Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study presents a spatially explicit, high-resolution life cycle assessment (LCA) of short-rotation coppice (SRC) willow on land previously identified as suitable for willow production across 21 biorefinery facility supply zones in New York State (NYS). Using a fully linear weighted least squares (FL-WLS) regression model, we estimated annual soil organic carbon (SOC) change rates from direct land-use change (dLUC), ranging from 0.09 to 0.42 Mg C ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ (median: 0.24). Net life cycle GHG emissions averaged −136.20 kg CO₂-eq Mg⁻¹ of oven-dry biomass, yielding a statewide sequestration potential of −1.89 million Mg CO₂-eq annually. Local factors impacted GHG, with biorefinery facilities 7, 17, 20 having balances below −160.69 CO₂-eq Mg⁻¹, while 1, 2, 3 had values greater than −118.00 CO₂-eq Mg⁻¹. Transportation emerged as the largest emission source (mean: 25.65 kg CO₂-eq Mg⁻¹), followed by fertilization and harvesting. In contrast, belowground carbon accumulation—driven by root biomass and SOC gains—emerged as the dominant GHG offset. A strong inverse correlation between both SOC change and belowground carbon with net emissions underscores the central role of soil carbon dynamics in achieving negative emission outcomes. Key mitigation levers include reducing transportation distances, optimizing nutrient use, adopting leaf-off harvesting, and increasing biomass yield through cultivar and site selection. These findings align with New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) goals and demonstrate that, with strategic deployment, willow-based bioenergy systems can play a significant role in statewide decarbonization.
Source: Biomass and Bioenergy
Language: English
Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,270
OpenAlex ID: W7167628016