![[BioMatNet Database - Non-EC Activities]](../images/Other.gif) |
National Activities - Poland
Industrial (Non-Food) use of Agricultural Products in Poland |
Industrial (Non-Food) use of Agricultural Products in Poland
Introduction
According to statistical data from 1997 in Poland arable land covers 18,5mln ha, it is about 59% of country total surface. Total area of crops equals 12,5 mln.ha (i.e. 67,6% of total arable land surface). In crop structure the biggest group is formed by cereals (together with corn grain) - 71,3%, potatoes - 10,5% and sugar beets - 3,4%. In 1997 cereals yield was equal 25,4 mln tons, potatoes 20,8 mln tons, and sugar beets 15,9 mln tons.
In general agricultural production is covering arising demands, and even periodically some problems with sale of agricultural products, especially cereals, are appearing on the market. For this reason the development of non-food (industrial) use of agricultural products is very important from point of view of agriculture interests. Till now a fuel market is the biggest potential consumer in this area in Poland.
In Poland spirit industry is one of the biggest consumers of agricultural raw materials. In 1997 production of proof alcohol was 253 mln of litres. It should be pointed that in 1997 production of spirit in Poland has dropped by 35mln litres because of reduced requirements on food purposes. On the other hand production of spirit for industrial purposes, in that production of ethyl-gasoline blends, increased by 12 mln litres in comparison with 1996, and was equal 110 mln litres, it means over 43% of total spirit production. In 1997 altogether 603,5 thousand tons of cereals, 370,6 thousand tons of potatoes, 93,2 thousand tons of molasses were assigned for spirit production.
At the present moment, it appears that spirit production for industrial purposes, as additive to fuel, is of great importance for stocking surplus of agricultural products in Poland. Other examples of non-food use of agricultural products market penetration in Poland are: pilot installation of rape methyl ester production, starting up of straw-fired boilers program, development of biogas plant. In Poland non-food (industrial) use of agricultural origin raw materials is more and more frequently perceived also as an element of environment protection program.
Bioethanol
In the beginning of 90's a huge overproduction of alcohol, resulting from necessity of processing a surplus production of cereals, potatoes and beet molasses determined our country to undertake a production of gasoline with bioethanol (dehydrated ethyl alcohol) as additive . Wider usage of gasoline with ethanol blends was possible after introduction of new standard for engine fuels in 1992.
Bioethanol used as one of possible additives to gasoline is increasing octane number as improving ecological properties of gasoline, especially leaded one, during combustion in engines. Polish standard, regulating gasoline quality and composition PN-92/C-096025 allows for the mixing of organic oxygen compounds, in that dehydrated ethyl alcohol, but not more than 5% by volume with petrol, with a maximum total oxygen content 2.8 % by weight. This standard was submitted by Ministry of Industry and Trade and introduced by Polish Committee of Standards, Measures and Quality on 31 January 1992 as standard obligatory from I March 1992 (Dz.Norm i Miar nr 2/1992, poz. 3). This standard allows use of ethanol additive in all types of gasoline used in motorisation.
Acceptance of ethanol as additive to gasoline in fuel standard was the
turning-point.
Another very important element stimulating development of
bioethanol-gasoline blends production is reduction of excise taxation for such
gasoline introduced by Ministry of Finances. At the present moment obligatory
rate of excise taxation is by 170 PLZ/t lower for ethylized gasoline (leaded)
E94 and E98 containing 4,5-5% of ethanol. (Decree of Ministry of Finances of 5
January 1998 concerning excise taxation - Dz.U.nr 2 poz 3, 8 January 1998)
Reduced rate will be obligatory till 31 December 1999.
Last year almost 110 mln l of produced ethanol was used for fuel production . It means that about 1,8 mln tons of leaded gasoline contained ethanol as additive. Evident drop is noticed in production and sale of leaded gasoline, in that dominating 94 ethylene. In spite of global increase of gasoline sale in country, share of ethylene is systematically decreasing. Last year only about 900 thousand tons of leaded gasoline was not containing addition of ethanol, while in 1996 it was almost 1,8 mln tons. Last year CPN already reduced sale of ethanolgasoline blends sale. One can expect, that if in near future production of non-leaded bioethanol-gasoline blends is not supported by the government the bioethanol usage will decrease on liquid biofuels market.
