energy crops, agriculture by- products and livestock … · 2013-02-13 · energy crops,...

BIO-EN-AREA Project

Energy Crops, Agriculture by-products and Livestock Biomass

2nd Interregional Thematic Seminar

Carlow, 1st December 2011

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BIO – EN - AREA Project

Agriculture and Agro Industrial by-products, Energy Crops and Livestock Biomass in Castilla y Leon, Spain.

2nd Interregional Thematic Seminar Carlow, 1st December 2011

1. General situation of the Agricultural sector in Castilla y Leon.

Castilla y Leon’s contribution to the Spanish agriculture is very important, mainly by cereal crops. Industrial crops (sunflower and sugar beet) and livestock like cattle and sheep occupy first places both in area or census and production.

Approximately 45% comes from crop farming and 55% from husbandry.

Cropping area is approximately 3.5 millions of hectares (almost 40% of the total regional area). Herbaceous crops use more than 78%, woody crops 2.3%, and fallow and other land not used cover the rest.

Grain cereals are the most widely cultivated and characteristic crop in the region. Industrial, and fodder crops, legumes, potatoes and horticultural crops cover important areas. Vineyards and other woody crops such as fruit and olive trees are also significant in the region.

11% of crop land is irrigated which means a covered area about 400,000 ha

Region’s heterogeneity is reflected in the farming areas. They show great differences in production approaches, sizes, yields, crops or livestock productivity, farming systems, ownership and division of land, among others.

On the other hand, modern husbandry activity has been developed for cattle, swine and sheep farms, orientated to both milk and meat production and commercialised through cooperatives.

Small farms located in mountainous or traditional agricultural lands tend to disappear forced by rural depopulation which turns into less working force among other effects.

Analysing livestock census gives that sheep are the largest with 5.4 millions, followed by swine (2.8), and cattle (1.2) and in less proportion horses and goats.

Largest meat production comes from pigs (241,700 t), followed by cattle (89,400 t) and poultry (66,000 t); wool production in Castilla y León leads at national level.

Food industry sector is consolidated as a key sector in Castilla y León. It is the first industry in the Region by number of employees (more than 38,000) and the second position in gross production, reaching more than 9,100 millions Euros representing more than 24% of the total regional industrial gross production.

63% of the total revenue from the food industry sector is coming from dairy, meat and wine industries. Sugar production is also of great importance within the regional agricultural sector, from the sugar beet cultivation to the fermentable by products, representing half of the production at national level.

Having less income volume there would be industries for processing of bread, pastries and cookies, vegetable canned food and products for animal feed. Nevertheless, these industries activities generate an important number of jobs in the region.

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2. Analysis and characterization of biomass from agriculture in Castilla y Leon.

Agriculture and agrifood sector activities generate organic biodegradable by-products or biomass which could be used for energy recovery.

Agriculture biomass represents 42% from the total potential in Castilla y Leon, including energy crops and agriculture residues.

Agricultural land data show that residues from 3.2 millions of hectares could be obtained including cultivation of fallow land which has adequate soil conditions. These herbaceous or woody residues would come from the main crops in Castilla y Leon.

The greater herbaceous income will correspond to cereals, sunflower and sugar beet and other species as rapeseed or potatoes in a minor degree.

Woody biomass would come from vineyards, fruit and olive trees pruning. The potential from these crops is difficult to quantify because cut works are not usually scheduled.

Nevertheless, biomass potential to be considered from these resources is high (close to 6.7 millions t/year). Nowadays, its production has no energy use at its final destination.

In the same way, herbaceous crops residues are used for animal feeding, livestock bedding, paper manufacturing, packages, compost making, mushroom cultivation substrate, etc.

In the case of straw, the market for bioenergy use is affected by climate and seasons, competition in prices with other uses and, above all, the development of a stable energy demand and technologies to generate products of high added value like electricity of second generation biofuels.

For woody residues, there is a small retail market for catering business where they are used as firewood to prepare regional and local traditional meals.

Energy crops, as agricultural biomass, would secure the provision of raw material in time, being able to plan its production and adequate yields to energy criteria. Last years, there has been a change in the crops implementation system in Castilla y Leon.

In 2005, the area used for these crops was 27,000 ha, reaching a maximum of 110,000 ha in 2006. From this year onwards, area has decreased to 21,000 ha in 2009. Dry cereal (barley and wheat) and sunflower have been the main crops.

This tendency follows circumstances such as CAP specific support scheme to these crops or the cereal prices fluctuation in the international market which have determined the farmers decision to cultivate these crops for alimentary use, having a high final value.

Woody energy crops current development is almost zero in Castilla y Leon. Existing crops (poplar, willow and Paulownia) are found at tests sites and they have small sizes. For this reason, they cannot be considered as productive as raw material in the Region.

Regarding new crops, some herbaceus species such as Cynara cardunculus, Heliantus tuberosus, Panicum virgatum, agropiros, Sorghum bicolor, Arundo Donax, etc are being tested.

Due to the absence of economic and agronomical studies, realistic scenarios are being proposed in order to determine biomass potential from these crops in Castilla y León. The Regional Biomass Action Plan estimates the potential approximately in 23million t/year.

Livestock biomass, with 18million t/year means 25% of the total biomass potential. Among these resources we include, organic by-products and derived products from intensive livestock farming and not intended for human consumption, such as solid and liquid manure, slurry, poultry waste and similar. Animal origin would be cattle, swine and poultry while the residues from sheep and goat are appreciated as fertilisers by farmers and they are directly applied in the fields.

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Nowadays, there is no developed market of livestock biomass towards energy installations in Castilla y Leon. Generally, farmers tend to give out the residues for farming purposes or pay a charge for its collection and adequate management.

In some cases, specific waste types are sold for its use as fertilizers, especially poultry and sheep manure ought to its composition in C-N-P and its small water content.

In cattle farms an intensive system is used which facilitates the residue management by anaerobic digestion. Today, those are reused in the own farm or moved to local composting areas.

