Abstract
Among the various types of agricultural waste, significant amounts of energy can be obtained from woodchips derived from comminuted pruning residues. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using kiwi orchard clear-cut biomass for energy production. The field trial was conducted in a commercial kiwi (Actinidia chinensis) orchard located in Northwest Italy. We evaluated the biomass yield, woodchip quality, energy consumption, and economic sustainability of this practice. Processed data determined the available biomass to be 20.6 tonnes dry matter ha−1. Woodchip analysis showed a biomass moisture content of 53% and a relatively low heating value of about 7.5 MJ·kg−1. Furthermore, the average ash content was 2.4%. Production cost was 99.6 €·t−1 dry matter, which was slightly less than the market price of 100 €·t−1 dry matter for woodchips. In summary, kiwi clear-cut recovered biomass may be a valid alternative biomass source.
Highlights
According to Eurostat, the 2015 annual Italian primary energy consumption was approximately120 tonnes of oil equivalent (Mte), a value that, under the current national fossil fuel-dominated energy use, would grow to 145 Mte by 2020 [1]
Energy Action plan (NREAP) has set a goal for 17% of the Italian gross final energy consumption to come from renewable sources [2]
The field trial was conducted in a commercial kiwi (Actinidia chinensis) orchard located at Costigliole
Summary
120 tonnes of oil equivalent (Mte), a value that, under the current national fossil fuel-dominated energy use, would grow to 145 Mte by 2020 [1]. Despite this forecasted increase, the 2011 National Renewable. Energy Action plan (NREAP) has set a goal for 17% of the Italian gross final energy consumption to come from renewable sources [2]. NREAP has inspired many studies on the use of different renewable sources of energy, and these studies have shown that bioenergy can be obtained from liquid, such as biodiesel, gases, such as biogas and syngas, and solid biofuels.
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