BIOENERGY FOR EUROPE: WHICH ONES FIT BEST?
BIOENERGY FOR EUROPE: WHICH ONES FIT BEST?
BIOENERGY FOR EUROPE: WHICH ONES FIT BEST?
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22 2 Biofuels under study<br />
2.5 Life cycles of biofuels from residues<br />
2.5.1 Traditional firewood<br />
Figure 2-8 shows the life cycle of traditional firewood from forestry residues in form of wood logs. A<br />
comparison was carried out with two fossil fuels: light oil and natural gas. The utilisation of the firewood<br />
is for residential heat production.<br />
The left hand side of the diagram shows the various steps of conventional fuel production, whereas<br />
the right hand column represents the biofuel chain. These factors are described in some more detail<br />
below.<br />
Natural gas<br />
production<br />
Winning of<br />
natural gas<br />
Desulphurisation<br />
Transport<br />
(Pipeline)<br />
Combustion<br />
alternatively instead<br />
of oil production<br />
Light oil<br />
production<br />
Winning of<br />
crude oil<br />
Transport<br />
(Pipeline, Tanker)<br />
Refining<br />
Transport<br />
to end user<br />
Combustion<br />
Firewood<br />
production<br />
Forw arding of wood<br />
Cutting<br />
Transport<br />
Combustion<br />
Figure 2-8 Schematic life cycle comparison of firewood for heat production versus light oil and natural<br />
gas respectively<br />
Details of the life cycle steps<br />
Fossil fuel chain: The crude oil is extracted in OPEC-countries and transported to Europe using average<br />
distances. In Europe the oil is refined in order to produce light oil for combustion in heating plants.<br />
The alternative fossil fuel chain is that for natural gas. In this case the gas is exploited in Norway and<br />
the Confederation of Independent States (in equal shares) transported and compressed, processed and<br />
distributed to the end user. Combustion takes place in small-scale residential heating systems. These<br />
assumptions are based on expert judgements and are considered to represent the marginal technology.<br />
Biofuel chain: Since firewood is a residue of forestry, there are no credits to be taken into account. The<br />
reference system in this case is to leave the wood in the forest. Therefore only the additional processes<br />
associated with firewood production are considered: the wood is forwarded to a storage place, cut and<br />
transported to the end user.<br />
Utilisation: All three fuels are balanced with regard to combustion for residential heating on the basis<br />
of MJ heat output.
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