Liquid manure is usually stored in ponds for later use in the fields around the farms and sometimes, when the area for application is not sufficient, it is transported to management plants having higher logistic costs. They represent 64% of the livestock potential, though in energy terms they will provide a 25%. In heavy farming areas there are usually environmental problems caused by soil and water pollution because there are not enough lands for agronomic recovery.

There are some plants where livestock biomass is found at high concentration levels, especially pig liquid manure. The heat surplus from cogeneration engines, used to produce electricity from natural gas is used to dry it.

UrbanIndustrial1,000 kt/year

1% 1,700 kt/year

2%

20,500 kt/year

29%

Forest

18,000 kt/year

25%

Livestock

30,200 kt/year

43%

Agriculture

In the agri-food sector, potential biomass will include biodegradable organic residues not conformed, coming from the industries with the greatest revenue.

Main by-products susceptible of energy recovery are solid meat and not processed dairy products, organic residues from the initial treatment of raw material in the sugar industry, vegetable residues from pressing in winery or canned food industry. Total potential estimated for these fractions is close to 780,000t/year in Castilla y Leon.

On the other hand, agri-food industries generate great volumes of waste water with high organic charge and contaminant power which in most cases will be treated in plants near the production point in compliance with the residues legislation and having difficulties for transport.

Nowadays, the energy recovery of these residues is expensive and complex. There are easier options such as the collection by residues managers, compost production or land filling.

The main way for energy recovery from these wastes is anaerobic digestion, except for cases such as the wine industry, waste with high content of starch or readily fermentable alcohols such as whey, the remains of sugar beet and potato waste, among others.

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3. Energy applications from agriculture biomass in Castilla y Leon.

The great variety of biomass from agriculture allows a range of options for energy recovery, from electrical to thermal applications or biofuels production.

Using agriculture residues, there is an 18MWe plant for electricity generation from cereal straw in Briviesca (Burgos). It has an approximate consumption of 102,000t/year from and it produces 120 GWh/year of electricity which represents the consumption of 40,000 houses.

Regarding its production and energy use of biogas, anaerobic treatments through anaerobic digestion residues from farming and agrifood are starting now to be implemented in real projects. Nevertheless, works have been developed by universities and technology centres in the last years at pilot and experimental scale.

Currently, there are 2 plants using biogas for electricity generation. One has 250 kWe of power and treats swine liquid manure from farms situated in Soria where a farmer’s cooperative manages the plant.

The second case is a co-digestion plant with 500 kWe potential for biogas. It started to work by the end of 2011 and there are treated more than 15,000 t/year of manure, residues from slaughterhouse and agrifood industries and other cosubstrates generated in livestock farms in the province of Salamanca.

Thermal applications are not relevant, only small or medium power installations (<800kWt) where vineyard of fruit trees pruning residues are used to cover small thermal demand in wine production processes or traditional stoves or boilers.

Regarding biofuels production, there is a production capacity of 155,900t/year of biodiesel in 5 plants and 158,000t/year of bioethanol in a commercial plant in Castilla y Leon. Also, several technological centres and universities have small pilot plants

From these factories it can be pointed out that in total they could consume around 580,000t/year of oilseeds (mainly sunflower and rapeseed) and 600,000t/year of cereal. However, raw material provision difficulties and selling of finished products, among other market problems have determined stops.

It should be mentioned the works developed by the Agricultural Technology Institute of Castilla y Leon (ITACyL) to increase competitiveness of the agricultural offer, mainly through pilot cultivations and cropping techniques or oil or ethanol quality studies.

ITACyL has developed works in R+D both in rapeseed and sunflower for bioethanol. It has an interesting line of work using lignocellulosic biomass, resources like straw, sorghum or Cynara cardunculus for second generation biofuels and also, an experimental plant in Villarejo de Órbigo for bioproducts production.

To conclude, in view of this situation, it is necessary to point out that biomass from agriculture constitutes an important bioenergy source. In the future it could provide bioliquids factories and thermal or electricity plants at different scales.

Region of Western Macedonia – Paper for the interregional seminar of BIO-EN-AREA project in Carlow, Ireland, 1st of December 2011

Crop pilot project for combined combustion of Cardoon biomass together with lignite

Intro The effort began before two (2) years ago with the establishment of plantations of

(cynara carduculus) species in our region and nowadays, the first cycle of the operation

with the collection of biomass and the delivery of the product at the premises of PPC for

combustion has been completed.

1. Production elements

In the pilot project involved sixty (60) farmers-farmers, with a total area of 4,000

square kilometres, development coordinator of West Macedonia S.A. – ANCO and

with the support and funding of the Prefecture Kozani.

Key elements of the programme:

- 60 farmers

- 4,000 hectares area.

- 160 plots

- Plantations in production 2010 � 3000 hectares approximately

- Plantations that were not producing within 2010 � 1,000 hectares

approximately

- Harvested production: 1,500 tons

- Maximum productivity: 1.600 kilos/acre

The initial goal set at the very start of the procedure, has been fulfilled since the

plantations were cultivated with a lifetime of 12 years on average. Just a minimum

number of plantations with a small number of plants per acre should be withdrawn

and replaced with other species and cultivations.

The difficult process of restructuring of the primary sector production (crop

production) which is the basic element and goal in regional level, has been

achieved to some extent.

The reasons that characterize the difficulty of the project were:

- Mass production on a large scale (4,000 hectares in a pilot basis) without prior

multiannual programmes of experimental crops cultivations, which would

postpone the attainment of the objectives and will not fulfill, as it was the case in

many other issues and other sectors.

- Participation of a large number of producers (60 people) and also the large

number of agricultural plots (160 fields).

- Unknown crop for our region, but also for the Greek area in general, both for

producers-farmers and the scientific potential of the region.

- Ambiguity regarding the 'market' of the product and the prospective customers

for placing (processing features, farming, etc.).

- Unknown present and future for the cultivation and produced products.

