Wood and other biomass have the great potential of decreasing carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere, or at least mitigating the speed of the increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide.This paper presents an analysis of the possible use of degraded land -thermal power plant ash ponds -for the growth of fast-growing trees for fuel wood and the subsequent utilization of this fuel wood by means of a verified technique -co-combustion with coal, or a proposed technique -pyrolysis.Pyrolysis of wood with the combustion of pyrolysis gases and carbon sequestration would provide approximately 26% more favorable effects on climate change than the co-combustion of wood in a coal-fired boiler.
The paper pinpoints the important aspects of ecodesign when designing a retort with decreased emissions in the production of biochar. When designing changes in the construction of equipment for the production of biochar, the requirements for minimum material and energy demands and the need to reduce emissions to the environment were taken into account. In the pyrolysis processes for the production of biochar, we mainly monitored the following inputs and outputs from/to the environment using life cycle analysis and ecodesign. When the decreasing emissions aspect was not included in an ecodesign, the measurements showed standard damage to the atmosphere characteristic for the production of biochar. The results of measuring emissions from the production of biochar in a retort with decreased emissions showed a significant decrease in emissions. Designs take into consideration the need to minimise the local materials available for the production of equipment for the production of biochar and the availability of raw materials for biochar (mainly accessible and suitable waste). The overall environmental profile (assessment) of biochar is improving based on this construction and conceptual design. Using such a strategic approach, other applications for ecodesign, inventory analysis and assessment of the life cycle of biochar are possible.
