The carbon neutrality assumption for forest bioenergy: A case study for northwestern Ontario

2011 ◽  
Vol 87 (05) ◽  
pp. 644-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Ter-Mikaelian ◽  
Jon McKechnie ◽  
Stephen Colombo ◽  
Jiaxin Chen ◽  
Heather MacLean
Keyword(s):  
Total Carbon ◽  
Wood Pellets ◽  
Wood Pellet ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Resource Inventory ◽  
Forest Resource Inventory ◽  
Carbon Neutral ◽  
Forest Age Structure

Minimum break-even and carbon-neutral periods resulting from displacing coal with wood pellets for energy generation at the Atikokan Generating Station (GS) were estimated using forest resource inventory for four forest management units (FMU) in northwestern Ontario. The break-even period was defined as the time since harvest at which the combined greenhouse gas (GHG) benefit of displacing coal with wood pellets and the amount of carbon in the regenerating forest equalled the amount of carbon in the forest had it not been harvested for wood pellets. The carbon-neutral period was defined as the time since harvest at which the amount of carbon in the regenerating forest equalled the amount of carbon in the forest had it not been harvested for wood pellets. Theoretically achievable minimum break-even and carbon-neutral periods were estimated as equal to 18 and 28 years after harvest, respectively. However, for the current forest age structure in the selected FMUs, production of wood pellets required for operation of the Atikokan GS would result in a minimum break-even period of 32 years after harvest. These results must be treated as optimistic since we assumed that all forest was available for harvest for wood pellet production, applied the “best” post-harvest silvicultural regime, and may have underestimated merchantable volume and total carbon stocks in older stands.

scholarly journals Exploring Carbon Neutral Potential in Urban Densification: A Precinct Perspective and Scenario Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 4814
Author(s):  
Bin Huang ◽  
Ke Xing ◽  
Stephen Pullen ◽  
Lida Liao
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Scenario Analysis ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Carbon Reduction ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Carbon Neutral ◽  
Carbon Performance

Decarbonising the urban built environment for reaching carbon neutrality is high on the agenda for many cities undergoing rapid expansion and densification. As an important urban form, precincts have been increasingly focused on as the context for urban redevelopment planning and at the forefront for trialling carbon reduction measures. However, due to interplays between the built forms and the occupancy, the carbon performance of a precinct is significantly affected by morphological variations, demographical changes, and renewable energy system deployment. Despite much research on the development of low-carbon precincts, there is limited analysis on aggregated effects of population growth, building energy efficiency, renewable energy penetration, and carbon reduction targets in relation to precinct carbon signature and carbon neutral potential for precinct redevelopment and decarbonisation planning. In this paper, an integrated carbon assessment model, including overall precinct carbon emissions and carbon offset contributed by precinct-scale renewable energy harvesting, is developed and applied to examine the lifecycle carbon signature of urban precincts. Using a case study on a residential precinct redevelopment, scenario analysis is employed to explore opportunities for decarbonising densification development and the carbon neutral potential. Results from scenario analysis indicate that redevelopment of buildings with higher-rated energy efficiency and increase of renewable energy penetration can have a long term positive impact on the carbon performance of urban precincts. Meanwhile, demographical factors in precinct evolution also have a strong influence on a precinct’s carbon neutral potential. Whilst population size exerts upward pressure on total carbon emissions, changes in family types and associated consumption behaviour, such as travelling, can make positive contributions to carbon reduction. The analysis also highlights the significance of embodied carbon to the total carbon signature and the carbon reduction potential of a precinct during densification, reinforcing the notion that “develop with less” is as important as carbon offsetting measures for decarbonising the precinct toward carbon neutrality.

scholarly journals Achieving Carbon Neutral Airport Operations By 2025: The Case of Sydney Airport, Australia

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Glenn Baxter
Keyword(s):  
Case Study Research ◽  
Carbon Reduction ◽  
Instrumental Case Study ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Level 3 ◽  
Carbon Neutral

