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ENK5-2002-80647
Energy Forest Development on Areas in Central Eastern Europe, where Agricultural Production is Uneconomic |
| Proposal No: | ENK5-2002-80647 |
| Source: | Summary From European Bio-energy Reports |
| Final Report April 2004 | |
Objectives
The main goal of the project was to determine the spatial distribution of potential energy forest planting and biomass production sites in order to promote decentralised renewable energy systems and rational land use. Non-productive lands, potential energy tree farm locations were categorised and mapped by way of a conceptual decision support system. The most available energy crop species were described in each land category.
The project's main objectives can be summarised as:
With an eye to biomass production we devised a simple but powerful land classification methodology, and calculated the potential green energy supply of selected regions and whole countries. Based on widely available GIS tools, we created a map of potential fuel crop planting sites and a DSS application, which can serve as a tentative model for future research.
We described available fuel crops and their cultivation techniques at length and drew cost comparisons between fossil and alternative energy. Technical prerequisites to short-rotational forestry operations were rounded up in a working paper about harvesting machinery and silvicultural systems.
To promote complex site rehabilitation of a former mining district, we dealt with recultivation issues in great depth, and summed up this complex topic in four case studies. This research will be able to shape policy if it is embraced by influential lobbyist organisations.
Socio-economic Relevance and Policy Implications
Increasing reliance on renewable energy is an important priority of the European Union, since it can reduce the dependence on import and prevent future imbalances sin the energy market. What is more, increasing productivity in the agricultural sector and unfavourable market conditions such as overproduction, constrain land use and acreage dedicated to plant cultivation. This decline in traditional agricultural activities creates a surplus of land and labour and has repercussions on rural communities.
The following results have the greatest socio-economic relevance and policy shaping potential (not including public events):
Conclusions
We have shown that energy crop planting is often a superior alternative to traditional arable cultivation of food crops on low quality agricultural land. It can also play an important role in site rehabilitation programmes.
Renewable energy sources have many advantages and are ideal substitutes for fossil fuels, since they have better combustive properties, add no new carbon to the atmosphere, and are better for the environment. Green energy production can contribute to regional development by creating market for labour, goods, and services, and improve the macroeconomic balance. Yet, the renewable energy concept is gaining ground slower then it should, because of legal obstacles and the lack of economic incentives. Energy crops receive less financial support then food crops, or no support whatsoever. Local communities are prone to the idea of producing green energy, but when planners turn to biomass, they soon realise that empirical data on cost-effective biomass production are rarely available.
Introduction
Increasing reliance on renewable energy is an important priority of the European Union since it can reduce the dependence on imports and prevent future imbalances in the energy market. What is more, increasing productivity in the agricultural sector and unfavourable market conditions, such as overproduction constrain land use and acreage dedicated to plant cultivation. This decline in traditional agricultural activities creates a surplus of land and labour and has repercussions on our rural communities.
We would like to promote a more rational use of low quality agricultural land and present energy forest planting as a viable alternative to unprofitable agricultural activities. We intend to offer would-be entrepreneurs guidance and help them cope with major investment risks.
Barriers to overcome
Energy production from biomass is not always a popular proposition. We often encounter obstacles such as weak infrastructure, steep production costs, lack of history and public support, or just pure and plain conservatism. Although biomass planting has a far greater potential in Hungary then other types of alternative energy, it is often completely ignored by policy makers and professional organisations. To help overcome these barriers we would like to inform stakeholders of the potential benefits of biomass planting and the verdict of our experts.
Project structure
The consortium carrying out this project consists of five members from four different countries, two educational and research institutions and three SMEs. The project is fully funded and was made possible by a grant from the budget of the European Union's 5th Framework Programme. The 18 month long collaboration officially started in December 2002 and the first preparatory stage was been completed in May 2003.
The project is divided into six work packages, each of which is either focused on a specific field of research or related to project management. Each work package has a strict deadline and an organisation that is responsible for its completion.
Work packages I and 2 are dedicated to project management and dissemination, scientific work will be carried out in work package 3 (land classification) with the characterisation of potential planting sites. Work package 4 (energy forest plantation) deals with the optimal selection of biomass types. Work pakage 5 (Socioeconomic outcomes) will discuss the effects of biomass planting. Work package 6 (the re-cultivation of open cast mining sites) is of particular importance and will run for almost the entire duration of the project.
Expected impact and exploitation
We hope that biomass planting will gain greater acceptance and popularity, and that the risks and start-up costs involved could be reduced significantly. Our research will help stakeholders to consider planting energy crops as a real alternative by supplying them with hard data. By influencing the public opinion we will certainly contribute to a better climate for future initiatives.
Progress to date
The project was launched in December 2002 and four and a half months later we can report progress on two fronts. At our start-up meeting we agreed to focus on three reference areas, one in Poland, one in Hungary and one in the Czech Republic. So far we have reviewed the Hungarian literature with a special emphasis on little known pioneering experiments, carried out by timber companies and forestry engineers in the past. In the case of Poland, we have characterised the most common biomass types.
As regards software development, we have defined the essentials required of the proposed data-base and the corresponding land classification methodology. Initial results will be made public in our first newsletter coming out in mid-May.
© Copyright 2006 Policy Statements
Updated
by CPL Press:
03/07/2007
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