INVESTIGATION STUDY FOR TECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATION OF ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR THE ENERGY EXPLOITATION OF BIOMASS-AGRICULTURAL RESIDUES IN NORTHERN GREECE

Abstract

Biomass energy potential is addressed to be the most promising among the renewable energy sources, due to its spread and availability worldwide. Apart form that, biomass has the unique advantage among the rest of renewable energy sources, to be able to provide solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels that can be stored, transported, and utilized, far away from the point of origin. For the northern region of Macedonia in Greece, biomass utilization is considered to be a major issue, due to the considerably intensive regional agricultural activities. Wood by-products, fruit cores, rice husk and cotton gin waste provide a promising energy source for the region. The energy potential of the available agricultural biomass produced in the region is much enough to cover the 10% of the annual oil consumption utilized for thermal applications. However, the cost of energy utilization of biomass is considerably high due to the high cost of the logistics concerning the collection, transport, and storage of biomass. The available utilization technologies developed, to handle efficiently all different species of biomass, cover a wide technological range. One of the most promising technologies involving thermal treatment of biomass and the production of a gaseous fuel (biogas) for industrial heat applications and electricity production, is the thermochemical conversion. In the present work, an investigation concerning biomass potential for energy production in the region of central Macedonia in Greece, utilizing several locally produced biomass species, is conducted. Emphasis is put on the energy utilization of agricultural by-products and residues. Agricultural sector is of great importance due to the considerably intensive agricultural activities in the region of Central Macedonia.

Keywords

Dates

  • Submission Date2006-07-11
  • Revision Date2007-03-31
  • Acceptance Date2007-04-07

DOI Reference

10.2298/TSCI0703115Z

References

  1. ***, 1st National Report regarding promotion of the use of biofuels or other renewable fuels for transport in Greece for the period 2005-2010 (in Greek) (Article 4 of Directive 2003/30/EC), Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Development, Directorate General for Energy, Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Saving Directorate, 2004
  2. ***, National Report regarding penetration level of renewable energy sources in the year 2010 (in Greek) (Article 3 of Directive 2001/77/EC), Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Development, Directorate General for Energy, Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Saving Directorate, 2003
  3. ***, Hellenic Ministry of Development, www.yupan.gr (in Greek) Accessed: 20/3/2007
  4. ***, The region of Central Macedonia: Energy Planning Study, Final report, SAVE programme (in Greek), Thessaloniki, Greece, 2001
  5. Gray, K. A., Zhao, L., Emptage, M., Bioethanol, Current Opinion in Chemical Biology, 10 (2006), 2, pp. 141-146
  6. Zabaniotou, A. A., Koroneos, C. J., Boura, A., Moussiopoulos, N., Philipopoulos, N., Technical, Environmental, Economical and Energy Analysis of Alternative Methods for the Exploitation of Agricultural Wastes in Greece, Proceedings, 1st World Conference and Exhibition on Biomass for Energy and Industry, Seville, Spain, 2000, pp. 339-341
  7. ***, Communication: Energy for the Future: Renewable Energy Sources - White Paper for a Community Strategy and Action Plan, COM (97)599, European Commission, 1997
  8. Bridgwater, A. V., Renewable Fuels and Chemicals by Thermal Treatment of Biomass, Chemical Engineering Journal, 91 (2003), 2-3, pp. 84-102
  9. Maniatis, K., Progress in Biomass Gasification: an Overview, in: Progress in Thermochemical Biomass Conversion (Ed. A. V. Bridgewater), Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, UK, 2001, pp. 1-32
  10. Knoef, H. A. M., Inventory of Biomass Gasifier; Manufacturers and Installations, Final Report to European Commission, Contact DIS/1734/98-L, Biomass Technology Group B.V., University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands, 2000
  11. Ruyck, J. Allard., De G. K., Maniatis, K., An Externally Fired Evaporative Gas Turbine Cycle for Small Scale Biomass CPH Production, Proceedings (Ed. P. Chartier, et al.), 9th European Bioenergy Conference, Copenhagen, 1996, Pergamon Press, Oxford, UK, 1996
  12. Waldheim, L., Morris, M., Leal, R. L. V., Biomass Power Generation: Sugar Cane Bagasse and Trash, in: Progress in Thermo-Chemical Biomass Conversion (Ed. A. V. Bridgewater), Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, UK, 2001, pp. 509-523
Volume 11, Issue 3, Pages115 -123