Greenhouse Gas Emission Offsets of Forest Residues for Bioenergy in Queensland, Australia

• Published in: Forests Vol. 12; no. 11; p. 1570
• Main Authors: Garvie, Leanda C., Roxburgh, Stephen H., Ximenes, Fabiano A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.11.2021
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Biodiesel fuels; bioenergy; Biomass; Biomass energy production; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide emissions; carbon dioxide emissions offsets; Climate change; Climate change mitigation; Cogeneration; Emission analysis; Emissions; Emissions control; Empirical analysis; Energy; Environmental accounting; Forest biomass; Forest harvesting; forest residue; Forest residues; Forestry; Forests; Fossil fuels; FullCAM; GHG emission offsets; Greenhouse effect; Greenhouse gases; Offsets; Plantations; Renewable energy; Residues; Queensland Australia; Australia; Europe; Tasmania Australia
• ISSN: 1999-4907; 1999-4907
• DOI: 10.3390/f12111570

Harnessing sustainably sourced forest biomass for renewable energy is well-established in some parts of the developed world. Forest-based bioenergy has the potential to offset carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels, thereby playing a role in climate change mitigation. Despite having an established commercial forestry industry, with large quantities of residue generated each year, there is limited use for forest biomass for renewable energy in Queensland, and Australia more broadly. The objective of this study was to identify the carbon dioxide mitigation potential of replacing fossil fuels with bioenergy generated from forest harvest residues harnessed from commercial plantations of Pinus species in southeast Queensland. An empirical-based full carbon accounting model (FullCAM) was used to simulate the accumulation of carbon in harvest residues. The results from the FullCAM modelling were further analysed to identify the energy substitution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions offsets of three bioenergy scenarios. The results of the analysis suggest that the greatest opportunity to avoid or offset emissions is achieved when combined heat and power using residue feedstocks replaces coal-fired electricity. The results of this study suggest that forest residue bioenergy is a viable alternative to traditional energy sources, offering substantive emission reductions, with the potential to contribute towards renewable energy and emission reduction targets in Queensland. The approach used in this case study will be valuable to other regions exploring bioenergy generation from forest or other biomass residues.