A life cycle evaluation of wood pellet gasification for district heating in British Columbia

Ann Pa; Xiaotao T Bi; Shahab Sokhansanj

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2011.02.009

A life cycle evaluation of wood pellet gasification for district heating in British Columbia

Bioresour Technol. 2011 May;102(10):6167-77. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.02.009. Epub 2011 Feb 5.

Authors

Ann Pa¹, Xiaotao T Bi, Shahab Sokhansanj

Affiliation

¹ Clean Energy Research Centre for University of British Columbia, 2360 East Mall Vancouver, BC, Canada.

PMID: 21377867
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.02.009

Abstract

The replacement of natural gas combustion for district heating by wood waste and wood pellets gasification systems with or without emission control has been investigated by a streamlined LCA. While stack emissions from controlled gasification systems are lower than the applicable regulations, compared to the current base case, 12% and 133% increases are expected in the overall human health impacts for wood pellets and wood waste, respectively. With controlled gasification, external costs and GHG emission can be reduced by 35% and 82% on average, respectively. Between wood pellets and wood waste, wood pellets appear to be the better choice as it requires less primary energy and has a much lower impact on the local air quality.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

British Columbia
Gases*
Wood*

Substances

Gases