Agro-forestry & crop combination options Dr Calliope Panoutsou Biomass Department CRES

Contents  Aim  S trengths, W eaknesses, O pportunities & T hreats  Biomass resources available in south EU  Agro- biomass  Forest biomass  Current RTD projects  Future options  Future RTD needs  Challenges  Recommendations- Conclusions

2-Jun-15 Aim  Collecting information on experiences gained with and possibilities for dedicated bioenergy crop combinations as well as  agro-forestry options which promise to combine high yields with relatively low environmental impacts.

Strengths  Climate favors several resource options  Residual resources with low moisture  Energy crops with high yielding potential  Energy crops can be complementary to current activities in time and resources (human & machinery)  Uncertain policy framework (new CAP) leads farmers to seek new cropping options  Political pressure on RES & bioenergy (Biomass Action Plan)  Emissions & Biofuels Directives (2003/87/EC, 2003/30/EC) could be a means for high biomass demand

2-Jun-15Weaknesses  Semi-arid conditions require irrigation  Landscape associated risks (erosion, water runoff, desertification levels)  Small farming size compared with central, northern EU member states  Lack of “fully” mechanized agriculture  RTD fragmented, reflecting great diversity of crops, supply routes and end uses.  Difficult forest management, fire risks, lack of road infrastructure, etc.  Need to evaluate the whole chain; an integrated approach to deliver quality, availability and cost targets and achieve competitiveness.

2-Jun-15Opportunities  Identify dedicated low impact high yielding cropping systems suitable for med regions  Create supply chains combining residual forms and energy crops.  Establish fuel supply chains which will act as links among biomass producers & users  Evaluate resource options both for industrial & with waste fractions (e.g. energy properties (biorefinery supplies)  Combine agro- forestry biomass with waste streams (demolition wood, packaging paper, etc.)  Create communication channels & synergies with the farming & forestry community

2-Jun-15 Threats  Traditional “food” agriculture systems not aware of energy- industry markets  Variety of feedstocks with different physical- chemical properties  Lack of specified agricultural machinery for certain energy crops  Low knowledge levels in the farming & forestry communities  Complexity of issues & associated groups involved require prior to start- up planning and strong day-to-day coordination

Biomass energy in south EU  High growth rate in wind energy but slow expansion of biomass singled out as key reason for failure to reach targets.  Modest progress in southern countries.  Limited data for energy crops: RTD small scale fields cannot give answers for commercial scale up  Lack of forest management practices dedicated to energy in most south states

2-Jun-15 Agro-biomass potential Land use (Mha)

2-Jun-15 Agro-biomass potential Dry biomass (Mt/y)

2-Jun-15 Agro- biomass potential Dry biomass (%)

2-Jun-15 Agro- biomass potential Biomass production (t)

2-Jun-15 Forests EU 25: Land cover (2000)

2-Jun-15 Annual increment, fellings (2000) Growing stock (Million m 3 ) EU N: 6,420 EU C: 10,546 EU S: 2,767

Current RTD projects  ENK6 CT : Bioenergy chains for south Europe  Four perennial grasses: giant reed, cynara, switcgrass, miscanthus  Three thermochemical processes: combustion, gasification, pyrolysis  Whole chain economics & environmental assessments  Harvest window ensuring year round supply  Good time allocation of resources  Crops are complementary to current agricultural activities

2-Jun-15 Current RTD projects  Cynara cardunculus: BIOCARD 6FP  Perennial crop suitable to med conditions  Can be rainfed  Wide range of products from biodiesel, heat & electricity  Good potential for biorefinery feedstock…

2-Jun-15 Future RTD needs  Establish competitive supply chains to meet market requirements.  Optimise bioenergy systems, matching production options through to conversion requirements.  Improve know-how for stages between production and conversion.

Resource production Yield & Characteristics  Sustained high yields over long term under commercial (not research) conditions  Multi-cropping of selected perennial crops for energy  Optimise forest management systems also for energy  Agronomy to influence biomass quality  Combined approaches of residual biomass & energy crops examined at pre-commercial chains  Determine production systems that best integrate with chain including conversion requirements.

Harvesting & Collection Effectiveness & Speed  Test existing machinery  Develop and test new machines and components  Low contamination harvesting methods  Harvesting and collection must be effective and high speed, deliver feedstock in optimal state, and minimize site impacts

Storage & Transport Reliability & Quality  Minimization of risks: fire, health.  Ensure quality: feedstock physical specifications  Optimise technology for chips / bales / pellets  Assess different logistic structures, such as centralized fuel depots.

System integration  System sustainability – energy and emissions balance over life cycle of chain  System costs – vertical integration or each step as profit centre?  Stakeholders consultation – agro-industry, hauliers, energy industry, local communities.  Emergence of international trade of standardised biomass fuels – impacts?  Minimization of risk throughout the chain and demonstrating schemes can be financed.

2-Jun-15Challenges  Supply the industry with secure raw material  Efficient land use by the use of whole- crop solutions as well as exploiting both fertile and marginal land.  Ensure that both primary production and residues will be evaluated for their energy potential  Sustainability in biomass production- handling  Improve the acceptability of biomass filiere by strengthening the communication channels among the relevant stakeholders, especially the farming- forestry sectors with the respective fuel and energy sectors.  Local biomass production & international biomass trade

2-Jun-15 Future options  Perennial crops, like cynara, giant reed, miscanthus and SRC like eycalypts, robinia  Annual crops possibilities for double cropping like in Germany  Green crop harvesting for AD-biogas and a second crop option for bioenergy – biofuels??  Integrate energy crops within the current crop patterns as complementary activities  Ensure harvest window with crop selection  Integrate forest & agricultural activities to ensure supply

2-Jun-15Recommendations  Integrated waste management strategies  Introduce efficient land use strategies, complementary to current systems and regional characteristics  Sustainable forest residual harvest for energy prevents fire risks. “ Make sure the message is clear enough!! ”

Conclusions- Next Steps To be completed with your valuable input!! Thank you for your attention