Biomass from field crop production as an energy source and a new activity area for economic operators at a local level

Abstract

Environmental Biotechnology deals with preservation and restoration of fauna, flora, and their environment. The utilisation of environmental biotechnology has significantly affected the world and will be one of the most valuable tools for improving the quality of life for future generations b y providing cost effective mechanisms for preserving and restoring natural resources. Biotechnology will also revolutionise many industrial processes by providing the ability to produce energy and chemicals through green processes that will minimise the impact of industrial activities on the environment and reduce the world's dependence on non-renewable energy resources. It will also enable the use of biological systems for the remediation of contaminated water and soils that result from many anthropogenic activities. The journal is devoted to biotechnological processes that preserve, protect and restore nature, mainly: • cytogenetic and molecular diagnostics of living andancient organisms,

Straw Stocks as a Source of Renewable Energy. A Case Study of a District in Poland

“…With respect to the degree of processing, biomass can be divided into primary (annual and perennial energy crops-surplus green biomass from grasslands not used for animal feeding) and secondary biomass (waste-by-products from agricultural production food processing, liquid and solid animal faeces, organic residues from the agricultural and food industries; e.g., glycerin, spent distillery grains, slaughter waste, and dairy waste). The important role of agricultural biomass in the development of bioenergy generation is indisputable, although there are certain discrepancies in estimates of its potential [9][10][11].…”

“…The efficient use of biomass for energy generation could be supported by the formation of local, distributed energy centres, situated in rural areas. Building a local system for biomass conversion to energy is a solution considered to be, energy-wise-efficient, fully ecological, and stimulating to rural areas (new jobs, more efficient land use, and capital turnover in a local system) [10].…”

“…Studies designed to recognise the conditions which have influence on the production of biomass for energy purposes in the Province of Warmia and Mazury have demonstrated that biomass producers are mostly concentrated in the western part of the region and in a belt stretching through the north-eastern part of the province [10]. An important consideration in the establishment of agricultural biomass plantations is the localisation relative to potential biomass delivery points.…”

“…In the central part of this region, there are single enterprises of this kind, whereas in the northern and south-eastern belts there are few biomass buyers and producers. A relationship has been noted between the localisation of biomass conversion plants and farms engaged in the production of biomass for energy purposes in the municipalities and districts where the IAPAQ is on a moderate level [10]. The Index of Agricultural Production Area Quality (IAPAQ) is an aggregate index based on the assessment of indicators (diagnostic features), such as: Soil quality, climate, land relief, and water balance.…”