BIOENERGY FOR EUROPE: WHICH ONES FIT BEST?

4.2 European results: biofuels compared to fossil fuels 53
4.2.2 Willow versus light oil / natural gas for district heat production
Use of fossil fuels
Greenhouse effect
Acidification
Eutrophication
Summer smog
Nitrous oxide**
Human toxicity**
* How to interpret the diagram
Advantages for
biofuel
Advantages for
fossil fuel
Light oil
Natural gas
-1000 -800 -600 -400 -200 0 200 400 600 800 1000
European inhabitant equivalents* per 100 TJ
The figure shows the results of comparisons between complete life cycles where light oil and natural
gas respectively are substituted by willow for heat production. The unit refers to an amount of 100 TJ of
heat. This is equivalent to the average heat requirement of about 4,000 inhabitants of Europe in one year
or a willow production of about 900 ha/a. In this case for example the amount of fossil fuel saved if
willow replaces either of the fossil fuels is equal to the amount which nearly 800 European citizens
would on average consume in one year (this is what is meant by “European inhabitant equivalents”).
Remarks and conclusions
The results show that both willow as well as light oil and natural gas have certain ecological advantages
and disadvantages.
• Advantages of the biofuel: use of fossil fuels, greenhouse effect, summer smog (small)
• Advantages of the fossil fuel: acidification, eutrophication
• Low or no significance: –
The data for ozone depletion and human toxicity tend to have a high uncertainty. Therefore these categories
should not be included in the final assessment. (**See Chapter 4.1.2 and for details on all impact
categories 3.3 and 3.4)
A further assessment in favour of or against willow or light oil / natural gas cannot be carried out
on a scientific basis, because for this purpose subjective value judgements regarding the individual environmental
categories are required which differ from person to person.