AbstractUsing a qualitative instrumental case study research design, this study examines the strategies and carbon reduction measures implemented by Sydney Airport to achieve their goal of being a carbon neutral airport by 2025. The study period was from 2013 to 2019. The qualitative data was analyzed using document analysis. Sydney Airport has implemented a wide range of carbon reduction measures that underpin its strategy to become a carbon neutral airport. Sydney Airport’s annual emissions intensity per passenger declined in each year examined in study. Sydney Airport has participated in the Airports Council International Airport Carbon Accreditation Program since 2014 and currently holds Accreditation Level 3: Optimization. Sydney Airport’s goal is to be awarded Accreditation Level 3+: Carbon Neutrality by 2025. Sydney Airport has a carbon offsets agreement in place with a not-for-profit organization.

scholarly journals From Nearly Zero Energy to Carbon-Neutral: Case Study of a Hospitality Building

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (21) ◽  
pp. 10148
Author(s):  
Francesco Causone ◽  
Anita Tatti ◽  
Andrea Alongi
Keyword(s):  
Operational Definition ◽  
Explicit Calculation ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Urban Buildings ◽  
Zero Energy Building ◽  
Carbon Neutral ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The City

In recent years, many cities around the world have pledged to upgrade their building stocks to carbon-neutral. However, the literature does not yet provide a shared definition of carbon-neutral building (CNB), and the assessment objectives and methodological approaches are vague and fragmented. Starting from the available standards and scientific literature on life cycle assessment (LCA), this paper advances an operational definition for CNB on the basis of an explicit calculation approach. It then applies the definition to an urban case study, comparing it against a state-of-the-art nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) scenario, with the intent of highlighting the major practical limitations connected to the application of a methodologically sound carbon neutrality calculation. The case study shows that carbon neutral objectives can hardly be achieved by single urban buildings because of the lack of spaces that can provide onsite carbon offsetting actions. Carbon neutrality may be better approached at the city, regional, or national scales, where overarching policies may be defined.

Pollutant emission from a heat station supplied with agriculture biomass and wood pellet mixture

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Juszczak ◽  
Katarzyna Lossy
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Pollutant Emission ◽  
Heat Output ◽  
Wood Pellets ◽  
Wood Pellet ◽  
Carbon Monoxide Concentration ◽  
Heat Efficiency ◽  
Air Stream ◽  
Fuel Mixtures ◽  
Lower Carbon

Pollutant emission from a heat station supplied with agriculture biomass and wood pellet mixtureTests for combustion of hay and sunflower husk pellets mixed with wood pellets were performed in a horizontal-feed as well as under-feed (retort) wood pellet furnace installed in boilers with a nominal heat output of 15 and 20 kW, located in a heat station. During the combustion a slagging phenomenon was observed in the furnaces. In order to lower the temperature in the furnace, fuel feeding rate was reduced with unaltered air stream rate. The higher the proportion of wood pellets in the mixture the lower carbon monoxide concentration. The following results of carbon monoxide concentration (in mg/m3presented for 10% O2content in flue gas) for different furnaces and fuel mixtures (proportion in wt%) were obtained: horizontal-feed furnace supplied with hay/wood: 0/100 - 326; 30/70 - 157; 50/50 - 301; 100/0 - 3300; horizontal-feed furnace supplied with sunflower husk/wood: 50/50 - 1062; 67/33 - 1721; 100/0 - 3775; under-feed (retort) furnace supplied with hay/wood: 0/100 - 90; 15/85 - 157; 30/70 - 135; 50/50 - 5179; under-feed furnace supplied with sunflower husk/wood: 67/33 - 2498; 100/0 - 3128. Boiler heat output and heat efficiency was low: 7 to 13 kW and about 55%, respectively, for the boiler with horizontal-feed furnace and 9 to 14 kW and 64%, respectively, for the boiler with under-feed furnace.

