Life cycle assessment of solid recovered fuel (SRF) for energy sector in declining coal region: Environmental burden of SRF production
This study provides a comprehensive insight into solid recovered fuel (SRF) production and its potential as a coal supplement in the post-coal region of Moravia-Silesia, Czech Republic. Such studies on waste-to-energy (WtE) applications are often lacking, particularly at critical moments when decisi...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Energy Conversion and Management: X |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525001217 |
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| author | J. Čespiva D. Kupka J. Ryšavý L. Niedzwiecki W.-H. Chen M. Jackowski C.-C. Wang J.-K. Kuo A. Trusek C.-C. Cormos T. Ochodek |
| author_facet | J. Čespiva D. Kupka J. Ryšavý L. Niedzwiecki W.-H. Chen M. Jackowski C.-C. Wang J.-K. Kuo A. Trusek C.-C. Cormos T. Ochodek |
| author_sort | J. Čespiva |
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| description | This study provides a comprehensive insight into solid recovered fuel (SRF) production and its potential as a coal supplement in the post-coal region of Moravia-Silesia, Czech Republic. Such studies on waste-to-energy (WtE) applications are often lacking, particularly at critical moments when decisions about regional energy strategies are being made. As a result, viable and less environmentally harmful pathways stand outside consideration.In this study, SRF production is investigated using life cycle assessment (LCA), applying the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology with data from EF 3.0, ELCD and Ecoinvent 3.8. A scenario analysis was also conducted on transport modes and distances. The initial region-oriented scheme of the LCA study included the following steps: separation of waste material, transport to a processing plant, SRF production, and transport to an energy facility. The results present the overall environmental burden associated with SRF production. The most significant impact is observed in “climate change” indicator, accounting for 78 % of the total impact. The primary contributors to the impact are plastics (77.2 %), wood (13.5 %), coal (3.1 %), and transport (2.1 %). The scenario analysis, covering transport distances of 200–400 km, clearly demonstrated that rail transport is a more environmentally friendly option compared to road transport, with minimal sensitivity to variations in distance within the evaluated range. This study uncovers unique insights into alternative SRF production and evaluates its environmental burden through available interpretations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-18d28d5d89c941f4a0a79e98da3e13ac |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2590-1745 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energy Conversion and Management: X |
| spelling | doaj-art-18d28d5d89c941f4a0a79e98da3e13ac2025-08-20T02:31:56ZengElsevierEnergy Conversion and Management: X2590-17452025-04-012610098910.1016/j.ecmx.2025.100989Life cycle assessment of solid recovered fuel (SRF) for energy sector in declining coal region: Environmental burden of SRF productionJ. Čespiva0D. Kupka1J. Ryšavý2L. Niedzwiecki3W.-H. Chen4M. Jackowski5C.-C. Wang6J.-K. Kuo7A. Trusek8C.-C. Cormos9T. Ochodek10VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies, Energy Research Centre, 17. Listopadu 2172/15, 708 00 Ostrava, Czech RepublicVSB – Technical University of Ostrava, Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies, Energy Research Centre, 17. Listopadu 2172/15, 708 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic; Corresponding author.VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies, Energy Research Centre, 17. Listopadu 2172/15, 708 00 Ostrava, Czech RepublicUniversity of Trento, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, Via Calepina 14, 38122 Trento, ItalyNational Cheng Kung University, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, No. 1, Daxue Rd., East Dist., 701401 Tainan City, Taiwan; Tunghai University, Research Center for Smart Sustainable Circular Economy, No. 1727, Sec. 4, Taiwan Boulevard, Xitun District, 407224 Taichung City, Taiwan; National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, No. 57, Section 2, Zhongshan Rd, Taiping District, 411030 Taichung City, TaiwanWrocław University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Micro, Nano and Bioprocess Engineering, Norwida 4/6, Wrocław 50-373, PolandNational Sun Yat-sen University, Department of Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Engineering, Kaohsiung 804201, TaiwanNational Sun Yat-sen University, Department of Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Engineering, Kaohsiung 804201, TaiwanWrocław University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Micro, Nano and Bioprocess Engineering, Norwida 4/6, Wrocław 50-373, PolandBabes-Bolyai University, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Arany Janos 11, RO-400028, Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaVSB – Technical University of Ostrava, Centre for Energy and Environmental Technologies, Energy Research Centre, 17. Listopadu 2172/15, 708 00 Ostrava, Czech RepublicThis study provides a comprehensive insight into solid recovered fuel (SRF) production and its potential as a coal supplement in the post-coal region of Moravia-Silesia, Czech Republic. Such studies on waste-to-energy (WtE) applications are often lacking, particularly at critical moments when decisions about regional energy strategies are being made. As a result, viable and less environmentally harmful pathways stand outside consideration.In this study, SRF production is investigated using life cycle assessment (LCA), applying the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology with data from EF 3.0, ELCD and Ecoinvent 3.8. A scenario analysis was also conducted on transport modes and distances. The initial region-oriented scheme of the LCA study included the following steps: separation of waste material, transport to a processing plant, SRF production, and transport to an energy facility. The results present the overall environmental burden associated with SRF production. The most significant impact is observed in “climate change” indicator, accounting for 78 % of the total impact. The primary contributors to the impact are plastics (77.2 %), wood (13.5 %), coal (3.1 %), and transport (2.1 %). The scenario analysis, covering transport distances of 200–400 km, clearly demonstrated that rail transport is a more environmentally friendly option compared to road transport, with minimal sensitivity to variations in distance within the evaluated range. This study uncovers unique insights into alternative SRF production and evaluates its environmental burden through available interpretations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525001217Life cycle assessmentSolid recovered fuelWaste-to-energyNational energy mixRegional strategy |
| spellingShingle | J. Čespiva D. Kupka J. Ryšavý L. Niedzwiecki W.-H. Chen M. Jackowski C.-C. Wang J.-K. Kuo A. Trusek C.-C. Cormos T. Ochodek Life cycle assessment of solid recovered fuel (SRF) for energy sector in declining coal region: Environmental burden of SRF production Energy Conversion and Management: X Life cycle assessment Solid recovered fuel Waste-to-energy National energy mix Regional strategy |
| title | Life cycle assessment of solid recovered fuel (SRF) for energy sector in declining coal region: Environmental burden of SRF production |
| title_full | Life cycle assessment of solid recovered fuel (SRF) for energy sector in declining coal region: Environmental burden of SRF production |
| title_fullStr | Life cycle assessment of solid recovered fuel (SRF) for energy sector in declining coal region: Environmental burden of SRF production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Life cycle assessment of solid recovered fuel (SRF) for energy sector in declining coal region: Environmental burden of SRF production |
| title_short | Life cycle assessment of solid recovered fuel (SRF) for energy sector in declining coal region: Environmental burden of SRF production |
| title_sort | life cycle assessment of solid recovered fuel srf for energy sector in declining coal region environmental burden of srf production |
| topic | Life cycle assessment Solid recovered fuel Waste-to-energy National energy mix Regional strategy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590174525001217 |
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