For production of 1 dm3 of ethyl alcohol alternatively requires:
According to that 110 mln l of ethanol is equivalent to:
of course with assumption, that total ethanol production is from one chosen raw material.
Another very important aspect is connected with development of rural areas. Alcohol production located in rural regions can be an element of rural industrialisation. Especially in the moment when unemployment is observed in some rural regions a diversification of agricultural production is giving possibilities of additional employment, additional source of incomes for the State and local budget (e.g. from taxes) and increased demand for services in rural regions.
Biodiesel
In the years 1994 - 1997 on the order of Ministry of Agriculture and Food Economy was conducted research project "EPAL - Polish rape biofuel for Diesel engines". Simultaneously tests of rape biofuel were done, on basis of which a proposal of Polish standard PrPN-C-40030 was elaborated. However this standard was not accepted yet it is a good reference point for all biofuel producers operating on our market. Biodiesel containing addition of depressants is fulfilling all requirements for diesel fuel type DZ according to PN-92/C-96051 and for engine fuels class according to EN-590, designated for winter use, with ambient temperature up to minus 20°C.
In half of 90's division of CPN S.A. in Wroclaw was strongly interested in development of biodiesel market and they introduced promotional production and sale of diesel fuel with addition of vegetable origin fatty-acid-methyl-esters.
In aspect of actual state of the art and with actual price relations (cheap diesel fuel on world markets - 120 USD on ARA market and high prices of rapeseed) a substitution of mineral energy products with rape based products in large scale is not possible in our country at that moment. In actual situation it is requiring large expenditures from the State budget for rape biofuel production subsidy.
Solid biofuels - straw, wood
Combustible biomass consists mainly of wood and straw. Wood chips resources are almost in all regions of the country. Forests are the biggest source of wood, it was estimated that 5,2 mln m3 of chips per year can be obtained additionally for energy purposes, next 1,1 mln m3 can be generated from industrial wood wastes and 1 mln m3 from orchards. Altogether ca.7,5 mln m3 of wood fuels can be used for energy purposes per year. In rural areas, wood is usually combusted in traditional stoker-fired devices constructed for combustion of other fuels. A consequence of the above is an adverse effect on the environment due to emissions of gases not combusted completely and nitrogen compounds (NOx). The problem may be solved by using wood-fired boilers, the power of those available at the market varies from a few kilowatts to 3 MW. In our climate zone in which a heating season is ca. 5,000 hours long, adequate technical facilities are required in order to secure wood supplies to the boiler plant. The following are the essential elements of such facilities: fuel processing line, conveyors, storage with the possibility of wood drying/ventilating. More and more farms are building waste water treatment plants where fastgrowing willow is utilised. In western countries, fast-growing trees (willow, poplar, cane) are grown for energy production at special plantations. The plants however require special habitat conditions, mainly water conditions, and they do not offer hopes of growing for energy production in a short time (around 5 years) except that they are used for the treatment of effluent.
Another kind of biomass which may be used for energy production is straw from cereals, oil and leguminous plants. Annual straw production in Poland is equal 25 million of tons. Straw is utilised in agriculture for various purposes: as fodder, as lining for live stock, as organic fertilised and as insulation material. In spite of the above numerous applications, there is considerable surplus of straw in some areas of Poland, which has caused the problem of straw utilisation for energy production to be noted.
On Polish market a few manufacturers of small straw-fired boilers (Elektromontaz Gdansk, GRASO in Starogard, Boilers Plant in Pleszewo, ATEX in Zamosc), small wood-fired/wood gasification boilers (FuWi Gaz in Elblag, Kubacki Hajnowka) are now present. Actually in Poland biofuel-fired boiler plants of various capacities are operated to supply heat both to private farms and to public buildings. There are nearly ''0 straw-fired and over 5000 woodfired boilers whose total capacity is now in excess of 500 MW(t). Four bigger straw-fired district heating plants have also been built. The first one (l MW) is in the village of Szropy near Malbork, the second (I MW) in Grabowiec near Zamosc, the third (0.6 MW) in Wieniec near Gdansk and the fourth one (0.3 MW) in Baczek near Starogard Gdanski. Further two are under construction.
Attempts are also being made to utilise sewage sludge, with parameters similar to those of peat, for energy purposes. A boiler plant (1.5 MW) for sludge combustion in a fluidised bed has been erected in a sewage treatment plant in Debogorze near Gdynia. The first sludge-fired DHP (0.3 MW) has also been commissioned in the sewage treatment plant in Swarzewo near Puck. Boilers have also been operated as from 1997 in other sewage treatment plants in Poland (Radziejow near Konin, Brzozow near Krosno).
