From biomass waste to tri-generation: a life-cycle experience in the “agro-combined” of Thibar

Abstract

The paper presents a Life Cycle Assessment of the energy tri-generation from biomass waste in a plant located in Tunisia. The analysis included the plant construction and end-of-life, the supply of biomass, its use for biogas production and the electricity, heating and cooling generation from biogas. The study is one of the first applications of environmental analysis to tri-generation from biomass waste in developing countries. The results showed that the plant construction is responsible of 76% of primary energy consumption and gives a contribution higher than 88% on resource depletion and ionising radiation. The operation causes 66% of the impact on human toxicity - cancer effects and more than 90% of the other environmental impacts, except for ecotoxicity of freshwater mainly caused during the end-of life. The experience is coherent with the principles of the circular economy and moves toward a cleaner management of waste for energy production