Energy Plantations Research Articles

GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTING CLEANER PRODUCTION STRATEGIES IN A NATURAL RUBBER GLOVES MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

Production of gloves is a highly energy-intensive and process-driven industry. It demands a significant amount of electrical as well as thermal energy. This paper presents the results and recommendations devised from an enquiry based onsite energy audit conducted in a gloves manufacturing unit. It summarizes the current energy demand of the manufacturing unit, highlights the major energy hunters, identifies energy saving and alternate energy generation possibilities, as well as proposes recommendations for betterment. The audit results for all different equipment are included in the report, along with suggested modifications and energy-saving achieved. The findings are still applicable as of the date and duration of the visit to the facility. As these businesses expand, minimizing expenses through energy-saving measures becomes especially crucial. At present, the gloves plant consumed about 291.278 MWh/month of electrical energy and 1830330 kcal/h of heat energy. The plant emits about 445.67 kg of CO2 equivalent for every metric ton of natural rubber. Based on the audit, recommendations are proposed to install energy monitoring devices and replacing energy hunting motors and V-belts with efficient ones. In addition, as a step towards green economy, it is recommended to consider implementing energy plantation and biogas generation plants. By implementing the proposed energy saving measure about 215.930 MWh of energy can be conserved per year. This accounts for about (15 – 40)% of overall energy saving and this directly reduces CO2 emission too.

Combustion and energy performance of non-commercial Corymbia and Eucalyptus wood for use in cogeneration systems in Brazil

The increased representation of biomass in the Brazilian energy matrix will contribute to reducing dependence on hydroenergy and mitigating negative impacts during increasingly frequent drought periods. However, given the changing climate, it is urgent to classify and select new genotypes for the expansion of energy plantations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the energy performance and combustibility of wood from Eucalyptus and Corymbia trees to support a knowledge-based and efficient use of such woods in thermochemical conversion systems. Eight species of Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus amplifolia, E. longirostrata, E. major, and E. urophylla) and Corymbia (Corymbia citriodora, C. variegata, C. henryi, C. torelliana), which are not generally used for energy purposes, were selected at 6 years of age from experimental plantations in southeastern Brazil. Wood basic density (WBD), ash content (AC), higher heating value (HHV), fuel value index (FVI), ignition (Di), flammability (Ci) and combustion (Si) indexes were determined. The wood of E. urophylla and C. torelliana presented showed the highest and lowest FVI, respectively. Regarding combustion indexes E. longirostrata had a higher combustion index (4.00 ×107 %2/(min2°C3)), flammability (1.49 %min−1/°C2) and ignition (4.39 % min−3) while C. variegata presented the lowest values. The FVI showed correlations with the combustibility of wood. Thus, this index can be used for the rapid and reliable classification of new genetic materials for energy forests in Brazil. E. urophylla and E. longirostrata woods demonstrated better energy performance and combustion indexes, making them the most suitable species for use in cogeneration systems and candidates for the expansion of energetic forests in Brazil.

Oilseed viability: A crucial factor for the success of the biodiesel industry

The oil derived from the seeds of the pongamia plant (Pongamia pinnata) has the potential to produce biodiesel. However, pongamia oil's high viscosity and conradson carbon residue make it unsuitable to use directly as a fuel in the already existing diesel engines. As a result, the experiments were carried out to determine the effectiveness of employing pongamia seeds with varying levels of seed viability for biodiesel production through transesterification process. The study looked at the relationship between seed physiological characteristics and extracted oil qualities in view of production of biodiesel through single step trasesterification process. The decreased seed viability was reflected in feedstock qualities such as free fatty acids (FFAs), saponification value (SV), iodine value (IV), cetane number (CN), and antioxidant enzyme activity. The pongamia seed lot exhibited >60 % germination rates contained oil with low FFAs, low SV and high IV. The oil's low free fatty acid content (1.8 %) aids biodiesel production via a single-step alkali-based trans-esterification method. Thus, seed lots with higher viability enhance fuel properties, but decreasing FFAs in pongamia oil increases fuel production capabilities of seeds. Seeds with good viability exhibited lower oil oxidation potential due to higher antioxidant enzyme activity. The rapid viability evaluation test kit can be used at any stage of seed storage to determine whether oilseeds are suitable for biodiesel production. These findings will enable energy plantation growers to increase their profits by providing the biodiesel sector with high-quality feedstock.

