JOULE JOR3-CT95-0060 Small agro-energy farm scheme implementation for rescuing deserting land in small Mediterranean islands having water and agricultural land

Contacts




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Agriculture : JOULE/THERMIE Programme : Solid Biofuels

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	JOR3-CT95-0060
	EC Contribution	210,000 ECU
	Start Date	11/12/1995
	Duration	24 Months

Small agro-energy farm scheme implementation for rescuing deserting land in small Mediterranean islands having water and agricultural land

Objectives

The aim is to show how and at what cost new vegetation in arid or deserted coastal areas could be initiated by a simple bio-energy scheme including an advanced power plant of small size (around 100 kW_e) with electricity generation based on biomass liquid or gaseous fuel. This feasibility study of a small-scale project enclosing a pilot cultivation of energy crops is totally self-sufficient in terms of water and energy supply capability (RO/distillation system for seawater desalination and a generator set fuelled by biomass). It constitutes an essential element for the reconstruction of a good quality artificial soil and could demonstrate an ability to arrest the desertification process. Great importance has to be given to the study and the improvement of crop characteristics in relation to soil composition, crop and irrigation system, etc., because of their influence on energy/water production.

Technical Approach

Considering an area of about 10 ha on a remote deserted coastal land of Tenerife, the biomass production cycles could begin with crops requiring low water inputs. In order to restore a good quality soil, which could be suitable for cultivation. An artificial soil (thickness of about 50-80 cm) will be studied in collaboration with the Institut fur Pflanzenbau and ITER. This could be a mixture of local soil and organic matter (compost made from local urban wastes /sludge) improved by some water-retaining low-evaporation crystal grains. Only desert areas located near the sea are considered, giving a water supply for the desalination plant. Energy for the desalination unit will come from a biomass power plant: during the full working cycle, power production would be sufficient to obtain, besides water for cultivation of energy crops, some desalinated water for other uses (drinking water, irrigation for food production). Once the project pre-feasibility study has defined some different options or scenarios, a more detailed evaluation will be possible on how to reach a completely self-sufficient system in terms of energy and desalinated water demand/production.

Expected Results

The concept of recovering arid lands in remote sites with surplus production of fresh water, electricity and heat/cold could be of interest for organisations which are planning projects to make islands completely sufficient in energy-water needs. The handbook of good practices that will be available for dissemination could become a reference document for regional (Mediterranean) development planning managers promoting the implementation of desalination/MSW-disposal/bioenergy integrated projects in coastal districts.

The following achievements are expected:

• guidelines for recovery technologies for dessert areas
• economic costs guidelines
• time scheduling guidelines for recovery of polluted soils (MSW contaminants) and transformation to productive uses

Contacts

Coordinator

• ETA - Energia, Trasporti, Agricoltura Consulting Srl / ITALY

Participant

• Dr-Ing Peter GRIMM / Centrum Neue Technologien Centre New Technology / GERMANY
• Nassir EL BASSAM / FAL Institut fuer Pflanzenbau und Pflanzenzuchtung / GERMANY
• Manuel CENDAGORTA-GALARZA / Instituto Tecnologico y de Energias Renovables SA / SPAIN