Work

How Best to Use Forest Wood for Energy: Perspectives from Energy Efficiency and Environmental Considerations

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This paper examines how best to use forest wood for energy application, considering that it is a limited natural resource. Eight systems are considered, including wood stoves, steam systems (boiler, power plant, and combined heat and power (CHP)), and gasification combined systems (gas turbine and combined cycle power plant, CHP, and Fischer–Tropsch). The methodology uses energy analysis and modelling and environmental/sustainability considerations to compare the energy systems. In terms of energy conversion efficiency, steam boilers and high-efficiency wood stoves for heating applications provide the highest efficiencies (~80 to 90%) and should be considered. Steam CHP systems provide lower overall energy conversion efficiencies (~75 to 80%) but do provide some electrical energy, and thus should be considered. The use of wood for the production of electricity on its own should not be considered due to low efficiencies (~20 to 30%). Particulate emissions hinder the application of high-efficiency stoves, especially in urban areas, whereas for industrial-scale steam boilers and CHP systems, particle separators can negate this problem. Gasification/Fischer–Tropsch systems have a lower energy efficiency (~30 to 50%); however, a sustainability argument could be made for liquid fuels that have few sustainable alternatives.

Source: Eng—Advances in Engineering

DOI: 10.3390/eng6050095

Authors: John J. Fitzpatrick, Jack Carroll, Strahinja Macura, Neil Murphy

Institution: University College Cork

Language: English

Topic: Forest Biomass Utilization and Management

Subfield: Mechanics of Materials

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action, Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,448