Study on Palm Oil Cultivation and Processing Technology to Support The Biofuel Program (Optimization for The Development of Palm Oil-Based Energy Plantation in Indonesia)

Abstract Crude Palm Oil (CPO) is an important commodity for Indonesia, after fossil oil is no longer the main component of export products. The bioenergy product that has been well developed and applied is biodiesel. The development of CPO for bioenergy has some obstacles, such the amount of CPO needed is large so that it will affect the capacity of CPO used for food. In addition, the price of CPO which is considered high is around US$ 700-900/ton, whereas the ideal price of CPO as a bioenergy raw material is a maximum of US$ 400/ton. Several approaches that are recommended as a solution to overcome these problems are optimization of palm oil cultivation, harvesting management, and also processing technology. The methodology used in this research includes collecting data from palm oil industry players, palm oil mills (PKS), academics involved in the development of the palm oil industry, and professional organizations related to palm oil. The data was obtained by conducting discussions and knowledge sharing with them. The results of this study will assist policy makers, in this case the Ministry of Industry, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) and the Ministry of Agriculture to determine bioenergy development policies that involve aquaculture ecosystems, land selection, industrial location and optimal process technology. The Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) can partner to develop palm oil-based energy, the Ministry of Agriculture will develop palm cultivation which is sufficient to support mustard products for energy, palm land can be restructured according to energy needs. To support the energy plantation program, it is recommended that the government set up a palm plantation devoted to energy covering an area of 250,000 hectares on state land or state-owned enterprises (BUMN). Procurement of palm oil plantations can be done in stages from 25 hectares, according to land potential and budget.

The economic price of biomass energy plantation in the implementation of cofiring in Indonesia

Abstract Biomass pricing plays an important role in ensuring the success of cofiring programs in coal-fired power plants. Higher prices will increase production costs, while setting lower prices may affect the sustainability of the biomass supplies. Therefore, determining the right price for biomass can provide a mutually beneficial solution between PLN and biomass industries. To determine the optimal price, it is necessary to calculate the price of biomass from the supply side (industry). It should have the minimum price that can still bring profits for the biomass industries. Fair economic prices are keys to creating an environment and business security that supports business development in the energy plantation (HTE) ecosystem for the implementation of cofiring.

Ecological value of wood energy plantations in the support of some animal groups

Today, some environmental problems have reached such severe proportions that it is no longer enough to recognise them, but environmentally friendly solutions must be used to reduce them. The reduction in the area of natural forests of native species is causing problems in several ways. This research aimed to highlight how environmental, conservation and economic interests can be reconciled. In addition to natural forests, wood energy plantations are becoming increasingly important. Energy import dependency is a problem for most countries, for which wood energy plantations can partly offer an alternative. Native forests can be protected, and their area increased where possible. Meanwhile, energy plantations can be established in areas with low agricultural productivity. In this experiment, I studied a plantation of Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur), a Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and a Paulownia (Paulownia Shan Tong). I selected burrowing birds and ground-dwelling arthropods as indicator groups. I did this by establishing a nesting colony and soil trapping. I wanted to demonstrate that, in addition to natural forests, wood energy plantations have a role not only in economic terms but also in maintaining certain animal groups. Soil trapping tests were carried out in all three tree plantations. The obtained results showed that in the Paulownia plantation, the occupancy rate of nest boxes was almost 100%, while in the Black Locust plantation it was around 30%. Among the species that occupied the nesting sites, the Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) and the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) were more abundant, while Great Tit (Parus major) was present in the Black Locust plantation. These are opportunistic species for which nesting opportunity is the most important factor, since their feeding area (in the case of the Common Starling and the Eurasian Tree Sparrow) is not typical of the nesting area. The soil trap investigations show that there are no significant differences in the composition of the arthropod group (beetles, spiders) in the study areas.

