How do key for the bioenergy industry properties of baled biomass change over two years of storage?

Abstract

Perennial industrial crop (PIC) biomass is produced in a cyclic manner, which necessitates its storage to ensure a continuous supply for bioenergy industry. The biomass composition and properties change during storage. These are the reasons for designing over two-year experiment which covers PIC species popular in Europe (willow, poplar, black locust, miscanthus), whose biomass was stored in bales during this period in five systems (uncovered; under foil, T120, T200; and in a shed). The following was performed during the storage period: samples were collected, proximate and ultimate analysis was conducted, higher and lower heating value was calculated, and the lignocellulose and extractives content was determined. The results showed the dependence of the stored biomass properties on the species, storage system and storage time, as well as on their combination. PIC bales storage in a shed, T120 and T200, were found to preserve acceptable thermophysical properties and the chemical composition of the biomass for a period of up to two years. The analyzed changes of each attribute or a group of attributes should be individually referred to for each potential method of use (thermal conversion installations, installations for biomass conversion to bioproducts, including biofuels, etc.).