Energy recovery and GHG impact assessment of biomass, polymers, and coal

Energy recovery and GHG impact assessment of biomass, polymers, and coal

By Dr. A.C. (Thanos) Bourtsalas
Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
Earth Engineering Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA

Journal: Energy, Volume 285, 15 December 2023, 129393

Dr. Thanos Bourtsalas (PhD) acting Director of the Earth Engineering Center of Columbia University, has released a new paper “Energy recovery and GHG impact assessment of biomass, polymers, and coal” which has been published in “Energy” an international, multi-disciplinary journal in energy engineering and research. The journal covers research in mechanical engineering and thermal sciences, with a strong focus on energy analysis, energy modelling and prediction, integrated energy systems, energy planning and energy management. The journal also welcomes papers on related topics such as energy conservation, energy efficiency, biomass and bioenergy, renewable energy, electricity supply and demand, energy storage, energy in buildings, and on economic and policy issues, provided such topics are within the context of the broader multi-disciplinary scope of Energy.

This article evaluates over 200 different materials, including biomass, polymers, and coal. It assesses their energy potential and GHG impacts under thermal and anaerobic conditions.

Abstract:
In recent decades, rising energy consumption, population growth, and material production have contributed to environmental degradation. Harnessing the chemical energy in these materials in a circular economy can mitigate these issues. While recycling processes recover valuable constituents, significant post-recycling fractions remain viable for energy recovery. This study investigates the energy recovery potential from biomass materials via combustion, gasification, and anaerobic treatment, and from polymers and coal through combustion and gasification. Some materials not typically considered for combustion, such as food and green waste, are included due to their potential processing in combustion plants. Using thermodynamic principles, we assess the limits and opportunities for sustainable energy recovery across 200 materials, identifying correlations between the heating value and compositional analyses. The study also estimates the potential products and environmental impacts of energy production from these materials. Despite their lower heating value, biomass materials offer considerable net carbon reductions, but land use, water consumption, public health issues, and feedstock supply risks warrant consideration. Biomass combustion yields lower carbon emissions than polymer or coal combustion. Biomass and polymer gasification show high potential due to their higher H₂/CO ratios. Anaerobic treatment of biomass materials generates significant methane, offering modest energy output. Synthetic polymers possess high heating values, comparable to fossil fuels, and provide net CO₂ emission benefits, although substantially lower than those of biomass materials. Biomass combustion or gasification results in significantly lower NO_x and SO_x emissions compared to polymers and coal. Accounting for energy output, biomass gasification generates the lowest emissions per MJ.