Influence of the type of planting material on the efficiency of establishment of poplar plantations in the Right Bank Forest Steppe

Purpose. To determine the features of the cultivation of energy plantation of poplar variety ‘Robusta’ on leached chernozems in the Central Forest Steppe of Ukraine.
 Methods. Field, laboratory, statistical.
 Results. Climatic changes actualize the need for the transition of agrarian business of Ukraine to agroforestry systems not only in the Steppe, but also in more northern regions of the country. The purpose of the research was to study the features of establishing poplar (Populus × euramericana) field protection plantations in the Central Forest Steppe of Ukraine. It was established that an effective way to increase the survival rate of one-year cutting seedlings of poplar varieties ‘Dorskamp’, ‘Robusta’ and ‘I‑45/51’ is to plant them without trunks. In all studied varieties, during the first two years, the survival of seedlings was higher in the version without a trunk and ranged from 57.0 to 68.9%, while in seedlings with a trunk it ranged from 50.3% to 68.1%. In 2022, due to irrigation, the survival rate was from 74.4% to 88.9%. The average height was also higher in plants grown from seedlings without a trunk. It turned out to be the highest in plants of the ‘Dorskamp’ clone, ranging from 188.6 to 209.3 cm. In uncutted plants of this variety, it was from 174.0 to 197.2 cm. It is advisable to continue the research started with the aim of breeding new forms of poplar and improving the technologies of creating forest and field plantations with the use of the varieties which can be used in the Polissia and Forest Steppe zones.

Strategy for the implementation of sustainable green fuels in Indonesia

Global climate change has triggered the implementation of energy transition programs in many countries where renewable fuels have received great attention. While Indonesia successfully im- plements biofuels-based crude palm oil (CPO) such as biodiesel (up to B30). The program proceeds towards implementing other green fuels (such as green diesel, gasoline, and bio jet fuel). However, the current price of CPO (as a raw material) is highly fluctuated depending on the global market mechanism and mostly more expensive than the price of fossil fuels. This situation leads to an unattractive business of green fuels. So, the government's policies are strongly required to make more attractive businesses with enhanced competitiveness of green fuels. A qualitative approach was conducted by using forum group discussion to gain information about the current status of biofuel policy in Indonesia and its challenges. The quantitative method was conducted by calculat- ing the economic analysis of palm oil-based energy crops and processing plants. The concept of integrated palm energy plantation was proposed based on the result. It may be a kind of integrated business entity owned by the government which aims at producing CPO and the following green fuels. Economic analysis shows that from the plantation side, the selling price of Fruit Fresh Bunch (FFB) is USD 0.068/kg with an IRR of 12.6%. While in the CPO processing industry, using the FFB price of USD 0.082/kg obtained an IRR of 14.4%. This result shows promising results from the calculation, keeps the sustainability of raw material supply and enhances the competitiveness of green fuels.

Assessment of Forestry Residues Potential for Off-Grid Electrification in The Republic of Benin (West Africa)

This study assessed the potential of forestry residues for off-grid electrification in the Republic of Benin while accounting for the spatial variation of residues potential and their use impact on local biodiversity. We found significant spatial variation of residues potential, with a much higher surplus residues in the north (3,599.05 tons/year) compared to the south (457.79 tons/year). This discrepancy might result from the spatial difference in geographical variables across the two regions. A maximum electricity potential of 100,259,786 kWh can be generated from the theoretical potential of residues which falls short of satisfying the estimated national off-grid electricity demand of 443,916,975 kWh. The research also highlighted the positive influence of wood processing technology and diversity of processed wood species on residues potential. The two variables may be targeted by policymakers to tailor actions for enhancing local transition towards renewable energy. Using scenarios-based projections, our study prompt the conclusion that forestry residues can be used sustainably for off-grid electrification with a minimal impact on biodiversity. Combining the surplus residues from wood processing industries with energy plantations may optimize forestry residues mobilization for off-grid electrification.
 Keywords: wood residues, biomass-electricity, off-grid power, sustainability

Peculiarities of the formation of energy biomass by poplar plantations on the leached chernozems of the Central Forest Steppe of Ukraine

