Reusing Pruning Residues for Thermal Energy Production: A Mobile App to Match Biomass Availability with the Heating Energy Balance of Agro-Industrial Buildings

Carlo Bisaglia,Massimo Brambilla,Roberto Sargiani,Maurizio Cutini,Antonio Bortolotti,Giorgio Minuti,Guido Rota

doi:10.3390/su10114218

Carlo Bisaglia, Massimo Brambilla + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su10114218

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Nov 15, 2018
Citations: 4	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Centro di Ricerca per l’Orticoltura

Abstract

Using the pruning residues of woody crops can be beneficial in many ways (e.g., excellent energy balance, a net reduction in pollutant emission and a positive contribution to global warming control). This article describes the background work and development of a new support tool that will allow the user to know the amount and quality of pruning residue required to meet the energy requirements to heat both residential and agro-industrial buildings (e.g., greenhouses). Knowing the average amount of pruned biomass (t d.m. ha−1), the average lower heating value of wood (4.00 kWh kg−1) and the average efficiency of a woody biomass boiler (90%) enabled the overall available net energy yearly amount (kWh year−1) to be determined. This was compared to the overall energy requirements (kWh year−1) of agro-industrial buildings, which are a result of their main features (e.g., maximum heatable surface, building energy classification and the climatic zone). Depending on user needs, the tool suggests the amount of required biomass and, if not entirely available, what amount of fossil fuels are required to fulfill the energy requirement. The algorithm output was compared with the results of two case studies carried out on seven farm buildings and nine greenhouses. Knowing the amount and energy potential of the available biomass allows for planning and evaluation of the planned benefits.

Highlights

Agricultural residues possess a significant unused potential in renewable energy, where their exploitation may be achieved by raising awareness among local stakeholders [1,2]
The application has been developed to allow the user an initial approach without logging on. It can be used in English or Italian and has five choices (Figure 2): (1) Energy availability in the field; (S2u)sthaienaabtailibtyle20b1u8,il1d0,inx gFOsRurPfEaEcRe;R(E3V)IsEaWving in money; (4) energy balance; and (5) technical solutions7.of 14
Pruning residues are harvested by forwarding them to a collection point, shredding the residue and collecting it into bins, a method that offers all the benefits of rapid handling, or by baling with the advantage that stored bales incur minimal dry matter losses compared to shredded residues, which allows the maximization of the energy potential of pruning

Summary

Introduction

Agricultural residues possess a significant unused potential in renewable energy, where their exploitation may be achieved by raising awareness among local stakeholders [1,2]. Research has tackled the issue of their utilization, highlighting both the positive and weak points connected to their usage and providing recommendations for the proper set up of the logistic chain [3,4,5,6]. Supporting such a business is fundamental and decision support systems (DSS) and decision support tools (DST) can assist stakeholders. Mobile communication technologies and tools, with the subsequent availability of cloud-based data storage integration and retrieval, make the inventory and monitoring of data almost instantaneous [8]. Computational analysis or monitoring tools are becoming increasingly readier to use [9] and enable the involvement of farmers in the research process [10,11]

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