Biomass is an important energy feedstock and an alternative to fossil fuel. The development of biomass-based supply chains and energy conversion plants has to be calibrated to reflect local sustainability criteria. The aim of this study is to assess the environmental, economic, and social sustainability of a biomass-based district heating plant (DHP) and a combined heat and power plant (CHP) in Italy. The sustainability assessment was developed using three criteria: proximity between biomass and the energy producer and consumer; value added, employment, and impact of biomass supply chains; and environmental impacts. For each criterion, a set of sustainability metrics was developed and tested in two case studies in Northern Italy (Sarentino DHP and Cavalese CHP). The results suggested that the DHP and CHP (1) were supplied with local biomass residues located at distances of 11 km and 20 km, respectively; (2) provided energy to 55% and 83% of the total local population, respectively; (3) generated a value added of approximately €2 million and €1 million, created 4 and 8 local green jobs, and dedicated 52% and 64% of their external costs to the local biomass supply chain (wood production, transformation, and transport), respectively; and (4) contributed to the impact category of global warming potential with 7.6 gCO2eq./MJ (compared to 70–90 gCO2eq./MJ from fossil-fueled DHP) and 62 gCO2eq./MJeu (compared to 100–300 gCO2eq./MJeu from fossil-fueled CHP), respectively.
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July 2018
Research Article|
August 17 2018
Sustainability metrics for renewable energy production: Analysis of biomass-based energy plants in Italy
Natasha Nikodinoska;
Natasha Nikodinoska
1
Effetreseizero s.r.l.
, p.za Nicolini 6 loc. Villazzano, 38123, Italy
2
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (CREA), Research Centre for Forestry and Wood
, p.za Nicolini 6 loc. Villazzano, 38123 Trento, Italy
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Luca Cesaro;
Luca Cesaro
3
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (CREA), Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy
, via Po 14, 00198, Rome, Italy
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Raoul Romano
;
Raoul Romano
3
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (CREA), Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy
, via Po 14, 00198, Rome, Italy
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Alessandro Paletto
Alessandro Paletto
a)
2
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (CREA), Research Centre for Forestry and Wood
, p.za Nicolini 6 loc. Villazzano, 38123 Trento, Italy
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected]
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Natasha Nikodinoska
1,2
Luca Cesaro
3
Raoul Romano
3
Alessandro Paletto
2,a)
1
Effetreseizero s.r.l.
, p.za Nicolini 6 loc. Villazzano, 38123, Italy
2
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (CREA), Research Centre for Forestry and Wood
, p.za Nicolini 6 loc. Villazzano, 38123 Trento, Italy
3
Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (CREA), Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy
, via Po 14, 00198, Rome, Italy
a)Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: [email protected]
J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 10, 043104 (2018)
Article history
Received:
January 17 2018
Accepted:
July 27 2018
Citation
Natasha Nikodinoska, Luca Cesaro, Raoul Romano, Alessandro Paletto; Sustainability metrics for renewable energy production: Analysis of biomass-based energy plants in Italy. J. Renewable Sustainable Energy 1 July 2018; 10 (4): 043104. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5022659
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