Study on availability of herbaceous resources for production of solid biomass fuels in Latvia
Riga Technical University, Institute of Energy Systems and Environment,Kronvalda blvd. 1, LV-1010 Riga, Latvia;
*Correspondence: anna.beloborodko@rtu.lv
Abstract:
Latvia has set a target to increase the gross final consumption of energy fromrenewable energy sources up to 40% by 2020. To reach this ambitious objective an increase ofthe amount of energy produced from locally available biomass is a priority. In Latvia, as in theEuropean Union, consumption of wood and wood waste has increased during the last decade.At the same time, the export of pellets and briquettes produced in Latvia is a growing trend,therefore production amounts depend greatly upon export market demand. In the light of aforeseeable increase in the global market for solid biofuels the same trend would be reproducedin Latvia. Consequently and in the light of an increase in energy consumption this would resultin shortages of the substrate biomass for the production of compressed biomass. To cover thegrowing biomass demand for both domestic consumption and export, potential biomass sourcesfrom agricultural and industrial sectors have to be investigated.The main objective of this paper is to determine the availability of potential herbaceous biomasssources for production of compressed biofuels in Latvia. In order to reach this target theavailable amounts of herbaceous agricultural and industrial by-products in Latvia have beenevaluated and their energy potential has been calculated. In addition, the current use of thesematerials is described and sustainability aspects of various applications of such materials arediscussed.This study intends to provide the necessary background information to select the most suitableand convenient sources (in terms of availability and energy value) for the production ofcompressed mixed biomass fuels at laboratory conditions and the consecutive determination ofquality and physical, mechanical, thermo-chemical and combustion properties of such fuels.Key words: biomass resources, renewable energy, by-product use, industrial synergies, mixedbiomass.
Key words:
biomass resources, by-product use, industrial synergies, mixed biomass, renewable energy