Despite these difficulties, however, the program succeeded because:

- Settled plantations, despite of minimum cases and they are now in productive

age.

- Acquired experience and know-how of the producers and the scientific potential

of the area who has involved in this experiment.

- Harvesting of year (2010) the first mass production:

� Investigated and carried out various ways and technologies for successful

collection of product.

� Delivered in PPC (Power Station of Kardia area) 1500 tonnes of biomass

with the procedures and standards set by the PPC and agreed by all those

involved ’. The co-firing will be able to be performed as a pilot combustion in

a specific unit of Power Plant Corporation (PPC).

� Conclusions will be made on this product regarding the incineration, as it

was done with the cultivation of the product.

We did not reach the maximum production expected for the reasons mentioned

above as 'difficulties', but also because there were mistakes and omissions

referred to briefly below. Otherwise, the maximum production could be achieved

and in that case this would be a great success, no comparable to such an extent

and in such a short period of time.

- Many producers was negligent in applying the required growing techniques,

from the preparation of the field until fertilization, the irrigation was incomplete

and lacking in most cases, the herbicide also not appropriate or adequate, the

sowing season (many sowed with wrong weather conditions) etc.

- Towards the end of March a late Frost occurred that influenced the growth of

plants and thus the completion of the annual life cycle.

- Inopportune time sowing in 2009, from July to December, resulting in the

failure of growing and the strong development of weeds. This is associated with

the wrong choice of the goal set for high production in less than a year.

- Delay in harvesting time, which led in many cases to excessive drying of

biomass and seed to fall, resulting in degradation of the finished product and

reduced production.

2. Findings of the Working Group

After the discovery and evaluation of the above, we believe that:

1. the most appropriate time for the installation of plantation for our region is

autumn (2the half of October), when the weather and soil moisture are

appropriate.

2. The seed should be made on small depth, 2-3 cm, when the field is ready

following by a light irrigation, if there is not rain until the growth of the grain.

3. Frost of spring (March 2010) influenced the evolution of plants and its

development for the year in question, without having an impact on later life

plantation.

4. The collection of the plant it is best to be done with harvesting and binding

biomass. Thus achieved cost reduction and ease of transport, even storage

capacity.

5. The maturity of the plant to be used as biofuel, in our region is 1the half of

September.

From the side of PPC, they must take decisions for the continuation of co-firing

biomass terms which are clear enough and encouraging for the producers.

The project must go on, due to the fact that similar initiatives for cultivation and

burning biomass already started in other areas of our country. Our area was

pioneering in this activity and should not be left behind. The existing legislative

framework is favourable and indeed imposes such activity.

Therefore:

- Timely signing of contracts (PPC – farmers) for the next growing season.

- Investments, if required, for the optimum management and combustion of

biomass in existing stations of PPC in our region.

- Evaluation of the results of the pilot regarding combustion cost – benefit and

determination of the purchasing price, in accordance with the calorific power of

product and production costs.

3. Conclusion of the programme

The continuation of the effort should be done to a new base and new data, with

starting point the interest of PPC for the product and its production support, both

from the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Environment, and local

bodies such as the region of Western Macedonia and the local municipalities.

With the completion of two (2) growing seasons, the cooperation of all stakeholders

as well as the obligations of farmers for the specific program coming to their end.

Yet the repayment of the farmers is still pending as well as all project stakeholders

(partners, etc.). The current financial obligations related to PPC, for payment of

biomass under the conditions established by the company and the Local and the

financial aid by the Local Fund Committee through the Local Development

Company.

The remuneration of the biomass is set at 51 EUR/tone for the quantities delivered

in PPC and is in accordance with the specifications of the product.

Required:

� The signing of contracts between PPC and growers.

� The pricing on the part of farmers or PPC depending on the tax

treatment of farmers, for the quantities delivered.

� The cheques for payment.

The financial support of the 2nd year (2010), as has been agreed between farmers

and ANKO, amounting to EUR 60 per acre.

Required:

· The approval by the Monitoring Committee for the eligible

farmers/growers.

· The cheques for payment.

Seminar on Energy Crops, Agricultural & Livestock Biomass 1st December 2011 - Oakpark Research Centre, Teagasc, Carlow IRELAND

AGRONOMICAL AND ENERGY EXPLOITATION OF AGRICULTURAL AND

LIVESTOCK BIOMASS IN TRENTINO

Silvia Silvestri Edmund Mach Foundation (FEM), Via E. Mach 1, 38010 S. Michele all’Adige (TN), Italy

INTRODUCTION Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promote renewable energy and energy efficiency are the strategic challenges of the European Union and put at the heart of its political programme. The targets to 2020 are:

20% reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases; 20% reduction in energy consumption compared to projections for 2020; 20% of total energy consumed in the EU from renewable sources; 10% of gasoline and diesel fuel consumed in the EU from biofuels.

The objective for Italy is 17% of RES within year 2020; 10% is mandatory for the transport sector but at the end of 2011 the gained percentage will be about 4%. Among the renewable sources, biomass is an opportunity for development not fully exploited, offering many possibility for enhancement. Biomass from different origin represent one of the possible renewable energy sources (RES) which can be better used and exploited in agreement with the contents of the EC Communication of 7.12.2005 (Biomass Action Plan). Wood residues from forest management, agricultural waste and the organic fraction of solid waste are the main biomass considered for the development of new projects. OVERVIEW ON TRENTINO The Trentino province is located in Northern Italy. More than 500.000 people live on the territory and tourism is one of the main economic activities. 70% of the surface is over 1000 m above sea level and the climatic conditions are typical of an alpine region. All the buildings and main facilities need to be heated at least 6 months/year, from October to April. With respect to the energy aspect hydroelectric and wood biomass are the main energy sources of the territory. Hydroelectric plants produce more than 4 TWh every year, most part of them sold out of province. Up to now the use of biomass as energy source is limited to some district heating plants (woodchip and wood waste), one single farm biogas plant in operation since half 2010, three biogas plants within the wastewater treatment cycle and finally one anaerobic facility for the treatment of fruit processing residues. The organic fraction of municipal solid waste (about 55.000 tons/year) is source-selected all over the provincial territory but only one small composting plant is still in operation while the most part is sent out of province (Verona). As far as concerns the transport sector Trentino represents an important corridor between the German area and Italy as ever. The Brenner highway crosses for 85 km the province (in the North-South direction). In the last years the traffic registered a constant increase: 73.5% from 1990 up