Purpose. To determine the energy biomass productivity of poplar variety 'Robusta' on leached chernozems of the Central Forest-Steppe of Ukraine during the first four years. Methods. Field, laboratory, and statistical. Results. The data of research on the growth of energy plantations of the 'Robusta' poplar variety during the first four years on leached chernozems of the Central Forest Steppe of Ukrainare presented. The plantation was established using one-year lignified 25 cm long cuttings that have a diameter in the upper section of 0.8–1.0 cm. The cuttings were planted according to two planting design: 2.0 × 0.8 m and 2.0 × 0.9 m. In both variants, at the end of the first vegetation season, the trees had an average height of 1.6 m. In the second vegetation season, the height increase in the first variant was 2 .0 ± 0.05 m, and on the second 2.1 ± 0.05 m. In the third year of cultivation, the growth of poplar trees reached the maximum height and amounted to 3.1 and 3.0 m, respectively, at the end of the year, with the average height of plants reaching 6.8 and 6.6 m, respectively. In the fourth year of vegetation, the increase in height slowed down significantly (to 1.2 and 1.1 m, respectively) and the average increase in plant height began to decrease significantly: their height was 8.0 ± 0.16 m in the first variant and 7.7 ± 0.22 m in the second. The average stem diameter of plants at a height of 1.3 m after the first year was higher in the first variant compared to the second (0.5 cm vs. 0.3 cm). However, already during the second year, the trees of the second (less dense) plantation increased their diameter by 2 cm. The same difference was preserved in the third year, when the average diameter of the trees of these variants was 5.8 and 6.2 cm, respectively. During the fourth growing season, the average increase in diameter in the studied plantations significantly decreased, and their average diameter indicators reached 7.2 ± 0.22 and 8.0 ± 0.31 cm, respectively. At the same time, there was a significant increase in the productivity indicators of such plantations at this time: from 25.78 to 29.94 t/ha, with energy yield ranging from 458.8 GJ/ha to 532.8 GJ/ha. This circumstance indicates the expediency of using a 5–7-year cycle of biomass harvesting on such plantations to obtain maximum productivity indicators. Conclusions. On the leached chernozems of the Central Forest Steppe of Ukraine, poplar energy plantations of 'Robusta' variety after three years of cultivation accumulate about 12–15 tons of dry biomass per 1 ha, and after four years from 26 to 30 tons of dry biomass per 1 ha. It is advisable to continue the study of the growth of such plantations in order to establish the optimal rotation of the coppice.

Silviculture in the function of sustainable development

Silviculture in the function of sustainable development

Перспективні енергетичні культури на осушуваних торфовищах Лісостепу та їх водоспоживання в умовах зміни клімату

Goal. To determine the productivity of energy plantations, to investigate the parameters of water consumption of the main bioenergy crops on the drained organogenic soils of the Forest Steppe of Ukraine in modern conditions of climate change. Methods. Experimental on the basis of lysimeter studies and comparative-analytical, carried out on experimental sites of reclamation systems, mathematical modeling and processing of experimental data. The results. It was found that the maximum water consumption characteristic of the tristem willow in August is 8.02 thousand m3/ha, and this fact confirms the significant drying effect of tree crops. The lowest water consumption during the period of active vegetation was recorded in giant miscanthus — 2.53 thousand m3/ha. The total water consumption of Jerusalem artichoke from May to October was 18,100 m3/ha, corn — 12, sorghum — 10,800 m3/ha. It was found that lowering the groundwater level from 80 to 100 cm had little effect on the water consumption of Jerusalem artichoke, willow and miscanthus. The difference for these cultures does not exceed 1–3%. However, corn water consumption decreased by 112 L/kg dry matter, or 17%, and sorghum water consumption decreased by 205 L/kg, or 30% overall. In case of creation of large-scale bioenergy plantations, the area of which is measured in hundreds of hectares, it is necessary to modernize and repair the drying and humidification system. Conclusions. Climatic changes had a positive effect on the productivity of corn and sweet sorghum, the yield of dry biomass of which increased by 0.8 and 3.4 t/ha on average over three years, respectively, and negatively on the productivity of willow, it fell by 1.4 t/ha ; the productivity of miscanthus and Jerusalem artichoke did not change significantly. Therefore, when growing large plantations of energy crops, it is necessary to take into account the water regime of the land used: in fields with limited water resources, grow such annual crops as sorghum and corn, on lands with sufficient moisture — miscanthus, Jerusalem artichoke, in overmoistened places — willow plantations.

