FEASIBILITY STUDY OF PROJECTS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SOLID BIOFUELS FROM BIOMASS OF AGRARIAN PLANTATIONS PRUNING AND REMOVAL

Abstract

The aim of the work is to carry out a feasibility study of projects for the production of solid biofuels from biomass of pruning of perennial agricultural plantations for further use in boilers. Currently, this bioenergy sector is at the beginning of its development in the EU and in Ukraine, however it has quite good prospects for the future. An assessment of the energy potential of biomass obtained from pruning and removal of orchards and vineyards in Ukraine is performed. According to data of 2019, this potential is estimated at 116.2 ktoe. Though this potential is only a minor part of the total energy potential of biomass in Ukraine (23.6 Mtoe in 2019), biomass of these types is an important local fuel for the regions of its generation and can significantly reduce their dependence on traditional energy carriers. Biomass of pruning and removal of agricultural plantations can be a feedstock for chips (more often for hog fuel) or for solid biofuels of higher quality such as pellets and briquettes. Fuel properties of such solid biofuels are slightly worse than those of biofuels from forest wood or energy crops, but still high enough for the effective use in energy equipment. The main features are higher ash content and, accordingly, lower calorific value. The feasibility study of a typical project for the production of briquettes from vineyard pruning demonstrated economic viability of such projects in Ukraine. Further research in this area will lie in the feasibility study of obtaining solid biofuels from biomass of pruning and removal of orchards, as well as projects for the production of heat from such biofuels for Ukraine’s conditions.