Energy and Environment

1. Energy and Environment Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy-Part II Dr. Hassan Arafat Department of Chem. Eng. An-Najah University (these slides were adopted, with modification, from Ms. Paulina Bohdanowicz , KTH Institute, Sweden)

2. CO2-neutral – photosynthesis: {CH2O} + O2 => CO2 + H2O Combustion: {CH2O} + O2 => CO2 + H2O + energy Biofuels as energy source

3. Pathways for production of biofuels Motor vehicles, H2 fuel for fuel cell Alcohol fuels Biological conv. Cooking Heating Steam generation Electricity generation H2 fuel for fuel cell Biogas Wood, energy crops, waste, dung etc. Direct combustion Syngas Thermal conv. Gasoline Motor vehicles Micro-algae and oilseed crops Chemical conv. Bio-diesel Motor vehicles

4. Potential causes of concern associated with biomass/biofuels • LAND • Land use conflict - fertile land is used based on cash oriented use, cash crops for export or food production. Pressure on farmers to cut down forest and cultivate virgin soil • Deforestation - local wood extraction exceeds local production also due to land clearance • Desertification - when forest are cut down and the surface of the ground is exposed. Evapotranspiration increases and the soil dries • Erosion - gradual wearing away of land by water and wind • Visual impact • Reduction in biological diversity • Typically high input of energy required (fertilisers, harvesting processing) Source: Boyle et al. 2003; Baguant J., Life Cycle Assessment of Sugar Cane Bioenergy Systems for Electricity Production, PROSI Magazine – Jan. 1998 – No. 348 – Research, online paper available at http://www.prosi.net/mag98/348jan/energ348.htm

5. Cut down Typical native Chilean forest Clearance

6. New plantation Desertification : more surface exposed. Evapotranspiration Even worst: a cheaper way No need to cut down the trees, No transportation needed, Less man power. Burning of virgin forest.

7. Potential causes of concern associated with biomass/biofuels • New agricultural land, less retention of water in soil, desertification (higher evapotranspiration) • Use of scarce water • Improper irrigation of energy crops => soil salinity • Ground water pollution due to fertilisers • H2O for biogas production and distilleries => production of waste water rich in N2, phosphorous and potassium. These nutrients stimulate the growth of plant – eutrophication (depletion of O2 in lakes and rivers) Source: Boyle et al. 2003; Baguant 1998

8. Potential causes of concern associated with biomass/biofuels • Local effects - indoor pollution (biomass for heating) • Regional effects - the main pollutants, SO2 and NOx. Soil and water acidification, damage to fish population, degradation of plants, effects on human respiratory function. • Global effects: emissions of GHG • sugar cane bio-energy systems like the bagasse to electricity fuel chain are in fact net emitters of CO2 • but compared to coal used for power generation, the avoided CO2 (i.e. not emitted to the atmosphere) with sugar cane biomass can vary between 0.96 kg CO2/kWh and 1.10 kg/kWh Source: Boyle et al. 2003; Baguant 1998

9. Particulate Exposures in Developing Countries GEE is the Global exposure equivalent, based on the pollutants concentration and the hours of exposed to the pollutant Potential causes of concern associated with biomass/biofuels Most of biofuels in developing countries are used in households, having a more direct impact. • Respiratory infections • Chronic obstrction lung diseases • Low birthweights • Cancer • Eye problems Source: Boyle et al. 2003; Baguant 1998

10. Only production and combustion of biofules on a sustainable basis is CO2-neutral

11. Positive impacts of biofuels as energy source • Reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions along with odor by landfill gas extraction for bioenergy • Reduction of NOx emissions • Reduction of sulphur oxides emissions • using biomass for 5% of a coal-fired power plant’s heat input would reduce SO2 emissions by aprrox. 5% • Avoided emissions & landfill requirements by municipal solid waste combustion (MSWC) technology Source: EREN, Renewable Electricity from Plant Material,BIOPOWER, Department of Energy, 2002

12. Positive impacts of biofuels as energy source • Provision of clean gas (biogas) for cooking, heating etc. • Biomass energy crops can improve water & soil quality and also improve biodiversity • Some energy crops can be used for the treatment of wastewater • Reduction of water pollution by animal waste, fertilisers and pesticides • Job creation/rural development Source: EREN, Renewable Electricity from Plant Material,BIOPOWER, Department of Energy, 2002

13. Positive impacts of biofuels as energy source • According to EPA estimation, cars burning pure methanol & ethanol can reduce VOC emissions from the tailpipe by 85 to 95%, while CO emissions by 30 to 90% • Both methanol & ethanol are likely to be key hydrogen fuels for fuel cells. Cumulative CO2 benefits of ethanol compared to RFG in 2010 (NREL) Bioenergy Information Network (BIN), A gateway to information about fast growing trees, grasses and residues for fuels and power, online publications, last updated 08.02.02 available at http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/doeofd/biowin/stratgy.html

14. GHG emission intensities for selected fuels, g CO2/kWh electric Source: Boyle et al. 2003

15. Costs of electricity with and without external costs

16. Energy & Employment Germany: wind energy has a share of around 5 % of electricity generation and employs ~ 100,000 people, whereas nuclear power supplies 30 % of the electricity and employs only 38,000 people [Jochen Twele, Windenergie – Technik & Repowering, BWE, Berlin 2002.] Source: Jochen Twele, Windenergie – Technik & Repowering, BWE, Berlin 2002

17. Other major environmental problems • Water • Waste • Chemicals • Consumerism…

18. Catastrophically low– < 1, Very low – 1 to 2, Low – > 2 to 5, Medium – > 5 to 10, High – > 10 to 20, Very high – > 20 Water availability, in 1000 m3/inhabitant/year Source: UNEP, 2002

19. Selected water stressed countries Effluent from water desalination plant, Kuwait Source: WCD 2000

20. Water pollution Effluent from water desalination plant, Kuwait

21. Consumerism • How much does one own? • How much of the things one has – one does not need • How much of the things one actually needs – one cannot find September 12, 2001, vice president Cheyenne: “If you are patriotic – go and buy something American”

22. Waste generation/disposal • History • Current status • Mechanism • Impacts • Mitigation • No disposal of power plant waste law

23. Waste generation/disposal Source: EEA 2003

24. Waste generation/disposal Source: EEA 2003

25. Waste generation/disposal Waste dump, Mexico

26. Soil degradation Source: EEA 2003

27. Conclusion • All energy sources and methods of conversion have environmental impacts • Fossil fuels have the highest impacts, but RETs are not environmentally neutral either • Nevertheless if externalities were included in energy costs – RETs would prove to be cheaper than conventional sources

28. Conclusion • …and in order to achieve long term sustainability of human civilisation a shift to renewables is necessary • Additionally, most of the renewables are available in developing countries and could be used to allow ”leap frogging” development of these countires (instead of transferring dirty technologies of industrialized world)