Ethnobotanical Study on Some Tree Species Used as Bioenergy in South Darfur State, Sudan

This study provides ethnobotanical information on preferred local energy tree species based on biomass characteristics. The survey used a stratified sampling technique. The questionnaire covered different issues related to the consumers and biomass characteristics for energy utilization. The study computed use value, fidelity level, and factor informant consensus for the most frequently used energy tree species. According to the highest use values, respondents in the study area identified Acacia mellifera and Capparis decidua as the most vital energy tree species. Sustained combustion is the most desired property for brickmaking, while bakeries and homes prefer haste ignition. Further research and laboratory testing of tree characteristics of selected species in energy plantations and agroforestry programmes in Sudan could help confirm the study results.

The Mobilization of Energy Crop Resources in Moldova

In the context of the current sharp rise in energy prices and frequent weather anomalies caused by climate change, humankind faces two major problems: food supply and energy security, which compels us to look for alternative ways of solving these problems, including the reduction of the dependence on fossil fuels and the development of new technological processes for renewable energy production. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate some agrobiological peculiarities and the quality of harvested biomass from local cultivars: ‘Solar’ Helianthus tuberosus, ‘Ileana’ Inula helenium, ‘Vital’ Silphium perfoliatum, ‘Energo’ Sida hermaphrodita, ‘Vigor’ Astragalus galegiformis, ‘Titan’ Miscanthus giganteus, ‘Argentina’ Sorghum almum, ‘Gigant’ Polygonum sachalinense and the prospects of using their biomass as feedstock for renewable energy production. It was found that the studied cultivars, in the second and following growing seasons, were characterised by optimal growth rate and moderate regenerative capacity after being mowed, making it possible to cut by 1-3 times per season, obtaining 4.61-14.25 kg/m2 green mass, which may be used for anaerobic digestion in biogas plants, with biochemical methane potential of 297-336 litre/kg organic matter. Besides, digestate and fugate are believed to be good fertilizers, being rich in plant available nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphate and potash, and could serve as a replacement for fossil based mineral fertilizers in organic farming. The stems of the studied cultivars quickly dehydrate in the autumn-winter period, and can be chopped, milled and used as feedstock for the production by cellulosic ethanol and solid bio fuel. The analysis of lignocellulose composition showed that the dry matter contained 375-517 g/kg cellulose, 211-305 g/kg hemicellulose, 68-134 g/kg acid detergent lignin. The estimated theoretical ethanol yield from cell wall carbohydrates averaged 408-591 L/t. The gross calorific value of stem biomass was 18.63-19.50 MJ/kg. The specific density of densified solid fuel pellets and briquettes meet the quality standard requirements. The obtained results indicate the possibility of using the local cultivars for the creation of energy plantations in the Republic of Moldova. The cultivation and harvesting of these cultivars do not require sophisticated mechanisms and specific equipment like as in forest exploitations.

Growth and productivity of energy plantations of poplars in the Right-Bank Forest Steppe conditions

Purpose. To determine the features of the growth of an energy plantation of poplar variety ‘Robusta’ on leached chernozems in the conditions of the Central Forest Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Field, laboratory, statistical. Results. One-year lignified cuttings 25 cm long and 0.8–1.0 cm in diameter were used as planting material. The designed layout of planting places: 2.0x0.8 m (more density version) and 2.0x0.9 m (more sparse version). After the first year of cultivation, the studied plots had the same height (1.6 m). During the second growing season, their growth in height was 2.0±0.05 m in the more sparse version, and 2.1±0.05 m in the thicker version. After the first year, the diameter at a height of 1.3 m was greater in the thicker version (0.5 cm versus 0.3 cm), but already in the next year, the trees of the more sparse stand became 2 mm thicker, and this difference persisted in the third year, when the average diameter of the trees of the denser version was 5.8 cm, and of the sparser — 6.2 cm. As a result of the higher diameter of trees of the more sparse version, they had a higher weight of the average tree, but due to the smaller number of trees, their productivity was lower. So, after three years of growing a poplar plantation created by cuttings, one hectare can yield 11.66–14.58 tons of dry biomass, or 207.5–259.5 GJ of energy. A sharp increase in morphometric indicators during the third year of cultivation indicates the feasibility of using a longer period of cultivation of such plantations to obtain the maximum amount of biomass. Conclusions. The study of a three-year energy plantation of the ‘Robusta’ variety, created by one-year lignified cuttings on the leached soils of the Right Bank Forest Steppe, with the placement of planting sites 2.0 x 0.8 m and 2.0 x 0.8 m, showed that after three years of growing a poplar plantation, one hectare can get 11.66–14.58 tons of dry biomass, or 207.5–259.5 GJ of energy. A significant increase in growth indicators and biomass productivity of poplar plantations during the third year of cultivation indicates the feasibility of using a 4–6-year period of cultivation of such plantations to obtain the maximum amount of biomass.