Urban climate policy and the Nordic potential for carbon neutrality - the case study of city of Helsinki

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 57-76
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Dośpiał-Borysiak
Keyword(s):  
Public Involvement ◽  
Urban Climate ◽  
Central Place ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Political Climate ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Climate Policies ◽  
Inclusive Approach

The aim of this article is to discuss urban climate policies, with a special focus on Helsinki, the fast growing capital of Finland. The preconditionfor the study is that metropolitan areas in Finland hold a central place fornational climate policies due to their population and economic impact. Thecase study proves that the city, which had disadvantageous conditions for climatesolutions in the early 90’s, has successfully remodelled its approach andpresently joins the group of world cities declaring carbon neutrality in comingyears. The change was possible due to a favourable political climate, a multistakeholderand inclusive approach, public involvement, and the correlationbetween public and private initiatives. The study is based on statistical data,institutional analysis, and a comparison of the strategic documents of the cityof Helsinki in the area of climate planning.

scholarly journals Penanaman Kaliandra Sebagai Kayu Energi dan Hijauan Makanan Ternak Pada Pertanaman Agroforestri Masyarakat Desa Gerbosari, Samigaluh Kulon Progo

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eko Prasetyo ◽  
Wiyono Wiyono ◽  
Puji Lestari ◽  
Rochmat Hidayat ◽  
Hidayat Nur Oktalina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Service ◽  
Agroforestry System ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Wood Pellets ◽  
Wood Pellet ◽  
Energy Wood ◽  
Livestock Feed ◽  
The People ◽  
Grazing System ◽  
Grazing Systems

The purposes of community service entitled "Kaliandra Planting as Energy Wood and Forage Livestock Feed on Agroforestry Crops Gerbosari Village Community Samigaluh Kulon Progo" are 1). To provide additional knowledge of Kaliandra (Calliandracallothyrsus) utilisation other than HMT that is as a raw material of energy source and 2). To practice the technique of Kaliandra planting on agroforestry system in Gerbosari Village. The way cattle developed in Dusun Keceme is "cut and carry system" or grazing system. Grazing systems make farmers provide land for HMT planting either in the form of grass or tree leaves. Public dissemination and discussion with the community resulted in an agreement that the program is not only Kaliandra planting, but the utilisation of Kaliandra as an energy wood and wood pellet introduction is needed by Keceme Hamlet community. Methods of implementation of community service are through 4 stages in one unity of scheme. The methods are 1) program dissemination, 2) counselling, 3) practice of using a wood pellet stove and 4) planting. The community service program can provide an initial understanding of the community of Keceme Hamlet about the benefits of Kaliandra as an alternative to renewable energy that is in the form of wood pellets. The technique of agroforestry cultivation of Kaliandra has long been practised by the people of Keceme Hamlet that is on the edge of the terrace of the land.

scholarly journals Assessing the Potential Impact of Rising Production of Industrial Wood Pellets on Streamflow in the Presence of Projected Changes in Land Use and Climate: A Case Study from the Oconee River Basin in Georgia, United States

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Surendra Shrestha ◽  
Puneet Dwivedi ◽  
S. McKay ◽  
David Radcliffe
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Wood Pellets ◽  
Wood Pellet ◽  
Changing Climate ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Oconee River

This study examines the impact of projected land use changes in the context of growing production of industrial wood pellets coupled with expected changes in precipitation and temperature due to the changing climate on streamflow in a watershed located in the northeastern corner of the Oconee River Basin. We used the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for ascertaining any changes in streamflow over time. The developed model was calibrated over a seven-year period (2001–2007) and validated over another seven-year period (2008–2014). Any changes in streamflow were simulated for a combination of 10 land use and climate change cases, from 2015 to 2028, under the two scenarios of High and Low Demand for industrial wood pellets. Our results suggest that streamflow is relatively stable (<1% change) for land use and temperature-related cases relative to the base case of no change in land use and climate. However, changes in precipitation by ±10% lead to considerable changes (±25%) in streamflow relative to the base case. Based on our results, expected changes in precipitation due to the changing climate will determine any changes in the streamflow, rather than projected land use changes in the context of rising demand for industrial wood pellets for export purposes in the selected watershed, keeping land under urban areas as constant. This study contributes to our broader understanding of the sustainability of the transatlantic industrial wood pellet trade; however, we suggest undertaking similar research at a larger spatial scale over a longer time horizon for understanding trade-offs across carbon, biodiversity, and water impacts of the transatlantic industrial wood pellet trade.

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