The role of agriculture in the field of energy is part of a wider framework of services that this sector can provide to the community, integrating the concept of multifunctionality already attribut - ed to it. Whilst agricultural activity is an excellent means for protecting and enhancing the appearance of the territory, the production of agro-energy could become an opportunity for farmers to find new out - lets, not only for their crops, but also for by-products and agro-livestock waste/slurry. In fact, energy pro - duction can be an important opportunity for farmers to diversify their business, broadening the prospects and scenarios for agricultural and livestock farms. The energy potential of a rural area through the use of biomass produced by agriculture will now be investigated in depth: the authors describe agro-en - ergy production chains that specifically use biomass, ignoring other technologies (primarily photovoltaic and solar thermal) that can be developed, with prof - it, by the farmer, but which are not directly related to the traditional activity of a farm. Given a proven technology, the main problems for this energy chain are to be found in the procurement of biomass, costs of transport and management of biomass and diges - tate, and in the regulatory framework which is often difficult to interpret at the local level. The biogas chain will be examined in detail, espe - cially in relation to the significant growth in the number of plants constructed. Through the study of the main features characterising the chain - proce - dure for authorization of plants, taxation of energy production, by-products of organic and agro-live - stock origin and incentives and tariffs for energy production, - the economic sustainability of biogas production plants will be evaluated. Finally the authors present a comparison between rates of incentive before and after 2012 in order to analyse the risks for the profitability of the chain.
Alessandra Castellini, Carlo Pirazzoli, Alessandro Ragazzoni (2013). Production of renewable energy in agriculture: the current situation and future developments. POLITICA AGRICOLA INTERNAZIONALE, 4, 47-60.
Production of renewable energy in agriculture: the current situation and future developments
CASTELLINI, ALESSANDRA;PIRAZZOLI, CARLO;RAGAZZONI, ALESSANDRO
2013
Abstract
The role of agriculture in the field of energy is part of a wider framework of services that this sector can provide to the community, integrating the concept of multifunctionality already attribut - ed to it. Whilst agricultural activity is an excellent means for protecting and enhancing the appearance of the territory, the production of agro-energy could become an opportunity for farmers to find new out - lets, not only for their crops, but also for by-products and agro-livestock waste/slurry. In fact, energy pro - duction can be an important opportunity for farmers to diversify their business, broadening the prospects and scenarios for agricultural and livestock farms. The energy potential of a rural area through the use of biomass produced by agriculture will now be investigated in depth: the authors describe agro-en - ergy production chains that specifically use biomass, ignoring other technologies (primarily photovoltaic and solar thermal) that can be developed, with prof - it, by the farmer, but which are not directly related to the traditional activity of a farm. Given a proven technology, the main problems for this energy chain are to be found in the procurement of biomass, costs of transport and management of biomass and diges - tate, and in the regulatory framework which is often difficult to interpret at the local level. The biogas chain will be examined in detail, espe - cially in relation to the significant growth in the number of plants constructed. Through the study of the main features characterising the chain - proce - dure for authorization of plants, taxation of energy production, by-products of organic and agro-live - stock origin and incentives and tariffs for energy production, - the economic sustainability of biogas production plants will be evaluated. Finally the authors present a comparison between rates of incentive before and after 2012 in order to analyse the risks for the profitability of the chain.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
