(618e) Life Cycle Assessment of Products From Pyrolysis BioOil: Heat and Power Generation

Evidence of fossil fuel-induced climate change and national energy security needs are creating the desire to establish an improved transportation system based on sustainable biomass. Thermochemical-based conversions leading to replacement of petroleum-based fuels have not been an emphasis of recent large-scale research support from the government. Furthermore, the potential of forest lands, which the Department of Energy estimates could provide 1/3 of annual biomass supply, has not yet been a focus of government research investment. This life cycle assessment investigated the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fossil energy demands for energy products obtained from forest resources through pyrolysis-based processing. The GHG emissions of producing pyrolysis oil from different forest resources was first investigated; logging residues collected from natural regeneration mixed hardwood stands, hybrid poplar cultivated and harvested from abandoned agricultural lands, and hybrid willow plantations. Effects of site biomass productivity were investigated through a range of distance to a central wood chips processing facility through road transport by semi-truck and trailer. Biorenewable pyrolysis oil is assumed to be converted to electrical power through conventional steam boiler and turbine, and results are compared to power generated using coal and natural gas. Results of this study consider other more efficient power generation schemes including using pyrolysis oil directly in a stationary diesel engine and gas turbine with combined cycle.