Abstract
The use of new sources of biomass residues for energy purposes in Europe is crucial for increasing the share of renewable energy sources and the limitation of carbon dioxide emissions. The residues coming from regular pruning of permanent crops are an alternative to conventional fuels. The paper is focused on the assessment of European pruning potentials in European Union (EU28) in line with the nomenclature of territorial units (NUTs) at NUTs0, NUTs2 and NUTs3 level. The assessment indicates that the yearly theoretical and technical potential of that biomass is 13.67 MtDM (or 252.0 PJ·yr−1) and 12.51 MtDM (or 230.6 PJ·yr−1), respectively. The economic potential has been assessed based on different management or exploitation models: management of pruning as a waste, self-consumption, and demand-driven mobilisation by consumption centres at small, medium and large scales. The utilisation of pruning when gathering is compulsory coincides with the technical potential. Under self-consumption, up to 10.98 MtDM per year could be effectively mobilised (202.3 PJ·yr−1). The creation of new value chains for delivery of pruning biomass ranges 7.30 to 8.69 MtDM per year (from 134.5 to 160.2 PJ·yr−1). When applying further constraints related to other existing uses the implementation of the potential further descends, ranging from 6.18 to 10.66 MtDM per year (from 113.9 to 196.4 PJ·yr−1). The analysis shows that the amount of available pruning residues is regionally scattered; however, most of them (ca. 80%) are located in the Mediterranean area.
Highlights
IntroductionThe increase of renewable energy sources in energy production is one of the key issues to reduce
The increase of renewable energy sources in energy production is one of the key issues to reduceCO2 emissions as well as the utilisation of fossil fuels
The analysis shows that the amount of available pruning residues is regionally scattered; most of them are located in the Mediterranean area
Summary
The increase of renewable energy sources in energy production is one of the key issues to reduce. CO2 emissions as well as the utilisation of fossil fuels. This is one of the key points of the European. With the aim of increasing the share of renewable energies, Europe (EU28) is developing ambitious strategies—like the 2030 Framework for climate and energy [2] published in 2014—and policy instruments such as the Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources [3]. The objectives of the 2030 Framework for climate and energy were revised upwards in 2018, setting a target for renewable energies in the share of the energy consumption of 32%. With respect to the total primary energy, biomass resources contribute to 5631 PJ in the primary energy mix, representing a share of 18%
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