Abstract

The present paper analyzed the environmental assessment of short rotation willow plantations in Sweden based on the standard framework of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) from the International Standards Organisation. The analysis is focused on two alternative management regimes for willow plantations dedicated to biomass production for energy purposes. The data used included the averages of a large sample of commercial plantations. One of the scenarios is carried out under nitrogen based fertilized conditions and the other under non-fertilized management with total biomass yields (dry weight) of 140 t/ha and 86 t/ha over a 21 and 22-year life time respectively. The environmental profile was analyzed in terms of the potentials for abiotic depletion, acidification, eutrophication, global warming, ozone layer depletion, photochemical oxidant formation, human toxicity, fresh water aquatic ecotoxicity, marine aquatic ecotoxicity and terrestrial ecotoxicity. In addition, an energy analysis was performed using the cumulative energy demand method (CEO). The application of nitrogen based fertilizers allows an increase in the biomass yield per ha of up to 40% although the contributions to almost all impact categories, particularly the eutrophication potential and toxicity potential impact categories are also considerably higher. Conversely, due to the higher biomass yields achieved with fertilization of these willow plantations, that regime presents a better overall environmental profile in terms of energy yield and global warming potential. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Commercial plantations; Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); Salix app.; Short rotation coppice (SRC); Sweden

Published in

Science of the Total Environment
2012, Volume: 421, pages: 210-219
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

SLU Authors

• Mola-Yudego, Blas

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • University of Eastern Finland

• Dimitriou, Ioannis

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Aronsson, Pär

  • Department of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG7 Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
SDG15 Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
SDG12 Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns


UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science
Environmental Sciences related to Agriculture and Land-use
Renewable Bioenergy Research


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.01.041

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/56386