The Bio Steel Cycle: 7 Steps to Net-Zero CO2 Emissions Steel Production

CO2 emissions have been identified as the main driver for climate change, with devastating consequences for the global natural environment. The steel industry is responsible for ~7–11% of global CO2 emissions, due to high fossil-fuel and energy consumption. The onus is therefore on industry to remedy the environmental damage caused and to decarbonise production. This desk research report explores the Bio Steel Cycle (BiSC) and proposes a seven-step-strategy to overcome the emission challenges within the iron and steel industry. The true levels of combined CO2 emissions from the blast-furnace and basic-oxygen-furnace operation, at 4.61 t of CO2 emissions/t of steel produced, are calculated in detail. The BiSC includes CO2 capture, implementing renewable energy sources (solar, wind, green H2) and plantation for CO2 absorption and provision of biomass. The 7-step-implementation-strategy starts with replacing energy sources, develops over process improvement and installation of flue gas carbon capture, and concludes with utilising biogas-derived hydrogen, as a product from anaerobic digestion of the grown agrifood in the cycle. In the past, CO2 emissions have been seemingly underreported and underestimated in the heavy industries, and implementing the BiSC, using the provided seven-steps-strategy will potentially result in achieving net-zero CO2 emissions in steel manufacturing by 2030.

Power for the Plantationocene: solar parks as the colonial form of an energy plantation

ABSTRACT Solar park development in India constitutes racial regimes of land ownership, as solar-related dispossessions produce a highly racialized (through caste) and gendered surplus population of landless peasants. Conceptualizing the power relations of solar power through the Plantationocene, I argue the highly ordered form of the solar park is a set of neocolonial social relations akin to an energy plantation; an archetype of an imperative, idealized and racialized reordering of nature, economy and society to power a more sustainable world-system. Agrarian climate justice requires intersectional peasant coalitions struggling to transform neocolonial land politics and implementing redistributive and emancipatory solar interventions.

Technology of Miscanthus giant growing for energy purposes in the conditions of drained peatlands of the Left Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

The paper highlights the peculiarities of growing miscanthus for energy purposes in the conditions of drained peat bogs at the Panfl Experimental Station of the NSC "Institute of Agriculture of the NAAS". The economic and ecological advantages of growing energy plantations on reclaimed organogenic soils in comparison with rainfed lands in the zone of the LeftBank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine are argued. The study substantiates the technology and the influence of its individual elements on the productivity of miscanthus giant growing for energy purposes on old-sown hayfelds of carbonate peatlands of the Forest-Steppe. The optimal biometric parameters of the planting material, as well as the planting density, the depth of the rhizomes embedding, the influence of the planting time on the growth and development indicators of the studied culture were determined. Developed and patented agrotechnical, together with a biological method of combating wireworms, which provides effective protection of miscanthus plants at the beginning of the establishment of energy plantations. An environmentally friendly weed control technology has been applied, which excludes the use of chemicals, the introduction of herbicides, which, in turn, does not allow contaminating soil and river waters with harmful elements. The peculiarities of the nutrient regime of the soil and its biological activity in the experimental plots of Miscanthus giant on the drained carbonate peatlands of the Left Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine have been investigated. The effect of potash fertilization, as a key element in plant nutrition on organogenic soils, on the productivity of bioenergetic plantations of Miscanthus is studied. The energy output of bioenergy plantations per unit area has been determined depending on the elements of the cultivation technology. Calculations of economic and energy efciency have been carried out. The developed technology for 3 years of miscanthus cultivation ensures the yield of dry biomass at the level of 23.7–26.1 t/ha or 403–444 GJ/ha of energy. The best economic indicators were obtained on the option with a planting scheme (0.7 X 1.4 m) 10 thousand/ha, where the level of proftability made – 56 %, the cost of dry biomass made 529.6 UAH/t and the conditional net proft – 13157 g/ha. Further directions of scientifc research on the creation of bioenergetic plantations from Miscanthus Giganteus on drained carbonate peatlands of the Left Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine have been substantiated. Key words: miscanthus, mass of rhizomes, planting density, fertilizers, productivity, proftability.

