Paper details

Title:

Integrated Harvesting and Biomass Haulage of Olive Tree Prunings. Evaluation of a Two Year Harvesting Campaign in Central Greece

Author(s):

Kougioumtzis, M.A., Karampinis, E., Grammelis, P., Kakaras, E.

Document(s):

Abstract:

The aim of the present paper is to evaluate the most intensive demonstration of harvesting of olive tree prunings (OTP) ever occurred in Greece. In Agios Konstantinos, an integrated mulcher was used to harvest the local olive groves. The harvesting campaign was performed for two consecutive years. In total, for both years, the harvesting campaign lasted for 20 days where around 81 ha of olive groves were harvested, that amounted to 252 dry tons of harvested prunings. The aim of the paper is to evaluate an agricultural residue mobilization value chain in terms of performance, economics and fuel analyses of the harvested OTP. Via detailed monitoring, the present paper compares the harvesting demonstration results for both years. In brief, the average harvesting efficiency increased from 2.2 dry tons/hr (first year) to 2.4 dry tons/ hour (second year), whereas the corresponding harvesting and haulage costs of these harvesting campaigns were calculated at 61.8 €/ dry ton and 63.5 €/ dry ton, with an estimated commercial operation cost at 45.7 €/ dry ton. Finally, from 49 samples of OTP collected, the average moisture content was at 27.5% a.r., ash content at 4.5 % d.b. and the average HHV at 19.7 MJ/kg d.b..

Keywords:

agricultural residues, cost analysis, demonstration, harvesting, solid biofuel, olive tree

Topic:

Sustainable Resources for Decarbonising the Economy

Subtopic:

Agroforestry Residues and By-Products

Event:

29th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

1BO.1.4

Pages:

69 - 76

ISBN:

978-88-89407-21-9

Paper DOI:

10.5071/29thEUBCE2021-1BO.1.4

Price:

FREE