Environmental aspects of substituting bio-synthetic natural gas for natural gas in the brick industry
Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Riga Technical University,Kronvalda Boulevard ¹, Riga, LV¹0¹0, Latvia;*Correspondence: mara.repele@rtu.lv
Abstract:
Firing of bricks is an essential manufacturing process during which the bricks obtainall the necessary properties. Life cycle assessment studies show that this process is also themost energy intensive in the brick manufacturing process and results in the largestenvironmental impact. Usually kilns are fired with natural gas, therefore substitution of fossilfuel with a renewable energy source is considered one of the most effective approaches forreduction of environmental impact. Bio-synthetic natural gas (bio-SNG) is one of the mostfeasible substitutes for natural gas and therefore the aim of the study was to compare theenvironmental impacts of those energy sources.Comparison of the life cycle of the environmental impact of natural gas and bio-SNG wascarried out using the GEMIS (Global Emission Model for Integrated Systems) database. Bothenergy sources were compared on the basis of the life cycle of CO² emissions, cumulatedenergy and material requirement, land use and employment effects.Results show that by replacing natural gas with bio-SNG, greenhouse gases could be reducedand employment increased. However, cumulated energy, material and land requirement is largerwhen bio-SNG is used instead of natural gas.
Key words:
alternative energy, bio-SNG, brick industry, natural gas