today, without significant changes in the composition of vehicles. Many critical situation are present in the province (see below), connected to the high tourist vocation and the peaks of traffic concentrated in special periods of the year (winter and summer season). Due to the climatic conditions (alpine), the transport situation and the tourist economy the energy consumption/pro inhabitant is higher of that at national level. Car is the main category (from 54% up to 89%) followed by motorcycles and trucks. The used fuels are petrol and gas-oil. A few natural gas filling stations for traction are present even if natural gas is widespread for domestic uses. No experiences at small scale or pilot scale are active in the province based on the production and use of bio-fuels. NEW ACTIONS Information and sensitization of people and local administrators is fundamental to start a new policy on the sustainable mobility. Moreover a best knowledge of the possibilities given by the use of biomass as renewable energy source must be promoted and highlighted in each study area. An important impulse to the RES application and development in Trentino is connected to two planning actions:

- the new energy-environmental plan 2013-2020, - the biomass action plan which will be drafted for the first time thanks to the BIO-EN-AREA

project. The main efforts are addressed to promote and stimulate at local level a better use of energy with the following aims:

• improve the rational use of energy by the introduction of systems, plants and behaviour aimed at the energy efficiency and saving,

• promote the use of local RES, • realize some examples as “best practice” to multiply, • define the minimum size of the proposed systems to assure the economic sustainability, • tend to the energy self-sufficiency by means of the technological and territorial integration

of the applied solutions, • increase the level of knowledge on specific topics as biogas, mainly for the treatment of

animal waste and source selected organic fraction. BIOMASS AVAILABILITY Agriculture in Trentino means orchards (apple and grape) in the flat valleys and hills, animal farming in the mountain valleys and a limited number of other small initiatives as fish-farming and “agritur” (table 1). Table 1. Number of farms in Trentino and estimated potential of biomass produced

Sectors Farms (n°) Surface (ha) Potential Biomass Orchards 6913 13.000 2-2,5 tons/ha Vineyards 7344 10.000 1,5-2,5 tons/ha Livestock 1900 -- 590.000 tons/y liquid and solid manure

10.000 tons/y poultry manure Agritur 300 Fish-farming 65


No energy crops are actually cultivated due to the lack of agricultural surface aimed at food production for human and animal uses. Agricultural biomass potentially available for energy exploitation can derive from food processing industry (dairy, vinemaking etc...), crop residues and animal manure. In some areas the management of animal manure is often a problem, due to the insufficient storage stable capacity, the short time available for spreading on pastures and meadows (in Spring and Autumn season) and also the odour impact. The coexistence on the same territory of agriculture and tourism in fact, makes even more difficult the acceptance of livestock breeding nearby built-up areas (downtown). Anaerobic digestion is actually the best technology for the treatment of animal manure, but the small size of the farms (~30-50 LU) makes it difficult the realization of single AD plants, while a centralized anaerobic digestion plant seem to be at the state of the art the only one opportunity for the cattlemen to manage the animal waste in a better way, reducing at the same time the odour emissions. A local case study (n.1) on this topic is briefly exposed in the following pages. One of the BIO-EN-AREA sub-projects, the BaN (Biogas & Network) wants to improve the exchange of knowledge among the different stakeholders and players involved in the biogas sector. Another potential source of renewable energy is represented by wood waste from orchards and vineyards. The management of pruning residues has generally represented a disposal problem, rather than an opportunity for additional revenue. Pruning wood is usually left in the vineyard after cutting since the practice of burning in the field is forbidden, due to environmental problems caused by short-term concentrations of smoke, dust and odours. When planting a new vineyard, old plants are usually burned in domestic stoves but roots must be conferred to landfill site. Pruning residue is either mulched or piled and burned, at a cost estimated to about 75 € ha-1. The rapid development of bioenergy has been generating a growing demand for energy biomass mainly deriving from forestry and wood processing industry, even if agriculture is considered one of the most promising sectors. Agro-energy as producer of valid substitute of fossil fuels can become an integrative relevant economic entry for the farmers, thus providing a potential outlet for pruning residues too. However, such opportunity can be seized only if the biomass is delivered to the end user within set price limits. Hence, the interest in developing cost-effective technologies for the collection, processing and delivery of pruning waste. A synthesis of the main results of the project carried out is presented as case study n. 2. Case study 1: The biogas and biomethane in Primiero Actually the most common use of biogas from anaerobic digestion is the conversion to electrical energy by CHP engines with ~30-35% of efficiency. By means of the upgrading process the biogas can be purified from impurities (such as carbon dioxide, siloxanes and hydrogen sulfides) with an increase of the process efficiency (~98%). The output product is the biomethane destined to the grid injection or to the vehicles as biofuel, one of the cleanest fuel known. In this way, according to the “20-20-20” European target, the biomethane could replace the natural gas, reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and the greenhouse gas emissions. Nowadays in Europe a large number of biomethane plants have been built with successful results. Many companies have been focusing on large scale upgrading plants, with a minimum flow biogas inlet ~250 Nm3/h, which require high investment costs and complex plant design. In case of anaerobic digestion of animal manure, sewage sludge or landfill gas, having lower biogas flow


