Life cycle modelling and environmental impact assessment of energy production supply chains based on a biomass pyrolysis densification process

Topical environmental burdens associated with potential biomass-to-electricity supply chains based on the slow pyrolysis densification process were studied using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The cumulative energy demand, emissions of greenhouse gases, and land occupation were examined. The LCA methodology appeared an effective tool for the investigation of bio-energy systems under a life cycle perspective and for the identification of the most critical aspects of the supply chains. Some crops have the potential to yield higher amounts of pyrolysis products per hectare (sorghum) but this inherent benefit can be offset in other stages of the life cycle, such as the inputs of fertilizers and the energy requested during the biomass production and the energy requests during biomass conditioning before pyrolysis. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 19th International Congress of Chemical and Process Engineering and 7th European Congress of Chemical Engineering (Prague, Czech Republic 8/28/2010-9/1/2010).