Abstract
Biomass is a highly versatile renewable energy source used on a global scale. The paper discusses the current state of biomass energy use in the EU and Slovakia. Residual biomass was found as a key feedstock for the European bioeconomy. Slovakia is one of the most forested and rural countries in the EU. Therefore, biomass energy has the highest technical potential from all renewables in Slovakia. The main objective of the paper was to evaluate the phytomass production of the selected crops and their energy potential in individual self-governing regions of Slovakia. It is focused on the production of usable post-harvest residues theoretically used for energy purposes from the following studied main crops: wheat, rye, oats, barley, maize, potatoes, oilseed rape and sugar beet. The results show the estimated production of usable post-harvest residues of the selected crops and their energy potential in individual self-governing regions in Slovakia in 2019. The total production of usable post-harvest residues from the studied crops was 4,854,017 t and their estimated energy potential was 68 PJ. This amount of energy would cover 10% of the total energy consumption in Slovakia. The top three productive crops were maize, wheat, and sugar beet. Maize had the highest energy potential of 28.1 PJ, followed by wheat at 19 PJ and sugar beet at 14.2 PJ. The highest yields of post-harvest residues, as well as energy potential, were found in the Nitra region.
Highlights
The European Union faces several energy challenges such as increasing dependence on energy import, insufficient diversification, high and volatile energy prices, rising global energy demand, security risks and uncertainties affecting the producing and transit countries, growing threats from climate change and slow progress in energy efficiency (Ciucci, 2020)
The energy potential of the selected crops was studied in the whole territory of Slovakia and compared among all selfgoverning regions: Bratislava (BA), Trnava (TT), Trenčín (TN), Nitra (NR), Banská Bystrica (BB), Žilina (ZA), Poprad (PO) and Košice (KE)
Agricultural areas represent approximately 47.2%. They are closely followed by forest and seminatural areas (46%) (Fig. 1)
Summary
The European Union faces several energy challenges such as increasing dependence on energy import, insufficient diversification, high and volatile energy prices, rising global energy demand, security risks and uncertainties affecting the producing and transit countries, growing threats from climate change and slow progress in energy efficiency (Ciucci, 2020). A comprehensive integrated climate and energy policy was adopted by the European Council on 24 October 2014 and revised in December 2018. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, to increase the share of renewable energy sources (RES) in energy consumption to 32% and to increase energy efficiency by 32.5% (Ciucci, 2020). In 2018, the EU's energy mix mainly consisted of five different sources: oil products (36%), natural gas (21%), solid fossil fuels (15%), renewable energy (15%) and nuclear energy (13%).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
