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.
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.
