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Greenhouse impacts of the use of peat and wood for energy

Abstract

Atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases may well double or increase even more during the next hundred years. The resultant disturbance in the global radiation energy balance (radiative forcing) may change almost as much. Stabilizing these concentrations at a level innocuous to the climate - the aim expressed in the Climate Convention - will take decades, perhaps more than a hundred years, to carry out. This study examines the greenhouse impacts of using peat and wood for energy and the time factors involved, taking the entire energy production chain and renewal of the energy source into account. The greenhouse effects of peat and wood use are compared with those of fossil fuels. The calculations apply to test cases. Financial considerations and other sources of energy are not dealt with. Greenhouse effects are measured in terms of radiative forcing caused by using an energy resource. The calculations are made per units of primary energy. The study further proposes ways to apply the results obtained to assessing the extent to which radiative forcing caused by Finland could be reduced by the use of peat or wood fuels. The calculations take into account emissions of CO{sub 2}, CH{sub 4}, N2{sub O} and possible sinks  More>>
Authors:
Savolainen, I; Hillebrand, K; Nousiainen, I; Sinisalo, J [1] 
  1. VTT Energy, Espoo (Finland). Energy and Power Systems
Publication Date:
Dec 31, 1994
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
VTT-TIED-1559
Reference Number:
SCA: 010900; 014000; 012020; PA: FI-95:003009; EDB-95:011859; SN: 95001301534
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 1994
Subject:
01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT; PEAT; COMBUSTION; HARVESTING; WOOD; GREENHOUSE EFFECT; CARBON DIOXIDE; METHANE; NITROUS OXIDE; EMISSION; WETLANDS; 010900; 014000; 012020; ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS; SURFACE MINING
OSTI ID:
10106934
Research Organizations:
Technical Research Centre of Finland, Espoo (Finland)
Country of Origin:
Finland
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE95723874; ISBN 951-38-4439-5; TRN: FI9503009
Availability:
OSTI; NTIS; INIS
Submitting Site:
FI
Size:
77 p.
Announcement Date:
Jun 30, 2005

Citation Formats

Savolainen, I, Hillebrand, K, Nousiainen, I, and Sinisalo, J. Greenhouse impacts of the use of peat and wood for energy. Finland: N. p., 1994. Web.
Savolainen, I, Hillebrand, K, Nousiainen, I, & Sinisalo, J. Greenhouse impacts of the use of peat and wood for energy. Finland.
Savolainen, I, Hillebrand, K, Nousiainen, I, and Sinisalo, J. 1994. "Greenhouse impacts of the use of peat and wood for energy." Finland.
@misc{etde_10106934,
title = {Greenhouse impacts of the use of peat and wood for energy}
author = {Savolainen, I, Hillebrand, K, Nousiainen, I, and Sinisalo, J}
abstractNote = {Atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases may well double or increase even more during the next hundred years. The resultant disturbance in the global radiation energy balance (radiative forcing) may change almost as much. Stabilizing these concentrations at a level innocuous to the climate - the aim expressed in the Climate Convention - will take decades, perhaps more than a hundred years, to carry out. This study examines the greenhouse impacts of using peat and wood for energy and the time factors involved, taking the entire energy production chain and renewal of the energy source into account. The greenhouse effects of peat and wood use are compared with those of fossil fuels. The calculations apply to test cases. Financial considerations and other sources of energy are not dealt with. Greenhouse effects are measured in terms of radiative forcing caused by using an energy resource. The calculations are made per units of primary energy. The study further proposes ways to apply the results obtained to assessing the extent to which radiative forcing caused by Finland could be reduced by the use of peat or wood fuels. The calculations take into account emissions of CO{sub 2}, CH{sub 4}, N2{sub O} and possible sinks of CO{sub 2} arising from energy production. The emissions and sinks of each chain of energy production are calculated as a function of time, deducting emissions which would arise in the reference case, in which energy production is not begun. Real emissions due to production are obtained by deducting emissions in the reference case from emissions which arise during production. The difference is used as a basis for calculating radiative forcing per unit of energy produced}
place = {Finland}
year = {1994}
month = {Dec}
}