Establishing an energy balance for crop-based digestion
Establishing an energy balance for crop-based digestion
The paper examines methods for calculating energy surpluses through anaerobic digestion and gives some examples of the practical application of these in crop-based systems. The surplus energy is the balance between that produced as a usable energy source and that used in crop production, conversion of the biomass into biogas, and conversion of biogas into a usable form: these are the direct energy inputs. The energy balance also takes into account the embedded energy used in the construction of machinery and buildings and for their repair and maintenance: the indirect energy inputs. The area of land available for fuel production is finite and therefore the energy yield is best considered on a per hectare basis. This allows comparison of energy conversion efficiency where the biomass yield for that area may vary depending on a range of inputs, e.g. rate of fertiliser application or irrigation requirements. It also allows direct comparison between different crop species or varieties within a single species. For an accurate energy balance analysis direct and indirect energy requirements have to be established for all the stages in the crop-based energy production cycle
anaerobic digestion, energy balance, energy crops
1053-1060
Salter, A.
3c9b5d55-c63b-4325-b602-62578e52f079
Banks, C.J.
5c6c8c4b-5b25-4e37-9058-50fa8d2e926f
June 2009
Salter, A.
3c9b5d55-c63b-4325-b602-62578e52f079
Banks, C.J.
5c6c8c4b-5b25-4e37-9058-50fa8d2e926f
Salter, A. and Banks, C.J.
(2009)
Establishing an energy balance for crop-based digestion.
Water Science & Technology, 59 (6), .
(doi:10.2166/wst.2009.048).
Abstract
The paper examines methods for calculating energy surpluses through anaerobic digestion and gives some examples of the practical application of these in crop-based systems. The surplus energy is the balance between that produced as a usable energy source and that used in crop production, conversion of the biomass into biogas, and conversion of biogas into a usable form: these are the direct energy inputs. The energy balance also takes into account the embedded energy used in the construction of machinery and buildings and for their repair and maintenance: the indirect energy inputs. The area of land available for fuel production is finite and therefore the energy yield is best considered on a per hectare basis. This allows comparison of energy conversion efficiency where the biomass yield for that area may vary depending on a range of inputs, e.g. rate of fertiliser application or irrigation requirements. It also allows direct comparison between different crop species or varieties within a single species. For an accurate energy balance analysis direct and indirect energy requirements have to be established for all the stages in the crop-based energy production cycle
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Published date: June 2009
Keywords:
anaerobic digestion, energy balance, energy crops
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 75630
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/75630
ISSN: 0273-1223
PURE UUID: ee2c437e-816f-484e-a091-29d62cbc494c
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Date deposited: 11 Mar 2010
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:39
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Author:
A. Salter
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