The European energy policy is clearly oriented towards renewable energy sources. Among them, biomasses and more specifically dedicated crops, are expected to play a relevant role in energy supply in short- or mid-term [1]. Therefore, studies aimed at assessing social, economic and environmental impacts of bioenergy systems can be very useful for policy makers and for an effective long-term planning. In this study seven herbaceous dedicated energy crops were compared on the basis of the energy balance of the cultivation phase, and the economic balance of the biomass production. For the economic assessment, the computerized BEE model, expressly created for perennial crops, was used to analyze the different scenarios. For energy balance the Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) method was used to assess the energy input; the output was calculated by multiplying the biomass yield (the total biomass for lignocellulosics, and the fraction of biomass used for energy for grain crops) by the specific heating value of each product. Two indicators were calculated: i) net energy; ii) Energy efficiency. For perennials, annual equivalent balances were calculated, accounting for the annual input/output flow, plus a quote of input accounting for the establishment year. Analysing the results of energy balance, lignocellulosic crops resulted the best performing, with a net energy production ranging from 200 to 390 GJ ha-1 y-1, and an efficiency always exceeding 17. The net energy production of annual grain crops ranged from 20 to 65 GJ ha-1 y-1, and the energy efficiency was lower than 3 in all cases. Analysing the economic aspects, giant reed resulted the crop with the highest average annual income (382 € per ha per year), followed by switchgrass (325). Oil crops showed the worst income level (less than 120 € ha-1 y-1). The other crops (miscanthus, fibre sorghum and maize) ranged from 250 to 300 € ha-1 y-1 of income. Among annual crops, fibre sorghum resulted the top performer in both energy and economic traits.
Fazio S., Barbanti L., Venturi G. (2009). Energy and economic balances of different dedicated energy crops. s.l : s.n.
Energy and economic balances of different dedicated energy crops
FAZIO, SIMONE;BARBANTI, LORENZO;VENTURI, GIANPIETRO
2009
Abstract
The European energy policy is clearly oriented towards renewable energy sources. Among them, biomasses and more specifically dedicated crops, are expected to play a relevant role in energy supply in short- or mid-term [1]. Therefore, studies aimed at assessing social, economic and environmental impacts of bioenergy systems can be very useful for policy makers and for an effective long-term planning. In this study seven herbaceous dedicated energy crops were compared on the basis of the energy balance of the cultivation phase, and the economic balance of the biomass production. For the economic assessment, the computerized BEE model, expressly created for perennial crops, was used to analyze the different scenarios. For energy balance the Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) method was used to assess the energy input; the output was calculated by multiplying the biomass yield (the total biomass for lignocellulosics, and the fraction of biomass used for energy for grain crops) by the specific heating value of each product. Two indicators were calculated: i) net energy; ii) Energy efficiency. For perennials, annual equivalent balances were calculated, accounting for the annual input/output flow, plus a quote of input accounting for the establishment year. Analysing the results of energy balance, lignocellulosic crops resulted the best performing, with a net energy production ranging from 200 to 390 GJ ha-1 y-1, and an efficiency always exceeding 17. The net energy production of annual grain crops ranged from 20 to 65 GJ ha-1 y-1, and the energy efficiency was lower than 3 in all cases. Analysing the economic aspects, giant reed resulted the crop with the highest average annual income (382 € per ha per year), followed by switchgrass (325). Oil crops showed the worst income level (less than 120 € ha-1 y-1). The other crops (miscanthus, fibre sorghum and maize) ranged from 250 to 300 € ha-1 y-1 of income. Among annual crops, fibre sorghum resulted the top performer in both energy and economic traits.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
