Life Cycle Assessment of Biomass Conversion Pathways

• Author / Creator

  Kabir, Md R

• This study has investigated the life cycle of three biomass feedstocks including forest residue, agricultural residue, and whole forest for biohydrogen and biopower production in Alberta. Three technologies are studied for biohydrogen production; these include the Battelle Columbus Laboratory gasifier, the Gas Technology Institute gasifier, and fast pyrolysis. The life cycle greenhouse gas emissions for nine biohydrogen pathways lie in the range of 1.20–8.1 kg CO2eq/kg H2. Biomass feedstocks in various forms (chip, bale, pellet, and torrefied pellet) are analyzed for direct and parallel co-firing technology. Biomass can be co-fired with coal in the scale of 7.53−20.45%, depending on the types of feedstocks and densification technologies. The life cycle greenhouse gas emissions for nine biopower pathways lie in the range of 957−1091 kgCO2eq/MWh. This study also analyzes the life cycle acid rain and ground level ozone precursor emissions, and evaluates net energy ratio for various biohydrogen and biopower pathways.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Life-cycle assessment
  • Biopower
  • Net energy ratio
  • GHG emissions
  • Co-firing
  • Biohydrogen

• Graduation date

  Spring 2012

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3TW55

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.