(<100 Nm3/h), small scale upgrading plants, based on simpler technology with minimum investments and operational costs, must be planned. In the small mountain area called Primiero and Vanoi the possibility to use animal manure and other local biomass for the production of biogas with subsequent upgrading to biomethane for transport use was investigated, from the production up to the end use (well to wheel). The proposed solution implies the realization of one centralized biogas plant coupled with the upgrading section and one filling station. The idea stays in the strict will to make the Primiero and Vanoi valleys free from fossil fuels (Oil Free Zone project). The starting point is the self-sufficiency for power and heat demand. The third important part of the project is the sustainable mobility, which can be realized by introducing the use of public vehicles fed with bio-methane. In the considered case the feasibility analysis indicated that using 16.000-19.000 t/year of cattle manure, about 800 kg/day of biomethane can be produced; this amount of biofuel permits, for example, the feeding of 44 vehicles (24 city cars, 8 vans, 2 farm tractors, 3 heavy lorries and 5 buses). The results shown that European and national incentives or provincial government subsidies must be provided to allow a biomethane profitable production. Others benefits have to be considered in the global balance, like the social (increasing on workplace) and the environmental (decreasing on CO2 emissions) benefits. Some virtuous example in Europe demonstrate also how the renewable energy plants can contribute to the increase of the “green tourism”, ecologically sustainable and sensitive on the use of green energies. The ACSM Primiero Company, together with FEM, Fiat Research Centre, CRPA and Dolomiti Energia are partner of the BIOMASTER project, launched last May 2011, coordinated by ISIS (Rome) and supported by the Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) Programme (www.biomaster-project.eu). Case study 2: Recovery of pruning waste for energy use This study was granted by a local small Social Winery and it was initially aimed at verify the following things:

determination of the amounts of pruning waste; estimate of the costs of collection and processing (grinding, packaging and transportation); assessment of the environmental and energy aspects of combustion; assessment of agronomic aspects.

The second phase of the project should identify the best final uses of this biomass between chipped wood for composting plants or chipped wood for direct burning in heating plants. Pruning wood yearly produced in the Trentino vineyards ranges between 1.5 up to 2.5 tons/ha. The water content highly depends on the time of collection: the highest values were registered soon after cutting (45-48%); 40% of moisture was detected after 3-4 months in field. The storage in pile covered with geo-textile permitted the reduction of 10% in the water content and very limited degradation process as the main consequence. The ash content is about 3-4%, a relatively high value with respect to the forestry wood chip (0.2-0.5 %). With respect to the environmental quality the analyses showed the presence of pesticide residuals both at the cutting and after the remaining on the ground. Only sulphur and copper are present in the samples from organic farming, while products against the oidium, grape mildew, and botrytis were found in those collected in conventional vineyards. On the economics side, the avoided cost of residues management plays a crucial role. Disposing of the pruning wood entails a cost of about 25 € t-1 (50 € ha-1 for 2 t ha-1): if this cost is subtracted from the total harvesting-forwarding cost, processed pruning waste could be obtained at the farm gate at a


cost of about 30-40 € t-1, under favourable conditions (i.e. short forwarding distance, cheapest recovery system). This cost compares favourable with the price currently offered for energy biomass in Italy, which can reach 50-55 € t-1, delivered to the plant (first semester 2009). However, it is unlikely that farmers offer the same disposal fee once they realize that the residues is being sold, and therefore the commercial viability of recovering vineyard pruning waste depends on a number of conditions, including the eventual redistribution of the savings accrued on residues management. From the technical point of view the feeding of wood chip boilers with pruning waste did not show any problem; the mixture between forestry wood chip and pruning waste could increase the fluency of the biomass. The emissions from the combustion in industrial boiler equipped with ESP are widely within the law limits, as well as those obtained from the small scale boiler even if in this case the total dust is the only stated parameter. Despite the respect of the law, the absence of the ESP suggests to address pruning waste to a centralized biomass heating plant, at least up to the introduction of ESP systems on the domestic boilers, which is planned in the next future by the local environmental office. Finally some considerations on the energy balance are possible: 20 liters of gas oil are needed to collect 2.5 tons of pruning waste. The energy content of wood waste (40% moisture) is equal to 281 kWh, while 1 liter gas oil produces 11 kWh of energy. The final balance is 32:1, so extremely positive for the recovery of pruning wood for energy use. Main bibliography 1. Silvestri S., Sicher L. 2008. Integrated Systems for Sustainable Management of Animal Manure in

Alpine Regions. International Congress CODIS 2008 Compost and digestate: sustainability, benefits and impacts for the environment and plant production. Solothurn (CH), 27-29 February 2008.

2. Silvestri S., Cristoforetti A., Mescalchin E., Spinelli R. 2009. Environmental aspects of the recovery of pruning waste for energy use. In: Proceedings of the 5th International specialized Conference on sustainable viticulture: winery waste and ecologic impacts management. Winery 2009. Trento and Verona 30 Marzo – 3 Aprile 2009. Trento: Università degli Studi di Trento, 445-448. ISBN 978-88-8443-284-1.

3. Mescalchin E., Cristoforetti A., Magagnotti N., Silvestri S., Spinelli R. 2009. Utilizzo dei residui di potatura della vite a fini energetici. Fondazione Edmund Mach. Centro Trasferimento Tecnologico. Febbraio 2009. ISBN 978-88-7843-028-0.(Italian language)

4. Crema L., Bozzoli A., Bartashevic S., Silvestri S., Cristoforetti A., Picchi G., Boschetti A. 2010. Efficiencies and Environmental Impact on use of Agro-Forestry Wastes for Energy Production. Proceedings of the World Renewable Energy Congress XI. 25-30 September 2010, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

5. Silvestri S. Cristoforetti A., Mescalchin E., Spinelli R. 2011. Recovery of pruning waste for energy use: agronomic, economic and ecological aspects. CD Proceedings of the Central European Biomass Conference 2011, 26th – 29th January, Graz – Austria.

6. Bona D., Forlin L., Migliardi D., Silvestri S. 2011. Environmental, economic and energetic sustainability of anaerobic digestion plants in alpine regions. CD Proceedings of the Central European Biomass Conference 2011, 26th – 29th January, Graz – Austria.

