Potential Energy Generation and Carbon Savings from Waste Biomass Pyrolysis in Israel

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the potential for energy production and reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Israel via the pyrolysis of waste biomass and application of the biochar coproduct to the soil. Data were compiled documenting the scope of waste biomass production in the agricultural and urban sectors of Israel (3.9 million tonnes of dry wastes per year), and, using literature sources, estimates were made of the yields of pyrolysis co-products that could be obtained from the different wastes. These estimates were converted to fossil fuel and carbon emissions offsets in order to evaluate to what extent adopting pyrolysis/biochar soil application could help in Israel's attempts to reduce its reliance on non-renewable energy sources and reduce its GHG emissions. It was calculated that pyrolysis energy products could reduce annual use of fossil fuels by approximately 7.3%, and the combined carbon credit for fossil fuel displacement and permanent carbon sequestration would represent 7.5% of Israel's annual CO₂-C emissions. Approximately another 0.5% C reduction is anticipated to accrue as a result of avoided emissions from composting and other land applications of the wastes, and reductions in N₂O emissions from agricultural soil. If we consider only those wastes which are currently readily accessible, the fossil fuel use savings would be 3.2% annually and the CO₂-C savings would be 3.3% annually.

Permanent URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2047/d10019674