Agrobiotechnologies and plant biomass production for energetic

Aleksandrs Adamovics, Vilis Dubrovskis, Imants Plume Latvia University of Agriculture,Liela iela 2, Jelgava, LV-3001, Latvia

This presentation has been prepared within the framework of the ESF Project research of the renewable energy sources, Contract Nr. 2009/0225/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/09/APIA/VIAA/129.

Attraction of human resources to the

Average sown area by crops in Latvia (2006-2009)

600

Sown area, ths ha sd.

500 400 300 200 100 0

Are thous. Ha ea, 100 300 200 500 600 400 512 85 0
Ce re al s

Agricultural lands in Latvia (2006)

13 13 3 45 13 2 441 3 5 346 250

Agricultural areas in Latvia (2006)

Ra pe le gu m es Su ga r -b ee Fo t dd er - ro ot Po ta to Ve ge ta bl O e th er cr G op re en fo G ra re ge en m an Fa ur Ne e ll o ct Un w ar (m -c us ro ow ed p ed (fo rm gr as er s) ag ric . la nd )

Cereal production, sale to processing and procurement enterprises and t t i d average purchase prices in Latvia

Support for g pp growing of energy g gy crops and production of biofuels

Direct State aid for biofuels produced
7 6

Direct aid for energy crops, LVL 5,91 4,41 4 41

Millio lats, LVL on L

5 4 3 2 1 0

2,88 1,09 0,00 0 00 2005 0,00 0 00 2006 2007 2008

0,56

0,60

Biomasas ranging in dependence on moisture

Wet plant biomass (W 65%-85%) (fresh crop biomas harvested in before ripening) Production: green biomass; silage; Preferred u d utilization in energetic: a o g Production of biogas

Biomass range in dependence on moisture

Relatively dry biomass (W 8-45%)
(straw, reed, hay, grain mill byproducts)

Production: biomass pellets; briquettes bales.

Preferred utilization in energetic: Production of heat and electricity

Cereals, rape straw and g p grass outcome in 2002-2005

Cereals and rape Area, thous. ha (aver. 2002-06) 215 136 36 43 53 51 545 346 1,9 ~ 50% of grass a ea g ass area Grain yield (aver. 2002-06), t/ha 3,1 2,1 , 2,3 1,7 17 1,7 Grain:straw ratio Straw, grass, thous. tons 600 285 85 118 105 114 1216 649 174 325 Straw, grass, available for energy

Wheat Barley a y Rye Oat Rape Sum, straw Fallow grass

~ 1:0,9 ~ 1:1 ~ 1:1,2 ~ 1:1 1 1:1,1 ~ 1:1,3

Usage of organic mineral fertilizers organic, and lime in Latvia

16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Lime, t ha-1 Mineral fertilizers, x0.01 t ha-1 fertilizers x0 01 Organic fertilizers

Average yields of cereals and rape seed in Latvia, cnt/ha (2001-2008)

40

Cereals
35 30 y = 1 188x - 2356 1,188x 25 20 15 10
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Rape seed

y = 0,856x - 1697

Straw available energy from biomass residues in Latvia

Cereals and rape straw available for energy Se calculates: Se = Yg- Sm x As L - I = = 1216 - 545 x 1,6 160 10 = 174 [thsd.t]
where, Se straw available for energy, thous. t; Yg straw yield, thsd. t; A - area of cereals and rape, ha; Smstraw not removed from field to keep organic matter content at the same le el at Lat ia conditions tho s t level Latvia conditions, thous. t, (Sm=1.6 t/ha); L straw for litter, t, I straw for chemical industry t industry,

Boiler for burning of straw in g Saulaine, Latvia

Plant for heat energy production gy p from straw in Saulaine, Latvia

Power of plant for burning of 1,36 MW Utilised biomass - wheat straw, 1300 tons/year Area for straw production 500 ha Average transport distance 6 km Density of square bales 0 11 0 12 t/m3 D it f b l 0,11...0,12 t/ Weight of bale 500 kg Straw price (transport costs included) 23 7 /t 23,7 Heat energy produced 20 TJ/year

Problems, if straw burning process is used P bl t b i i d for energy production

Straw contains chlorines (Cl 0,17...0,6%), that can cause forming of dioxines (at temperatures 600...700C). p ) Straw contain nitrogen (N 0,5....1,2%), that can cause forming of NOx gases (at temperatures above 750C. Straw contains potassium (K 0 35 0 8%) 0,35...0,8%), that can cause melting of ashes (at temperatures below 800C).

Problems, if straw burning process is used P bl t b i i d for energy production

Straw burning process require more running costs, due to need for more frequent cleaning of burners Ashes, that is produced by straw burning, can contain heavy metals, for example, cadmium, that can be rectrictive factor to use ashes as fertilizer in soil. There no ready available technologies for ashes incorporation/spreading in the soil, due to specific physical properties of straw asches.

Recomendations, if straw burning process is R d ti t b i i used for energy production

Burning process should be provided within temperatures 700-750 C. Biomass retention time should be minimiozed at temperatures 600-700C, to avoid forming of excess dioxines, therefore small biomass particles, e.g. pellets, is preferred to supply in burner by contionuos flow. The combined usage of straw with other biomass, e.g. Wood, is preferable, due to increased melting temperature of ashes.

Most environmental technology is usage of , prtreatmen, for biogas , g straw, after p production together with nitrogen-rich biomass.

Recomendations regarding green biomass usage for energetic

Grasses from abandoned lands should be used widely for energy production. Energy crops with less need for mineral fertilizers should be preferred for bioenergy production. d ti Cropping systems having less number of tillage pp g y g g operations should be preferred for energy production

Hemp in trial field growing for bioenergetics

Thanks for attention