(548q) Life Cycle Carbon Footprint of Renewable Electricity Generation from Aspen Forest Harvest in Wisconsin, USA

Olumide Winjobi^{1, 2}, Michelle Cisz³, Colin Phifer³, Rodney Chimner³, Sigrid Resh³, David R. Shonnard^{1, 2}

1 Sustainable Futures Institute, Michigan Technological University, MI USA 49931

2 Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, MI USA 49931

3 School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, Michigan Technological University, MI USA 49931

The Renewable Portfolio Standard mandates increased production of electricity from renewable sources. There are large quantities of timber net growth in excess of removals in the Great Lakes region, for example greater than 2:1 in Michigan. The excess timber wood can be a promising feedstock to address the forest products industry while also providing renewable feedstock for energy production. In this study, we aim to evaluate the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emission of renewable electricity produced from cogeneration of aspen biomass in Wisconsin. The typical harvest age for aspen is 40 years. We propose that one way to provide biomass for energy is to intensively harvest aspen (by shortening rotation cycles) and by collection of logging residues for electricity generation. A life cycle assessment model is used to quantify the cradle-to-grave GHG emission of renewable electricity, including soil and landscape C change, wood harvest, and combustion in fluidized bed boiler. The soil and landscape C change in this LCA model is simulated using the DAYCENT ecosystem model. The life cycle GHG emissions of renewable electricity will be compared with that of Wisconsin grid mix.