| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 環境工程學研究所 === 106 === Residue-to-energy is a sustainable way to simultaneously produce energy and reuse bio-waste. Industrial and agriculture residues are potential alternatives to fossil fuels for Taiwan. However, it is worth noting that not all biofuels are sustainable. There are some disadvantages of residue-based biofuels, such as containing low heat value, requiring energy-intensive pretreatment, requiring long distance transportation, as well as generation of airborne pollutants from bioenergy combustion.
In this study, life cycle assessment is used to evaluate the life-cycle environmental impact of four energy scenarios for industrial heating boilers in Taoyuan City: (a) palm kernel shells; (b) wood pellets; (c) rice straw pellets; and (d) coal (business as usual). Similarly, health risk assessment is used to evaluate the potential reduction in inhalation health risk and monetary valuation from using biofuel as an alternative to coal.
The LCA results showed that the environmental impacts of three biofuel scenarios had 46-76% lower impacts than those of coal scenario. The palm kernel shells scenario had the lowest environmental impacts, suggesting that the heat value of a bioenergy product was the most important factor in life cycle environmental performance. For the health risk assessment, the results indicated a significant reduction in sulfur dioxide emissions from biofuels scenarios, which consequently decreased the health risk for the local population. The monetary valuation was 926.79 million NTD lower than coal scenario, comparing to fuel cost 132.28 million, biofuel was shown to be a better fuel for Social cost. In conclusion, using biofuel to replace coal is beneficial to the environment, human health and society.
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