We have evaluated the life cycle GHG footprint of the biomass pellets considered in this analysis. GHG emissions are calculated across the entire supply chain, taking into account all of the following emission sources:
• Cultivation and harvesting activities
• Fertilizer production to replace nutrients withdrawn by residues removal
• Pre-treatment and pelletization facility operations
• Domestic and intercontinental transport
Greenhouse gas emissions are calculated based on the same characteristics of the pellet
production cost. GHG emissions of transport are, just as the cost, taken from the BIT-UU model. EU default values are used for the emissions associated with cultivation, harvestingand pre-treatment. Further detail on the life cycle GHG intensity analysis can be found in BioTrade2020plus deliverable 2.4 (Iriarte et al. 2016). Figure below, presents the GHG intensity curves for the potential supply estimated in this analysis.
Aggregate greenhouse gas supply curves for the potentials of pellets from the US southeast