7. Forlin L., Silvestri S., Fuganti A., Tassan M. 2011. From manure to biomethane: when a problem turns into an opportunity. CD Proceedings of the 19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition 6th –10th June 2011,ICC Berlin.

8. Silvestri S., Cristoforetti A., Picchi G. 2011. Emissions of a farm-size biomass boiler fuelled with agricultural residues: benefits of the electrofilter. CD Proceedings of the 19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition 6th –10th June 2011,ICC Berlin.

Seminar on Energy Crops, Agricultural & Livestock Biomass 1st December 2011 - Oakpark Research Centre, Teagasc, Carlow (Ireland)

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ÚDARÁS RÉIGIÚNACH AN OIR-DHEISCIRT Áras Forbartha 1 Sráid Gladstone Cluain Meala Contae Thiobraid Árann Éire TEIL: +353 52 6126200 FAICS: +353 52 6126512 R-PHOST: [email protected] SUÍOMH IDIRLÍN: www.sera.ie

Stiúrthóir /Director Thomas Byrne

SOUTH-EAST REGIONAL AUTHORITY Áras Forbartha 1 Gladstone Street Clonmel County Tipperary Ireland TEL: + 353 52 6126200 FAX: +353 52 6126512 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: www.sera.ie

Energy Crops, Agricultural by-products & livestock wastes biomass in South-East Region of Ireland

Introduction The agriculture and food sector account for a significant proportion of output and employment in the South-East Region, with the region having a higher than average reliance on this sector. In line with national trends the number of farmers in the South-East has decreased drastically in recent years. Also, the number of people employed in agriculture, forestry and fishing has been steadily declining. The South-East is generally regarded as one of the more productive regions of the country. All of the counties in the South-East region have average farm economic margins higher than the national average. However, with changes to agricultural support mechanisms, there is a need to engage in higher value, more land intensive practices such as horticulture or higher value practices such as organic farming (on-farm diversification) to maximise productivity on smaller landholdings. The Regional Planning Guidelines for the South-East Region 2010-2022 (RPGs) contain a number of objectives specific referring to securing agriculture in the region, some of which are as follows:

• Ensuring that agriculture continues to play an important role in the lives of the people of the South-East. The South-East will seek to ensure that it is one of the most efficient regions in Ireland effectively competing in both national and international markets.

• Identifying opportunities for land uses in rural areas other than those related to food production. There is scope to provide for energy crops, recreation, woodland and wildlife habitats. Rural diversification is needed to create employment and generate economic prosperity.

• Developing a self-sustaining forest industry based on a variety of species and a wide range of post-felling services.

• Development of the Green Economy in rural areas; actively promoting the exploitation of wind energy and other forms of renewable energy as valuable regional assets in appropriate locations.

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.sera.ie/

http://www.sera.ie/


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Bioenergy Resource in the Region from Energy Crops, Agricultural by-products & livestock wastes biomass The South-East Regional Authority, in cooperation with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and a wide range of local stakeholders in the region, developed the South-East Bioenergy Implementation Plan in 2008. The key objective of the Plan is to make the South-East a leader in the development of bioenergy in Ireland. The Plan sets out ambitious targets for bioenergy consumption within the Region by 2010 and 2020. The Plan in Chapter 6 assessed the potential bioenergy resources that exist within the South East Region and calculated their energy potential. Table 1 outlines a summary of the potential bioenergy resources in the South East Region. These resources are discussed individually in the following sections. It should be noted that for each of the resources discussed, there are alternative end uses. For the purposes of this Resource Assessment, an estimation of the availability of each resource for energy has been made. This is by no means conclusive and the availability of any given resource is subject to change. The availability of each resource for bioenergy purposes will ultimately be determined by market forces. Table 1: Summary of the potential bioenergy resources Resource Potential Energy (TJ) Forestry Resources Thinnings and logging residues

1,184 Note 1

Agricultural Resources Solids: i.e. straw Liquids: i.e. slurries

1,104 406

Energy Crops (OSR, SRC willow, miscanthus) Grass as an Energy Crop

132 321

Municipal Solid Waste 738Note 1

Total 3,885

Note 1: Not considered any further for the Seminar and report Agricultural By-products Agriculture is a vitally important industry within the South East Region and 16% of the State’s agricultural land is contained within the Region (CSO data, 2004). In recent times, the Government has placed much emphasis on the role that agriculture can play in energy production. The 2003 reform of the CAP means that income support for farmers is no longer linked to the crops that are produced. As a result of this reform farmers in the South East can respond freely to the increasing demand for energy crops. In addition to dedicated energy crops, agricultural by-products are a valuable resource for the production of energy. Tables 3 to 5 explore the energy potential of agricultural solids (i.e. straw) and liquids (i.e. cattle and pig slurry). Table 2: Energy from Agricultural Solids Cereals (ha) Straw (tonnes) Availability

(tonnes) Energy (at 20% mc)

(TJ) South-East 99,600 547,800 76,692 1,104 Irish State 279,800 1,538,900 215,446 3,102


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Table 3: Energy from Agricultural Liquids – Cattle Slurry Cattle Slurry (tds) 16 wks

yield Available

(10%) Biogas yield

(m3) Energy

(TJ) South-East 1,209,100 1,293,737 398,073 39,807 9,951,823 239

Irish State 6,915,900 7,400,013 2,276,927 227,693 56,923,177 1,366 Table 4: Energy from Agricultural Liquids – Pig Slurry Pigs Slurry