Biogas
In our country various research and implementation projects are being undertaken with reference to installations designed for methane fermentation of organic wastes. The aim of these activities is to generate biogas and reduce environmental perils.
The greatest possibilities of obtaining biogas have farms. It was estimated that yearly they produce about 38 mln. m3 of liquid manure and 51 mln. t. of dung. Assuming that unit mass of manure is 0.6 t/m3, annual amount of manure equals 85 mln. m3. As it has been proved by researches conducted in biogas production plants operated in agricultural production, it is possible to obtain on the average 20 m3 of biogas from I m3 of liquid excrement, and 30 m3 of biogas from 30 m3 of dung with energy value of about 23 MJ/m3. It has been calculated that from the above mentioned quantity of animal excrement it is possible to produce 3,310 mln.m3 of biogas. This quantity is purely theoretical since farms with a small number of animals lack technical and economic base for the construction of biogas plants. Production of biogas from dung is also limited due to a more complicated technology if compared with the technology applied in the processing of liquid excrement.
For farms with herd above 25 LU (LU - livestock unit, animal weight 500 kg) installations for methane fermentation are being implemented according to the design prepared by the Institute for Building, Mechanisation and Electrification of Agriculture in Warsaw or with their assistance. Actually about 20 installations of such type are working in Poland. The IBMER offer includes following installations:
Within the framework of the EUREKA programme implemented by IBMER - Institute for Building, Mechanisation and Electrification of Agriculture (Poland), BIOMET (Sweden) and Biotechnology Institute (Hungary) 'BIOMET-IBMER-EUROTECHNOLOGY' for utilisation of liquid manure through methane fermentation was developed. Biogas, electricity and compost may be produced as a result of this technology. This technology may be applied in farms using of non-mulch breeding systems with concentrations exceeding 100 animals. The cost of construction of the biogas installation designed for 200 animals with manure chambers and composting plate varies from PLN 250,000 to 350,000 depending on the system of construction and execution.
The above mentioned technology may be used for utilisation of domestic sewage and municipal wastes mixed with liquid manure as well as for utilisation of the wastes produced in other branches of food and agricultural production, for example, dairies. Main by-product of milk processing is whey which constitutes 75% of the mass. The demand for oxygen for chemical oxidation of organic substances contained in whey often reaches as much as 60 kg O2/m3, and biological demand for oxygen amounts to 35 kg O2/m3. In the beginning of the 90's the Institute of Food Processing Machines conducted research which proved biogas production plants to be a very efficient technology which allows to produce positive environmental and economic effects.
Perspective for renewable energy sources development
Subject of non-food usage of agricultural products is especially important for Ministry of Agriculture and Food Economy. This year "Foundations of development of ethanol use as additive to gasoline in Poland" were elaborated as additional material to "Medium-period Strategy of Agriculture and Rural Regions Development". This document was accepted by Governing Body of Ministry of Agriculture and Food Economy on 9 June 1998 and Parliament Commission of Agriculture and Development was informed about that.
Activities in this area are supported from public sources, as the
possibilities arises. Development of ethanol-gasoline blends usage is based on
introduced reduction in excise taxation. Farmers have possibility of some
reduction in agricultural taxation if are investing in renewable energy
technologies (in that biomass energy). Moreover there are possibilities of
receiving financial support in this area from PHARE funds. In such way was
financed program of straw-fired'boilers use in Poland. Polish research
institutions are also starting to participate in EU research programs e.g.
Synergy, Altener. Also other funds and organisations are involved in activities
supporting development of industrial use of agricultural production.
Ministry
of Agriculture and Food Economy is fully conscious of fact, that development of
non-food usage of agricultural products is especially important for Poland also
in aspect of carried out negotiations and process of adjustment of Polish law to
European standards. Receiving of pre-accessment funds from EU within program
SAPARD will allow on enlargement of financial support for above mentioned
activities after 2000.
Elaborated by:
Magdalena Rogulska IBMER
Andrzej Sobieszek MRiGZ
Contacts
Contact
© Copyright 2006 Policy Statements
Updated
by CPL Press:
03/07/2007
- biomatnet@biomatnet.org
 |
 |
 |
News |
 |
Events |
|
|