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BIOENERGY FOR EUROPE: WHICH ONES FIT BEST?

BIOENERGY FOR EUROPE: WHICH ONES FIT BEST?

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7.2 Comparisons between the countries for each biofuel 165<br />

7.2.8 Traditional firewood versus light oil for residential heating:<br />

relative impact differences related to fossil fuels<br />

200%<br />

100%<br />

0%<br />

-100%<br />

Use of fossil fuels<br />

Greenhouse effect<br />

How to interpret the diagram<br />

Ozone Depletion by N2O<br />

Acidification<br />

Eutrophication<br />

Summer smog<br />

Human toxicity<br />

Austria<br />

Italy<br />

Switzerland<br />

Europe<br />

Environmental advantages and disadvantages of firewood compared to light oil for each country involved<br />

as well as for Europe are shown by relative differences between the biofuels and the fossil fuel:<br />

(biofuel – fossil fuel) / fossil fuel. The zero line indicates the level for fossil fuels. Therefore negative<br />

values indicate advantages for firewood and positive ones represent advantages for light oil. For example,<br />

assuming the production and combustion of fossil fuel causes an emission of 1 kg of N2O (Ozone<br />

depletion), then a value of -100 % means no net N2O emissions in the case of the biofuel, 0 % means 1<br />

kg N2O (i.e. the same as the fossil fuel), 100 % means 2 kg N2O and so on.<br />

Remarks and conclusions<br />

Regarding the parameters use of fossil fuels, greenhouse effect and ozone depletion, the results are<br />

similar for all three countries. Regarding eutrophication, Switzerland shows a very high value, which is<br />

caused by an very high NOX emissions of the combustion. The differences for acidification and summer<br />

smog among the countries and among the biofuel and fossil fuels are rather small and to be regarded as<br />

less significant.

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