Opportunities for Farmers to Produce Biomass as Fuel
25 January 2005
Rising oil prices and uncertain future supplies are renewing interest in biomass as an alternative energy source, creating opportunities for tillage farmers in the future.
Teagasc Researcher, Bernard Rice, told the Teagasc National Tillage Conference in Carlow, that the era of cheap and abundant oil supplies is over and that alternative sources will be necessary over the next 15 years.
In response to the impending scarcity of transport fuels, the EU has set substitution targets for alternatives to the current petrol and diesel use with the aim of achieving a 23% substitution by 2020.
“There will be opportunities for farmers to produce biomass for energy or to convert various farm by-products or residue materials for biofuels”, he said. However, he cautioned that the opportunities are still very limited due to tight financial returns.
“This is beginning to change,” said Bernard Rice, referring to the details in the 2004 Finance Act which allows road excise to be reduced on liquid biofuels from approved projects, “if we want developments to take place in this area it is crucial that these details are finalised as a matter of urgency.” Ireland currently imports almost 90% of its energy needs, without excise relief it will be necessary to import biofuels.
Ongoing research at Teagasc Oak Park, Carlow has shown that the best prospects are biodiesel from vegetable oil or animal fat and ethanol from sugar beet to replace the existing additive used in petrol. The current additive (MTBE) is based on methanol which is itself coming under environmental scrutiny and has been banned in California.
Other exciting developments which will lead to the break down of straw, woody and other waste materials into liquid biofuels much more efficiently are developing rapidly.
According to Bernard Rice, “the possibility of generating electricity or heat for renewable energy offers only a few prospects with willow plantations that double up as sites for effluent disposal. Biogas plants that process food wastes as well as animal slurry are another possibility.”
“Alternative uses for straw are badly needed,” said the Teagasc Researcher. “Whole-bale burners for domestic heating, conversion to ethanol, pelleting to piggy-back on a developing wood pellet market and the possibility of a multi-fuel generating station are options currently being assessed and require serious consideration”, he added.
Issued by Jane Kavanagh, Publications Manager,
Teagasc Oak Park. Tel: 059 9183457 Mob: 087 2223672
