Environmental Evaluation of Energy Production from Agricultural Products ina Life Cycle Perspective

摘要

The potential resource for bioenergy is large, especially in agricultural countries suchrnas Thailand, where high biomass yields are available. The major challenge of usingrndedicated energy crops, especially in Thailand, is the competition of land use for food.rnThe other important concern is the loss of biodiversity. Therefore, use of agriculturalrnresidues as bioenergy resource represents an appropriate option to be considered.rnHowever, its environmental impacts should first be analyzed and evaluated.rnIn the case of Thailand, several sugar and rice mills are already producing energyrnfrom bagasse and rice husks for their own use as well as selling the excess power tornthe national grid with the support of national policy. This study reviews the currentrnsituation of energy production from agricultural residues in Thailand, the actualrnenergy potential of available residues and the environmental profiles of the existingrnpower plants. Major environmental emissions of energy production from agriculturalrnresidues and their causes are identified using Life Cycle Analysis technique.rnRecommendations for reduction of potential environmental impacts are alsornsuggested.