Download Biofuel Environmental impact

Biofuel
Environmental impact
Group 2 – Hulda Dagmar and Mervi
Biofuel - General discussions
Biomass can have a variety of meanings,
but in the context of this guidance it refers
to deriving energy from biological material
through a transformation process.
Biofuel That we focus on here:
The Bio Fuel that we think is feasable
in Iceland
Seaweeds
 The energy provided may be
Heat
Electricity
Mechanical power
Waste
 The biological material may come from
animal or plant sources including animal
wastes and composts
 The transformative process may be direct
combustion or perhaps involve gasification,
fermentation or pyrolysis
Lupine
General effects - positive
It can help mitigate climate
change
Reduce acid rain
Protect the soil from erosion
Reduce landfills and protect
fresh water
Provide wildlife habitat
Help maintain forest health
through better management.
General effects - Negative
Burning or gasifying biomass does emit
carbon into the atmosphere
Could eliminate unmanaged forests and
wild areas
Air pollution
Fresh water use
Bring increasing preasure on world food
prices
Takes large land from food productions
General effects
- Land use is a sensitive topic
competition with the food industry can cause social conflict
Future Global land use according toThe Resilient Earth
Source: www.theresilientearth.com
SEAWEED
Brown seaweed grows up to 3 meters in 8 months
- capture nutrients from their roots and entire surface
- producing fuel from seaweed is easier than from normal plant
-
does not produce lignin
Seaweed
Positive environment impacts
Negative environment impacts
• Biodiversity
• Not in competition with
food
• Loss for biodiversity
• Pollution from planting &
harvesting
– May attract fish
• Power plant also creates
– Wild seaweed used in Iceland
some pollution
• Natural Carbon storage
– bio-filter
– pollution buffer
• in July the carbohydrate
levels are their highest
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–
–
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Noise
Smell
Emissions
“the beauty”
Local air quality
Waste
Garbage is a wonderful mixture of energy-rich fuels.
In 100 pounds of typical garbage, more than 80 pounds can
be burned as fuel to generate electricity at a power plant.
A ton of garbage generates about 525 kilowatt-hours (kWh)
of electricity.
Waste-to-energy plants generate enough electricity to supply
millions of households.
The major advantage of burning waste is that it reduces the
amount of garbage we bury in landfills.
Waste-to-energy plant can recycle thousands of tons of
metals from its ash.
The ash can then be reused for many applications, to build
roads and make cement.
The source of fuel is readily available in large
The dilemma of waste management will be reduced
“This is supposed to be going to
China, but it isn’t going
anywhere,” said Arno Vink, an
inspector from the Dutch
environment ministry.
Waste
• “Compared to the relatively low population
figures, Iceland produces a substantial amount of
waste and the amounts are increasing.” (UN,2012)
• “all landfilling of organic and combustible waste
will be terminated no later than 2020” (Mannvit, 2012)
• EU (and EEA): 6th Environmental Action
Programme (2002 – 2012)
– Also directive on landfills: directive 1999/31/EC
• Iceland: National Waste Management Plan 2004
– 2016
– Law on landfills: law no. 55/2033
Waste
Positive environmental impacts
• Less landfills
• Make a substantial
contribution to
environmental protection
• Save raw materials and
energy resources
Negative environmental impacts
• Pollution from the power
plant
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Noise
Smell
“the beauty”
Waste water
Ash
• Infrastructure
– Transportation
– Building treatment facilities
Lupine
The Lupin grows all over Iceland
 many does not like it and want to eliminate it
It costs a lot of money and hard work for a long time
Using Lupin in biofuel:
The source is here
Can still be used against soil erosion
Nitrogen binding and prepares the soil
Carbon keeper
 Is strong and grows where almost
nothing else grows
The plant is beautiful
Can be difficult to control
Can destroy local plants
Biomass
power plant
design in UK
Conclusion
• All feasible in Iceland
• Great impacts
– Pollution buffer
– Biodiversity
– Using the resources we have
• Exists anyway
• Icelandic law pushing for further solutions
– Waste management
• Can go terrible wrong
– If not done correct manner
• Choosing the right type, place
Thank you!