Prediction of the Energy Consumption for Indoor Strawberry Cultivation in a Tropical Climate

This article addresses the lack of information for predicting the energy consumption of strawberry plantations inside plant factories located in tropical climate regions. This study aims to investigate the energy consumption of the cultivation of strawberries in the controlled environment room and to develop a TRNSYS computer model for the controlled environment room. Experiments were conducted in a 25 m3 controlled environment room. There are 180 strawberry trees inside the room. Light Emitting Diode (LED) grow light substitutes for natural sunlight. An air conditioner was used to regulate the indoor air condition. A computer model was developed using TRNSYS (TRaNsientSYStem simulation tool) and was validated using the collected data. There are three main components of the room heat load: transmission, lighting, and evapotranspiration. The lighting heat load shares more than 96% of the total heat load — the evapotranspiration load increases when the LED turns on. However, the lighting consumes only about 36% of total electricity consumption, while the air conditioner consumes 64%. Most of the electricity is used during the runner stage. Electricity consumption can be saved by 40% if the runners are grown outside the plant factory. Therefore, the high heat load is a feature in the plant factory. In this study, the lighting heat load is the most significant parameter. The strawberry light intensity requirement is the high lighting heat load. Consequently, the electricity for the air conditioner becomes high since the air conditioner removes the generated heat from the high light intensity. Therefore, the air conditioner electricity consumption is enormous in this study. Moreover, the required lighting intensity, photoperiod, and low air temperature factors affect electricity consumption. Therefore, the results from this study could provide strategies for energy cost reduction and plantation management for plant factories cultivation.

BIOTECHNOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF PROPAGATION OF BLACK POPLAR HYBRIDS “SAN GIORGIO” AND “GHOY”

Energy independence of the country can be solved in several ways. One of them is the creation of energy plantations of woody plants. The area increase of such plantations is limited by the insufficient amount of high-quality planting material. Hybrid plants of the genus Populus are of considerable interest when creating plantations. Given that not all hybrids are successfully propagated by conventional vegetative methods, the use of biotechnological methods, namely microclonal propagation, solves the mentioned problem. This method allows obtaining a large amount of highquality, uniform planting material. The purpose of this study was to develop the technology of microclonal propagation of black poplar hybrids ‘San Giorgio’ and ‘Ghoy’. The study used generally accepted biotechnological methods in the author’s modification at all stages of obtaining planting material of regenerating plants of poplar hybrids. Studies have established a positive effect when obtaining an aseptic culture of sterilising substances 0.1% AgNO3, 2.5 and 1.25% NaClO, 0.05% sodium merthiolate and 0.1% HgCl2. The largest number of aseptic viable explants was obtained by cultures using a 0.05% solution of sodium merthiolate after exposure for 5 and 10 minutes. When rooting microshoots on a hormone-free nutrient medium ½ MS and with the addition of 0.1-1.0 mg/l IBA, it was established that the best parameters for rooting microshoots are on a hormone-free nutrient medium ½ MS. Adaptation was carried out for 4 weeks in a greenhouse on a substrate that included components of peat:sand:perlite in a ratio of 1:1:1. The viability of regenerating plants of black poplar hybrids ‘San Giorgio’ and ‘Ghoy’ was more than 91%. The conducted research and the obtained results will be useful for producers of planting material and the scientific environment, which develop renewable energy sources through the creation of energy plantations of fast-growing woody plants