DSM Pocket Guidebook Volume 5: Renewable and Related ... - NREL

finding o suitable site. The time required for permitting is high sitespecific
.
• ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
In comparison to burning cool, biomass combustion offers significant
environmental benefits through reduced emissions of S02, N02, and
ash. Biomass is virtually free of sulfur and thus eliminates the precursor
of S02 and acid rain. The growth of biomass resources provides o sink
for atmospheric C02 that offsets the combustion emissions of C02 from
biomass electricity production-thus providing o power option that is
C02 neutral. The level of particulates is higher from burning biomass
than from cool.
Water quality impacts of biomass systems ore potentially less than
cool-fueled system impacts. Water usage by combustion is comparable
to cool-fueled systems. Feedstock growth may require Iorge quantities
of water and petro-chemical-based fertilizer, which raises concerns
about nutrient run-off and the absolute renewable nature of the
biomass feedstock. The harvesting ond handling of wood presents
occupational hozords comparable to cool mining. Biomass power production
hos fewer long-term heoh risks thon cool-fired systems (for
example, chronic lung disease). long-term ecological effects ond the
sustoinobility of soil productivity ore issues unique to the biomass fuel
resource, but present indications suggest that it is possible to enhance
the quality of forests through appropriate monogement techniques .
• LAND AREA REQUIREMENTS
To generate 150 MW of electricity, 64,000 acres (25,900 hoi of lond
would be required for growing low-cost, high-productivity energy crops
such os woody crop fuels or perennial grosses. Approximate 1/7 of
the 64,000 acres would be harvested annually. This is approximately
60 acres per MW (24.6 ho/MWI .
• CURRENT COSTS AND TRENDS
Tobie R-4 summarizes current costs. Figure R-7 illustrates the projected
future levelized costs to gene rote electricity from biomass using various
conversion processes.
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