Bioenergy Options for New Zealand - A pathways analysis of energy demand, economics & LCA
The Bioenergy Options for New Zealand project was initiated to consider the potential contribution of bioenergy to New Zealand’s energy future. The Bioenergy Options work is a part of the larger EnergyScape project which integrates the findings from a range of studies with the aim of considering New Zealand’s overall energy options.
Scion contracted NZCEE and Landcare Research to carrying out life cycle assessments (LCAs) and life cycle costings (LCCs) for three different bioenergy resources as part of the Bioenergy Options for New Zealand project. LCAs and LCCs were completed for:
- Growing canola to convert to biodiesel
- Using waste straw to produce heat or combined heat and power
- Converting waste kiwifruit to biogas
An initial study identified these three options as having potential benefits for New Zealand and the LCAs and LCCs were undertaken to quantify impacts. The aim of the Bioenergy Options study is to provide appropriate input into the strategic direction New Zealand takes with biofuels. Important considerations are reducing dependence on imported energy (to improve energy security and balance of trade), reducing dependence on non-renewable energy resources (also for energy security purposes) and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (to improve environmental outcomes).
The studies found that all three options were beneficial in terms of reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels, had positive energy returns (i.e. the energy return was greater than the energy input required for production) and resulted in reduced CO2-e emissions. From a financial perspective, canola to biodiesel was the best alternative.
Although only the CO2-e emissions were quantified, other environmental impacts identified, such as air emissions and fly ash containing heavy metals, were not considered to be significant impediments to implementation. Canola growing was the only option with the potential to reduce food production (one of the major concerns regarding bioenergy alternatives) but canola is a good rotation crop to alternate with food crops so this effect should be minor.
Determining the best options to produce biofuels requires the interaction between the economic and ecological systems to be addressed and offers the opportunity to synthesise many different disciplinary perspectives in order to achieve an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable world.
This work contributed to the following reports that have been published by Scion, available online below:
For more information, please contact Vicky Forgie or Robbie Andrew.
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