Analisi della sostenibilità tecnica ed economica della produzione di energia da biomasse legnose per centrali di media-piccola potenza
Author(s)
Sperandio, Giulio
Date Issued
May 27, 2013
Type
Doctoral Thesis
Abstract
The thesis analyzes the technical and economic sustainability of a wood-energy micro-chain based
on biomass consumption for thermal heating of the buildings of the CRA-ING of Monterotondo
(Rome). The analysis, developed on four case studies, involves both aspects related to the
establishment of energy chain in relation to the domestic production of biomass by Short Rotation
Forestry (SRF) poplar plantation and potential supply by small forest stands outside the farm. For
both these production processes an analysis of the optimization of the logistics of biomass
harvesting to energy use was developped. The results from the first three case studies have allowed
the development of an economic model of the overall analysis of the sustainability of the woodchain
for heating energy production. The average production of biomass obtained by three poplar
clones, AF2 (P. x canadensis Moench), AF6 (P. nigra L. x P. x generosa A. Henry) and Monviso
(P. generosa A. Henry x P. nigra L.), referring to the first harvesting (two-year cycle) and second
harvesting (three-year cycle) of the plantation, was respectively 10.1 and 13.0 t ha-1 year-1 of dry
matter, with better yields of the AF2 clone. On the three-year cycle, the single row plantation has
achieved better production performance than the twin row plantation, with 13.9 vs. 12.2 t ha-1 year-1
of dry matter. The local survey conducted in the study area has highlighted the presence of 17,445 t
of fresh biomass by small forest stands, in part potentially usable in the heating plant and located at
a logistic distance of less than 10 km. About 45% of this biomass has a total estimated utilization
cost below 45 € t-1. The estimated cost of SRF harvesting, calculated with multivariate approach
(PLS), was variable from 8.69 € t-1 to 16.56 € t-1 in relation to the logistic organization of the yard.
The global economic evaluation on the life cycle of the investment related to the two compared
biomass and diesel heating systems shows, for the experimental conditions described, an overall
saving of 156,703 € of the biomass heating system, compared to the diesel heating system,
corresponding at a saving per unit of thermal energy of 15.60 € GJ-1.
Additional information
Dottorato di ricerca in Scienze e tecnologie per la gestione forestale e ambientale
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Name
gsperandio_tesid.pdf
Size
2.45 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
5c995089f2d473c1a12672fffaf60591