Abstract
A reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as an increase in the share of renewable energy are the main objectives of EU energy policy. In Poland, biofuels play an important role in the structure of obtaining energy from renewable sources. In the case of biofuels obtained from agricultural raw materials, one of the significant components of emissions generated in their full life cycle is emissions from the cultivation stage. The aim of the study is to estimate and recognize the structure of GHG emission from biomass production in selected farms in Poland. For this purpose, the methodology that was recommended by the Polish certification system of sustainable biofuels and bioliquids production, as approved by the European Commission, was used. The calculated emission values vary between 41.5 kg CO2eq/t and 147.2 kg CO2eq/t dry matter. The highest average emissions were obtained for wheat (103.6 kg CO2eq/t), followed by maize (100.5 kg CO2eq/t), triticale (95.4 kg CO2eq/t), and rye (72.5 kg CO2eq/t). The greatest impact on the total GHG emissions from biomass production is caused by field emissions of nitrous oxide and emissions from the production and transport of fertilizers and agrochemicals. Emissions that were generated at the stage of production, storage, and transport of seeds and during the use of fuels in agricultural and forestry machinery have a significantly smaller share in the total GHG emissions from biomass production.
Highlights
Using renewable energy sources (RES) is one of the crucial components of the sustainable development, giving rational economic, ecological, and social effects
Emission generated in their full life cycle, including those related to cultivation of raw materials, in order to assess the fulfilment of the criterion concerning the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction capacity in relation to biofuels, bioliquids and fuels from biomass
The maximum GHG emission that is caused by maize cultivation in farm No 15 is mainly the result of the applied dose of fertilizers and relatively high nitrous oxide field emission estimated in the Global Nitrous Oxide Calculator (GNOC) calculator at 1.4 kg N2 O-N/ha
Summary
Using renewable energy sources (RES) is one of the crucial components of the sustainable development, giving rational economic, ecological, and social effects. Support for development of the use of renewable energy sources became a very important objective within the European Union (EU) [1]. The share of energy from renewable sources in the EU, in gross final consumption of energy by 2030, should be at least 32%, according to the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources [2]. The directive defines, among other things, the criteria of sustainable development and reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission in relation to biofuels, bioliquids, and fuels from biomass. This limitation should be at least 50%
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