Title:
Pruning Residues: Energy Production or Mulching? Environmental Impacts of Almond Pruning Residues Use
Author(s):
den Boer, J., Gómez, M., Sebastián, F., García-Galindo, D., Dyjakon, A., Bukowski, P., den Boer, E., Germer, S., Bischoff, W-A.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
Agricultural residues (pruning residues) coming from permanent plantations and orchards constitute a significant and largely unused potential for renewable energy. The EuroPruning project aims to turn pruning residues into a valuable fuel source by developing solutions for their harvesting, transportation and storage that will contribute to increase the share of renewable sources in the total energy supply. To determine the environmental consequences of the Pruning-to-Energy (PtE) logistics chain, a Life Cycle Assessment study has been conducted. In this study the newly developed PtE scenarios are compared to a reference scenario: mulching and consequently leaving the pruning residues on the fields. Both alternatives have advantages and drawbacks from an environmental point view. However preliminary results for the PtE scenario for almond pruning residues show, that the environmental burdens are significantly lower than in case of leaving the pruning residues on the field.
Keywords:
agricultural residues, life cycle assessment (LCA), solid biofuels, wood chips, environmental impact, pruning residues
Topic:
Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability
Subtopic:
Environmental impacts of bioenergy
Event:
24th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
4AV.2.10
Pages:
1485 - 1489
ISBN:
978-88-89407-165
Paper DOI:
10.5071/24thEUBCE2016-4AV.2.10
Price:
FREE
