CROPGEN - Renewable Energy from Crops and Agrowastes
Abstract
The aim of the research is to produce from biomass a sustainable fuel source that can be integrated into the existing energy infrastructure in the medium term, and in the longer term will also provide a safe and economical means of supplying the needs of a developing hydrogen fuel economy. The consortium brings together as a critical mass engineers, agronomists, scientists and SMEs in an ambitious programme to evaluate the role of biogas in the diversification of carbon-neutral sustainable energy resources in Europe. The research will identify energy crops and agro-wastes best fitted to this purpose, consider energy losses in production and processing, and use these to set net energy production targets as a technological goal. A series of closely integrated sub-objectives aim to deliver a breakthrough in energy production costs that will firmly establish biogas technology as an economically attractive energy production process for both on and off-site use. Innovative bioreactor designs and modes of operation will be tested. A European database of bio-kinetics for use in plant design and operation will be established. The true life cycle costs of biogas production will be determined in large-scale field trials. These will allow verification of laboratory data and predictive mathematical models, including advanced decision support systems to optimise energy production, in an EU-wide virtual laboratory. Co-digestion is evaluated as a means of improving energy yields from materials which historically have proved uneconomic for biogas production. Some agricultural residues are also investigated as potential high yielding bio-energy substrates. The work considers the need to achieve continuity of energy supply in an integrated farming environment. Issues of sustainability, environmental impact and socio-economic factors are also addressed. The results will contribute to EU databases on bio-energy crops; give engineers the necessary tools to develop the technology; and provide the farming community with tangible evidence of profitable energy production without subsidy and within the EU¿s target cost for renewable energy sources.
biogas fuel cells energy crops anaerobic digestion hydrogen
Publikationen
Effects of silage preparation and microbial silage additives on biogas production from whole crop maize silage
Autoren: Neureiter, M., Perez Lopez C., Pichler, H., Kirchmayr, R., Braun, R. Jahr: 2005
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Effect of physical and chemical pre-treatments on methane yield from maize silage and grains
Autoren: Perez Lopez, C., Kirchmayr, R., Neureiter, M., Braun, R. Jahr: 2005
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Effect of silage preparation on methane yields from whole crop maize silages
Autoren: Neureiter, M., Teixeira Pereira dos Santos, J., Perez Lopez C., Pichler, H., Kirchmayr, R., Braun, R. Jahr: 2005
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Vor- und Nachteile von biologischen Silostarterkulturen
Autoren: Neureiter, M. Jahr: 2004
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Project staff
Rudolf Braun
Ao.Univ.Prof.i.R. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.rer.nat. Rudolf Braun
rudolf.braun@boku.ac.at
Project Leader
01.03.2004 - 28.02.2007
Markus Neureiter
Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Markus Neureiter
markus.neureiter@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-97441
Sub Projectleader
01.03.2004 - 28.02.2007
BOKU partners
External partners
University of Southampton
School of Civil Engineering and the Environment
coordinator
Organic Power Ltd
none
partner
University of Jyväskylä
Dept. of Environmental Science
partner
University of Venice
Dept. of Environmental Sciences
partner
Wageningen Agricultural University
Dept. of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences Subdept. of Environmental Technology
partner