(tds) Available

(75%) Biogas

yield (m3) Energy

(TJ) South-East 309,900 37,188 27,891 6,972,750 167 Total 1,643,200 197,184 147,888 36,972,000 887 Energy Crops within the South East Region The sustainable growth of specific energy crops is currently being encouraged by the Government with the recent announcement of establishment grants for the planting of willow and miscanthus, the energy payment which was announced in the last budget and the setting of ambitious targets for the penetration of liquid biofuels into the transport industry. The South-East Region is well-placed to contribute strongly to the production of energy crops nationally Oil Seed Rape Oil seed rape (OSR) is the main energy crop that is currently being grown within the South-East Region. The production of pure plant oil (PPO) from OSR in Ireland offers two possibilities for the introduction of liquid biofuels into the transport fuel mix. The PPO can be used directly in modified diesel engines, or it can be supplied as a feedstock to a biodiesel plant for conversion to biodiesel. OSR is processed into biodiesel using well-established technologies. Biodiesel can be used in compression ignition diesel systems, as a 5% blend with conventional diesel. Table 6 details the energy that can be derived from the current plantation of OSR within the Region. Table 5: Current Crop of Oil Seed Rape

OSR Crop (ha)

Energy (TJ)

South-East 1,900 80 Irish State 5,100 214

16% of the potential energy from OSR crops in Ireland is from crops that are planted within the South-East region. With the demise of the sugar beet industry it is likely that the planting of OSR as an energy crop will increase. Given that almost half of the sugar beet crop in 2005 (44%) was planted in the South East (CSO data), the potential now exists within the region to significantly increase OSR production. Willow & Miscanthus Under the BioEnergy Scheme administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, establishment grants are now being provided by the Government to encourage the growing of SRC willow and miscanthus for the generation of energy. The first round of applicants for the Scheme was accepted in February 2007. The Department has supplied information with regard to the successful applicants for the grant assistance and it is expected that another round of applications will be sought towards the end of 2007. Tables 7 and 8 detail the energy that can be derived from these plantations within the South East Region.


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Table 6:Potential Energy from SRC Willow SRC Willow (ha) Yield (t) Energy (TJ)

South-East 22.85 228.5 4 Irish State 107.56 1,075.6 19 Table 7:Potential Energy from Miscanthus Miscanthus (ha) Yield (t) Energy (TJ)

South-East 282.96 2,829.6 48

Irish State 895.16 8,951.6 152 Grass as an Energy Crop Table 9 explores the energy potential if 5% of the land used for pasture within the South-East Region was used to produce grass as an AD feedstock. Table 8: Energy Potential from Grass

Pasture Land (ha)

Available Land (ha)

Yield (tonnes)

Energy (TJ)

South-East 285,200 14,260 71,300 321

Irish State 1,932,700 96,635 483,175 2,174

If grass was to be considered as an energy crop then the South East region would be well placed to contribute to the national energy generation with 14.7% of the pasture land in Ireland contained within the South East.

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BIO-EN-AREA Project

2nd Thematic Seminar Energy Crops, Agricultural & Livestock Biomass

Energy Agency for South East Sweden

Energy supplied from biomass combustion accounts for over 50 % in the Southeast of Sweden. Preconditions

and frameworks to use biomass for energy purposes from agriculture as well as forestry are very favourable in

the southeast of Sweden due to positive legal frameworks and policies with regard to the use of bioenergy as

well as good conditions regarding the resources and well developed infrastructure. The whole of Sweden has

today well established biomass chains for forest products but even for agricultural products due to well

organised infrastructure within the wood working industries and the highly organised forest owners and farmers.

Biomass from the forestry and forest industry cover around 90 % of this, waste 6 % and peat and Biomass from

agriculture just 2 % each. The different parts can be summarized

• Woodfuel and forest residues

• Part of tree from horticulture

• Wooden residus from wooden industry

• Used wood

• Energy crops and willow

• Byproducts from agriculture

• Waste

Short description on situation for energy from agriculture

In Sweden the agriculture as mentioned above provide with 1-2 TWh/a which is around 1 % of total biomass in

in Sweden. In our region we don´t yet have the figures but the will be provided in the BAP for each region.

Main part of energy from agriculture sector comes from the grain for ethanol, rape seed form RME, salix and

grain residues for heat. Also some parts comes from manure and ley crops mainly for biogas. Around 2 % of

agriculture land is used for energy production but there are more land to be used if profitable and needed.

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There are a much bigger potential to produce energy from agriculture land and around 25-30 TWh/a is expected

to be possible. Still this will not reach 10 % of used biomass.

Energy from agriculture land is still on a low level in Sweden but there is a possibility and need to increase this.

This is just a short summary on the presentation for more and deeper information see slides in the enclosed PP.

Hans Gulliksson, Energikontor Sydost.


ESTONIAN BIOENERGY CROPS. CURRENT AND POTENTIAL USAGE

Elis Vollmer

Estonian University of Life Sciences. Institute of Agronomical and Environmental Sciences.

In 2010 there was approximately 1 180 000 ha of total agricultural area in use in Estonia, 900 000 ha of agricultural land and 280 000 ha of grasslands. Since 2001 the number of agricultural households has decreased three times. In 2010 large producers use 80% of all agricultural land and the average farm size is 40 ha, which is 30% more than few years ago. One reason for this shift is due to the European agricultural subsidies – it is easier for large farms to apply for the subsidy and thus invest more in their land management and production technologies.

Currently Estonia has approximately 300 000 ha of abandoned agricultural land, which can be used for bioenergy production without threatening current land use for food production. However no crops are currently grown for bioenergy purposes. This is closely related to wood biomass availability (50% of Estonia is forested land) and political decisions made by Estonian government.

Energy hay (biogas and combustion)

Taken into account species production and persistence in the herbage Estonian University of Life Sciences has determined suitable energy crops for Estonian conditions.

• Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

Height: 150-200 cm, N fertilizer requirement 200 kg/ha, perennial crop (Persistence in herbage >10 years). Yield 9-10 t/ha (DM) in Estonia. Highest biomass yield with two harvesting’s per year. Finnish studies show that it is suitable for delayed harvest, however with Estonian unstable winters and springs, this has not been possible, especially because reed canary grass tends to lodge during winters with heavy snow cover.

