Carbon sequestration versus bioenergy: A case study from South India exploring the relative land-use efficiency of two options for climate change mitigation

background

This study explores avenues to meet increased rural electricity demand with carbon emissions mitigation. The study compares the option of energy derived from gasification of biomass from forest plantations to energy derived from fossil fuels, with forest plantations used as a carbon sink.The case study uses power demand, land requirements, and management approaches for Hosahalli village, Karnataka, pop. 218.

research  goals & methods

The energy demand of the village is expected to require 78 MWh from either fossil fuels of 120T of wood per year, grown on 20 Ha of otherwise fallow land. The study compares two fossil fuel electricity generation systems - a coal power plant and a diesel generator - and short- and long-rotation tree plantations. Above- and belowground carbon stocks are taken into account for carbon sequestration purposes. The study assumes that tree carbon is lost to atmosphere after harvest at 6 or 30 years.

conclusions & takeaways

An evaluation of the scenarios on a short time frame favors the option of fossil fuel-generated electricity (either diesel or coal) with tree plantation for carbon sequestration. However, an evaluation on an 100-year timeline favors the bioenergy option. A longer timeline also reduces the incremental cost of monitoring and evaluation.