Willow for landfill leachate remediation and bioenergy, is it an effective solution?

David Livingstone; Beatrice Smyth; Johnathan McDonald; Christopher R. Johnston

Willow for landfill leachate remediation and bioenergy, is it an effective solution?

David Livingstone, Beatrice Smyth, Johnathan McDonald, Christopher R. Johnston

School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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Abstract

Landfill leachate is a major problem and conventional treatments can be problematic and expensive. Short rotation coppice willow is a fast growing, high yielding energy crop well suited to temperate climates, has a favourable energy balance and performs well from an environmental perspective. It has previously been shown to be effective for bioremediation but there is limited information regarding the energy and carbon impacts of a large-scale system in which landfill leachate is remediated by a willow plantation. The aim of this paper was to investigate the impact on carbon and energy of such a system. An energy ratio of 5.3 was found for the system. Greenhouse gas savings of 60% could be achieved compared to conventional treatment methods. Replacing an oil heating system with heat from the willow chips could see a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 579 tCO2eq over the plantation lifetime for a biomass boiler with 85% conversion efficiency. There are clear environmental benefits, but further improvements could be made with alternative harvest methods (full stem harvest) and the use of renewable electricity to meet the parasitic demands.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	15th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems
Subtitle of host publication	01/09/2020 → 05/09/2020 Cologne, Germany
Publication status	Published - 2020
Event	15th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems - Cologne, Germany Duration: 01 Sept 2020 → 05 Sept 2020 https://www.cologne2020.sdewes.org/index

Conference

Conference	15th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems
Abbreviated title	SDEWES
Country/Territory	Germany
City	Cologne
Period	01/09/2020 → 05/09/2020
Internet address	https://www.cologne2020.sdewes.org/index

Keywords

willow
life cycle assessment (LCA)
landfills,
wastewater treatment
energy balance
greenhouse gases (GHGs)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Energy (miscellaneous)
Pollution

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

Willow for landfill leachate remediation and bioenergy, is it an effective solution?
Copyright 2020 the Authos. This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
Accepted author manuscript, 302 KBLicence: Unspecified

The sustainability of short rotation coppice willow as riparian buffer strips on Irish dairy farms
Livingstone, D. (Author), Smyth, B. (Supervisor), Foley, A. (Supervisor), Murray, S. (Supervisor), Johnston, C. R. (Supervisor) & Lyons, G. (Supervisor), Dec 2022
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy

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Cite this

@inproceedings{d94742639e594f68971ed4d221054f03,

title = "Willow for landfill leachate remediation and bioenergy, is it an effective solution?",

abstract = "Landfill leachate is a major problem and conventional treatments can be problematic and expensive. Short rotation coppice willow is a fast growing, high yielding energy crop well suited to temperate climates, has a favourable energy balance and performs well from an environmental perspective. It has previously been shown to be effective for bioremediation but there is limited information regarding the energy and carbon impacts of a large-scale system in which landfill leachate is remediated by a willow plantation. The aim of this paper was to investigate the impact on carbon and energy of such a system. An energy ratio of 5.3 was found for the system. Greenhouse gas savings of 60% could be achieved compared to conventional treatment methods. Replacing an oil heating system with heat from the willow chips could see a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 579 tCO2eq over the plantation lifetime for a biomass boiler with 85% conversion efficiency. There are clear environmental benefits, but further improvements could be made with alternative harvest methods (full stem harvest) and the use of renewable electricity to meet the parasitic demands.",

keywords = "willow, life cycle assessment (LCA), landfills,, wastewater treatment, energy balance, greenhouse gases (GHGs)",

author = "David Livingstone and Beatrice Smyth and Johnathan McDonald and Johnston, {Christopher R.}",

year = "2020",

language = "English",

booktitle = "15th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems",

note = "15th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems, SDEWES ; Conference date: 01-09-2020 Through 05-09-2020",

url = "https://www.cologne2020.sdewes.org/index",

}

Livingstone, D , Smyth, B, McDonald, J & Johnston, CR 2020, Willow for landfill leachate remediation and bioenergy, is it an effective solution? in 15th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems: 01/09/2020 → 05/09/2020 Cologne, Germany. 15th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems, Cologne, Germany, 01/09/2020.

Willow for landfill leachate remediation and bioenergy, is it an effective solution? / Livingstone, David ; Smyth, Beatrice; McDonald, Johnathan et al.
15th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems: 01/09/2020 → 05/09/2020 Cologne, Germany. 2020.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution