Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Woodchip Uses in Pyrolysis and Combined Heat and Power Production in Latvia

The objective of this study is to perform a comparative estimation of the life cycle environmental performance of biochar from woodchip pyrolysis, and woodchip combined heat and power production. The wood processing industry draws up over 14% of the whole industrial sector turnover, making the wood industry one of the most valuable players in the Latvian economy. Woodchips are valuable logging residues integrated in the energy sector. The environmental performance is analyzed through the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). LCA is performed according to the methodology described in the ISO 14040:2006 standards using the SimaPro 8.1.0.60 software and the Ecoinvent 3.1. database.