Carbon Credits represent one of the best short-run solutions we have to offset GHG emissions and reach the net-zero target. Various companies, including Eni, are already investing in sustainable projects to offset their emissions through the Voluntary Carbon Market. The objective of this thesis is to comprehend the potential of biochar to generate carbon credits, either as energy solution or through carbon sequestration. Fuel switching has the potential to generate avoidance credits by substituting non-renewable fuels. When coupled with clean cookstoves, it can also reduce indoor air pollution. On the other hand, soil amendment can yield removal credits while simultaneously enhancing soil quality and increasing crop yields. The analysis focus on a case study: a startup in Cote d’Ivoire, which is addressing the challenge of managing the abundant organic waste generated by the cocoa production chain, cocoa pod husks (CPH). Currently, the startup employs a rudimentary metal kiln for biomass carbonization. Therefore, two different technologies have been considered to replace the existing one. The first technology under consideration is a large-scale pyrolysis plant, with the layout and costs based on a project already used for slow pyrolysis of castor seeds. Thermochemical properties of cocoa pods from the literature have been used to construct a process diagram and estimate electricity generation via an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system. The second, simpler technology is the Adam Retort, a small-scale furnace known for producing lower methane emissions compared to traditional kilns. The calculations made to estimate the carbon removed/avoided and project costs are based on literature research, field data and on methodologies proposed by Carbon Standards. The results of the analysis suggest that coupling charcoal and cookstoves is the most convenient solution and that fuel switching is more profitable than soil amendment. A 5 ton/h fed industrial plant with an ORC system would offset up to 70’000 ton of CO2 per year, with a cost per credit ranging between 8 and 13 euros. Including also the incomes from the charcoal sale, at 95€/ton, costs would trend toward zero. Adam Retorts would be even more profitable, but to generate the same number of credits about 200 kilns should be distributed among farmers. However, further laboratory analysis is required to assess the properties and quality of the CPH charcoal.
I crediti di carbonio rappresentano una delle migliori soluzioni a breve termine per compensare le emissioni di gas serra e raggiungere il net-zero. Diverse aziende, tra cui Eni, stanno già investendo in progetti sostenibili per compensare le proprie emissioni attraverso i Voluntary Carbon Market. L’obiettivo di questa tesi è comprendere il potenziale del biochar di generare crediti di carbonio, sia come soluzione energetica che attraverso il sequestro di carbonio. Un applicazione energetica ha il potenziale di evitare emissioni sostituendo combustibili non rinnovabili. Quando associato a cucine pulite, può anche ridurre l’inquinamento dell’aria indoor. D’altro canto, l’emendamento del suolo può sequestrare carbonio nel terreno, migliorando contemporaneamente la qualità del terreno e aumentando i rendimenti delle colture. L’analisi si concentra su caso studio: una startup in Costa d’Avorio, che affronta la sfida della gestione dei numerosi rifiuti organici generati dalla filiera del cacao, come i baccelli di cacao. Attualmente, la startup utilizza una rudimentale fornace in metallo per la carbonizzazione della biomassa. Pertanto, sono stati presi in considerazione due tecnologie diverse per sostituire quella esistente. La prima tecnologia presa in considerazione è un impianto di pirolisi industriale, con il layout e i costi basati su un progetto già utilizzato per la pirolisi lenta dei semi di ricino. Le proprietà termochimiche dei baccelli di cacao dalla letteratura sono state utilizzate per costruire un diagramma di processo e stimare la generazione di elettricità tramite un sistema di ciclo organico di Rankine (ORC). La seconda tecnologia, più semplice, è l’Adam Retort, una piccola fornace nota per produrre minori emissioni di metano rispetto alle fornaci tradizionali. I calcoli effettuati per stimare il carbonio rimosso/evitato e i costi del progetto si basano sulla letteratura scientifica, sui dati presi sul campo e sulle metodologie proposte dai Carbon Standard. I risultati dell’analisi suggeriscono che l’accoppiamento del carbone e delle cookstove è la soluzione più conveniente e che sostituire biomasse non rinnovabili è più redditizio dell’emendamento del suolo. Un impianto industriale alimentato con 5 tonnellate/ora con un sistema ORC potrebbe compensare fino a 70.000 tonnellate di CO2 all’anno, con un costo per credito che varia tra 8 e 13 euro. Includendo anche i ricavi dalla vendita del carbone, a 95€/tonnellata, i costi tenderebbero verso lo zero. Gli Adam Retort sarebbero ancora più redditizi, ma per generare lo stesso numerodi crediti circa 200 fornaci dovrebbero essere distribuite tra gli agricoltori. Tuttavia, sono necessarie ulteriori analisi di laboratorio per valutare le proprietà e la qualità del carbone derivato dai baccelli di cacao.
Biochar-Based Energy Solutions and Carbon Sequestration: Stategy for Carbon Credits Generation in Cote d'Ivoire
FASCIOLO, DAVIDE
2022/2023
Abstract
Carbon Credits represent one of the best short-run solutions we have to offset GHG emissions and reach the net-zero target. Various companies, including Eni, are already investing in sustainable projects to offset their emissions through the Voluntary Carbon Market. The objective of this thesis is to comprehend the potential of biochar to generate carbon credits, either as energy solution or through carbon sequestration. Fuel switching has the potential to generate avoidance credits by substituting non-renewable fuels. When coupled with clean cookstoves, it can also reduce indoor air pollution. On the other hand, soil amendment can yield removal credits while simultaneously enhancing soil quality and increasing crop yields. The analysis focus on a case study: a startup in Cote d’Ivoire, which is addressing the challenge of managing the abundant organic waste generated by the cocoa production chain, cocoa pod husks (CPH). Currently, the startup employs a rudimentary metal kiln for biomass carbonization. Therefore, two different technologies have been considered to replace the existing one. The first technology under consideration is a large-scale pyrolysis plant, with the layout and costs based on a project already used for slow pyrolysis of castor seeds. Thermochemical properties of cocoa pods from the literature have been used to construct a process diagram and estimate electricity generation via an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system. The second, simpler technology is the Adam Retort, a small-scale furnace known for producing lower methane emissions compared to traditional kilns. The calculations made to estimate the carbon removed/avoided and project costs are based on literature research, field data and on methodologies proposed by Carbon Standards. The results of the analysis suggest that coupling charcoal and cookstoves is the most convenient solution and that fuel switching is more profitable than soil amendment. A 5 ton/h fed industrial plant with an ORC system would offset up to 70’000 ton of CO2 per year, with a cost per credit ranging between 8 and 13 euros. Including also the incomes from the charcoal sale, at 95€/ton, costs would trend toward zero. Adam Retorts would be even more profitable, but to generate the same number of credits about 200 kilns should be distributed among farmers. However, further laboratory analysis is required to assess the properties and quality of the CPH charcoal.| File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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https://hdl.handle.net/10589/215426