Bioenergy potential of pampa grass waste: combustion properties and economic-environmental considerations

The EU is addressing the invasive Cortaderia selloana (CS) due to its high management costs and large waste generation. This study evaluates CS waste as a feedstock for bioenergy production through direct combustion. Thermochemical parameters, including heating values, moisture and ash content, bulk...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Pérez Remesal, Severiano Fidencio, Fernández Ferreras, Josefa, Fernández Diego, Inmaculada
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Cantabria (UC)
Repositorio:UCrea Repositorio Abierto de la Universidad de Cantabria
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.unican.es:10902/38739
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10902/38739
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Sustainability
Calorific value
Adiabatic flame temperature
Biomass yield
Energy density
Emission factors
Descripción
Sumario:The EU is addressing the invasive Cortaderia selloana (CS) due to its high management costs and large waste generation. This study evaluates CS waste as a feedstock for bioenergy production through direct combustion. Thermochemical parameters, including heating values, moisture and ash content, bulk density, adiabatic flame temperature (AFT), and fuel value index, were analyzed to assess combustion performance. Biomass yield, energy output, and the economic and environmental feasibility of CS combustion were also evaluated. Results show that optimal combustion requires a moisture content below 31.70 %. The average dry biomass yield was 10.21 ± 1.22 Mg ha-1 yr-1, equivalent to 166 GJ ha-1 y r-1. The process becomes economically viable when electricity prices exceed 107 € MWh-1. Emission analysis revealed low CO, CO2, and SO2 levels but elevated NOx emissions. Overall, CS waste represents a sustainable bioenergy resource and an environmentally friendly strategy for non-chemical control of this invasive species.