[en] The main subject of the discussion at the title workshop was to determine which emission standards are feasible for the conversion of biomass to energy. Also the results of a brainstorm session on how to express the emission standards per unit of electricity or heat. for the discussion use has been made of a CE-report on the emission reduction for biomass technology combinations, including costs and standard options, a proposal of the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Planning and Environment (VROM) for emission standards, a discussion paper of VROM on emission regulations for cofiring biomass in cola-fired power plants, and a presentation of CE on how to express emission standards per unit of product (heat or electricity)

[en] After briefly describing the pioneering changes which are occurring in U.K. environmental regulation, the application of integrated pollution control in power generation from landfill gas is analysed. Within this, the role of Her Majesty's Inspectorate is described. Government, industry and members of the public all have roles to play in this new approach to environmental protection. (UK)

[en] This article gives a brief introduction covering the objectives of environmental impact assessment (EIA) and sustainable development, before going on to describe the screening procedure to define the environmental and socio-economic impacts of projects. The EIA procedure outlined encompasses a description of the project, examination of all environmental effects (scoping), identification of existing and predicted environmental conditions and impacts, alternative measures and mitigating measures, co-ordination, with environmental regulations, public participation, and monitoring and approval of the EIA. (UK)

[en] This paper concentrates on the cultivation of wood solely for energy purposes in the form of Short Rotation Forestry including the possibility of cultivating with the use of less fertiliser, irrigation and pesticides. Short rotation forestry is a type of forest cultivation which depends on the fast juvenile growth of a few broad-leaved tree species and their ability to cut reproduction and formation of stump shoots. Through intensive cultivation, these characteristics are exploited with the aim of producing biomass which is used for production of energy. (author)

[en] The development of the next phase of the Bruce Energy Centre, in cooperation with Ontario Hydro, will see the introduction of a series of integrated energy processes whose end products will have environmental value added. Cogenerated nuclear steam and electricity were selected on the basis of economics, sustainability and carbon emissions. The introduction of hydrogen to combine with CO₂ from alcohol fermentation provided synthetic methanol as a feedstock to refine into ether for the rapidly expanding gasoline fuel additive market, large volumes of O₂ will enhance combustion processes and improve closed-looping of the systems. In the implementation of the commercial development, the first stage will require simultaneous electrolysis, methanol synthesis and additional fermentation capacity. Electricity and steam pricing will be key to viability and an 80-MV 'backup' fossil-fuelled, back pressure turbine cogeneration facility could be introduced in a compatible matter. Successful demonstration of transitional and integrating elements necessary to achieve sustainable development can serve as a model for electric utilities throughout the world. 11 ref., 1 tab., 4 figs

[en] The target of the research is (1) to study the emissions and the environmental effects of the energy wood production and utilization chains, and to value them on monetary base, (2) to proportion the emissions and the environmental effects to the corresponding values of the comparative fuels (peat, heavy fuel-oil, coal), and (3) to estimate the socio-economical profitability of the energy wood in power and heat generation in comparison with the energy peat and imported fuels. About 3 - 4 million m³ of wood fuels are consumed annually in Finland. The amount of harvestable wood for energy production would be 10 million m³/a, which equals to about 1.8 million toe/a (20 TWh/a). The amount of the residues of forest industry (bark, saw-dust, other waste-wood and waste liquors of pulping industry) corresponds to about 21 million m³ of wood. Many factors, e.g. the underutilization of the forests, the silvicultural factors, utilization of renewable energy for reduction of the greenhouse effect, and the need to find new sources of income for people living at countryside, favour the increasing of the utilization of energy-wood. The problem in increasing of the utilization of energy-wood has been the low competitivity of wood caused by the high harvesting costs. The income taxes and the reduced unemployment costs are taken into account in the socio- economical level. The external effects, such as environmental effects, will also be taken into account in the socio-economical level. (9 figs., 2 tabs.)

[en] This compilation aims at drawing conclusions of the effects on the forest ecosystem from spreading of ashes. Ashes on forest soils should compensate for the withdrawal of wood fuels, or to counteract soil acidification. 109 refs, 11 tabs

[en] Cultivating the soil always leads to a higher loss of nutrients to the surrounding environment than the loss recorded from natural areas. Loss of nitrogen by leaching may have the effect that the set limit for nitrate of 50 mg NO₃ per litre of water is exceeded in areas, where the water supply is based on ground water. Furthermore, nitrogen leaching may lead to eutrophication followed by oxygen depletion in inland waterways whereas it has hardly any significant environmental impact in freshwater areas. Ammonia volatilization followed by deposition influences nutrient-poor bio-topes like heaths, marshland etc. Increasing importance is attached to the loss of phosphorus from farmland as the discharge of sewage from urban areas and industries are reduced due to effective chemical and biological treatment plants. Environmental problems related to loss phosphorus is primarily eutrophication of freon water lakes. Nitrous oxide(N₂O), resulting from denitrification of nitrate in the soil, and the emission of methane contribute considerably to the greenhouse effect. Both nitrous oxide and the emission of methane are influenced by the volume of animal production, but no certain data on the connection and the importance are available. Loss of nutrients from farm production is primarily related to animal production. The largest environmental impact concerns the loss of nutrients in areas, where the live-stock production is very intensive in large compact areas and, where the produced amount of nutrients in animal manure and other organic manures exceed the requirements of the crops. (EG) 13 refs

[en] Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the US Department of Energy (DOE) have been funding a number of case studies under the initiative entitled ''Economic Development through Biomass Systems Integration'', with the objective of investigating the feasibility of integrated biomass energy systems utilizing a dedicated feedstock supply system (DFSS) for energy production. This paper deals with the full fuel cycle for four of these case studies, which have been examined with regard to the emissions of carbon dioxide., CO₂. Although the conversion of biomass to electricity in itself does not emit more CO₂ than is captured by the biomass through photosynthesis, there will be some CO₂ emissions from the DFSS. External energy is required for the production and transportation of the biomass feedstock, and this energy is mainly based on fossil fuels. By using this input energy, CO₂ and other greenhouse gases are emitted. However, by utilizing biomass with fossil fuels as external input fuels, we would get about 10-15 times more electric energy per unit fossil fuel, compared with a 100% coal power system. By introducing a DFSS on former farmland the amount of energy spent for production of crops can be reduced, the amount of fertilizers can be decreased, the soil can be improved and a significant amount of energy will be produced compared with an ordinary farm crop. Compared with traditional coal-based electricity production, the CO₂ emissions are in the most cases reduced significantly by as much as 95%. The important conclusion is the great potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the offset of coal by biomass. (author)

[en] In this paper, which was prepared as part of IEA Bioenergy Task XV (''Greenhouse Gas Balances of Bioenergy Systems''), we outline a standard methodology for comparing the greenhouse gas balances of bioenergy systems with those of fossil energy systems. Emphasis is on a careful definition of system boundaries. The following issues are dealt with in detail: time interval analysed and changes of carbon stocks; reference energy systems; energy inputs required to produce, process and transport fuels; mass and energy losses along the entire fuel chain; energy embodied in facility infrastructure; distribution systems; cogeneration systems; by-products; waste wood and other biomass waste for energy; reference land use; and other environmental issues. For each of these areas recommendations are given on how analyses of greenhouse gas balances should be performed. In some cases we also point out alternative ways of doing the greenhouse gas accounting. Finally, the paper gives some recommendations on how bioenergy systems should be optimized from a greenhouse-gas emissions point of view. (author)