Reed canary grass is suitable for combustion (together with peat and wood chips) and also for biogas production. The briquettes made from reed canary grass held together very well due to suitable lignin content in the grass.

• Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea)

Height: 50-150 cm, N fertilizer requirement 200 kg/ha, perennial crop (Persistence in herbage >10 yrs). Yield 9-11 t/ha (DM) in Estonia. Highest biomass yield with 3-4 hay harvesting’s per year.

Tall Fescue is suitable for biogas and combustion, however high potassium (K) content may be problem for some furnaces.

• Cock's-foot (Dactylis glomerata)

Height: 40-150 cm, N fertilizer requirement 200 kg/ha, perennial crop (Persistence in herbage >10 yrs). Yield 9-10 t/ha (DM), highest biomass yield with 3 hay harvesting’s per year.

Suitable for biogas production, but not combustion (low energetic value).

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• Smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis)

Height: ca 150 cm, N fertilizer requirement 200 kg/ha, perennial crop (Persistence in herbage >10 yrs). Yield 8-9 t/ha (DM), highest biomass yield with 2 hay harvesting’s per year.

Suitable for biogas production, not combustion.

• Goat's rue (fodder galega) (Galega orientalis)

Height: ca 150 cm, no fertilizer requirements, crop improves soil quality. Perennial crop (Persistence in herbage >10 yrs). Yield 8-9 t/ha (DM), highest biomass yield with 2 hay harvesting’s per year.

Suitable for biogas production, not combustion.

• Chinese silver grass (Miscanthus sinensis)

Can be potentially suitable as energy hay (both for biogas and combustion), but needs further studies for suitability in Estonia. Especially on invasiveness, winter tolerance, lodging, harvesting methods etc.

Potential height up to 300 cm, yield up to 25 t/ha, Perennial plant.

• Semi-natural communities

Estonia has 70 000 ha of semi-natural communities (wooden meadow, coastal meadows, flooded meadows etc.), of which 35 000 ha have been defined to be with very high value. Largest wooden meadow is Nedrema – 236 species of vascular plants determined – 76 per m2, which is the highest in Europe (world’s highest is 88 per m2 in Argentina). Semi-natural communities need consistent low intensity management so that their environmental value would be maintained. Additional problem is that they are often situated in remote areas that are difficult to access or the communities are so fragile that they cannot sustain heavy machinery. Estonia currently has subsidies for landowners so that they would cut the hay in semi-natural communities. In 2010 20 000 ha was managed.

The big question is ‘What to do with the hay?!’. The hay has low yield and low nutrient value, so it is not interesting to animal husbandry. In 2009 a boiler house was opened in western Estonia that uses this hay for combustion; however it is not big enough to use all of Estonia’s semi-natural communities’ hay.

Estonian University of Life Sciences has started a project together with Kassel University in Germany, to find additional solutions for using this hay for energy purposes, called PROGRASS. The idea is to separate the liquid and solid mass of the hay and to produce biogas from the liquid part and briquettes from the solid part. More information at www.prograss.eu.

• Maize (Zea mays)

Height up to 300 cm, organic fertilizer requirement 60 t/ha. Yield 12 -15 t/ha (25 t/ha) in Estonian conditions. Annual crop.

Cultivated area was 2 200 ha in 2010.

Best crop for biogas production, also suitable for ethanol production. However it has high fertilizer and herbicide demand, exhausts soils and yields are lower than in Western Europe.

• Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)

Height up to 400 cm, biomass yield 12 -15 t/ha (25 t/ha), perennial crop.

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http://www.prograss.eu/


Biomass is suitable for biogas production and combustion. Tubers are suitable for bioethanol production. The problem is ending of the field, as the tubers are very resilient and it is hard to get all of the tubers out of the soil.

• Triticale (X. Triticosecale Wittmack)

Only winter varieties are suitable for Estonia, average yield is 10-21 t/ha, annual crop. Cultivated area was 4 800 ha in 2010.

Biomass is suitable for biogas production and combustion (straw). Grains are suitable for bioethanol production.

• Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)

Plant height 5-6 m, N fertilizer demand 90-150 kg/ha (depending on the soil), biomass yield 6-12 t/ha, seed yield 3 t/ha. Oil content of seeds is 30-34%. Yields depend on N fertilizing (90 kg N/ha).

Biomass is suitable for biogas production and combustion. Seeds are suitable for bioethanol production. There are problems with suitable harvesting technology in Estonia.

• Oilseed rape / Turnip Rape (Brassica napus) / (Brassica rapa oleifera)

Annual crop, with crop rotation at least five years. Winter varieties - seed yield 1,8–4,5 t/ha; Spring varieties - seed yield 1,5–5,4 t/ha; Seed oil content is 42%. Current cultivated area in Estonia was 90 000 ha in 2010.

Seeds are used for biofuel production, straw and seeds are suitable for combustion. However tests with biofuel production from rapeseeds grown in Estonia have shown that we get only 1,3-1,6 times more energy than was initially used for production. So it is not very effective.

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• Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Annual crop, seed yield 3,2 t/ha; Seed oil content is 50-60%. Biomass yield: 3,4–30,1 t/ha DM, depending heavily on N fertilizing.

Seeds are used for biofuel production. Biomass is suitable for biogas production. The straw and leaves can be used for combustion after seed harvesting.

• Flax (Linum usitatissimum)

Annual crop, plant height is 150 cm. Linseed yield 0,8-2 (2,8) t/ha; Seed oil content is 44-46%. Biomass yield: 3-4 t/ha DM.

Cultivated area in 2010 was 100 ha (oilseed flax). Crop rotation for flaw is at least 5-6 years.

Seeds can be used for biofuel production and biomass is suitable for combustion. Flax production is almost gone in Estonia since Soviet Union. The market is very small.

• Camelina (Camelina Sativa)

Annual crop, plant height is 50-100 cm. Seed yield 1,5-2,5 t/ha; Seed oil content is 38%.

Seeds can be used for biofuel production, biomass is suitable for combustion.

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