and the
distances involved, biomass end-use possibilities, fossil reference systems, and forest carbon
balances all depend to some extent on location. The overall objective of this thesis was to
assess the GHG emissions derived from supply and energy-utilization chains of forest
biomass in Finland, with a specific focus on the effect of location in relation to forest
biomass’s availability and the transportation possibilities. Biomass availability and
transportation-network assessments were conducted through utilization of geographical
information system methods, and the GHG emissions were assessed by means of lifecycle
assessment. The thesis is based on four papers in which forest biomass supply on industrial
scale was assessed. The feedstocks assessed in this thesis include harvesting residues, smalldiameter
energy wood and stumps. The principal implication of the findings in this thesis is
that in Finland, the location and availability of biomass in the proximity of a given energyutilization
or energy-conversion plant is not a decisive factor in supply-chain GHG emissions
or the possible GHG savings to be achieved with forest-biomass energy use. Therefore, for the greatest GHG reductions with limited forest-biomass resources, energy utilization of forest
biomass in Finland should be directed to the locations where most GHG savings are achieved
through replacement of fossil fuels. Furthermore, one should prioritize the types of forest
biomass with the lowest direct supply-chain GHG emissions (e.g., from transport and
comminution) and the lowest indirect ones (in particular, soil carbon-stock losses), regardless
of location. In this respect, the best combination is to use harvesting residues in combined
heat and power production, replacing peat or coal.
affects the greenhouse gas (GHG) performance of a given forest-bioenergy system in several
ways. For example, biomass availability, forest operations, transportation possibilities and the
distances involved, biomass end-use possibilities, fossil reference systems, and forest carbon
balances all depend to some extent on location. The overall objective of this thesis was to
assess the GHG emissions derived from supply and energy-utilization chains of forest
biomass in Finland, with a specific focus on the effect of location in relation to forest
biomass’s availability and the transportation possibilities. Biomass availability and
transportation-network assessments were conducted through utilization of geographical
information system methods, and the GHG emissions were assessed by means of lifecycle
assessment. The thesis is based on four papers in which forest biomass supply on industrial
scale was assessed. The feedstocks assessed in this thesis include harvesting residues, smalldiameter
energy wood and stumps. The principal implication of the findings in this thesis is
that in Finland, the location and availability of biomass in the proximity of a given energyutilization
or energy-conversion plant is not a decisive factor in supply-chain GHG emissions
or the possible GHG savings to be achieved with forest-biomass energy use. Therefore, for the greatest GHG reductions with limited forest-biomass resources, energy utilization of forest
biomass in Finland should be directed to the locations where most GHG savings are achieved
through replacement of fossil fuels. Furthermore, one should prioritize the types of forest
biomass with the lowest direct supply-chain GHG emissions (e.g., from transport and
comminution) and the lowest indirect ones (in particular, soil carbon-stock losses), regardless
of location. In this respect, the best combination is to use harvesting residues in combined
heat and power production, replacing peat or coal.
Kokoelmat
- Väitöskirjat [1037]