Miscanthus x giganteus: Perspective and energy potential in Republic of Croatia

Nikola Bilandžija, Ph.D.

University of Zagreb Faculty of Agriculture

ADRIATIC WOOD DAYS, DUBROVNIK 2015.

Global challenges

Energy scenarios: • reduction of unsustainable,• energy reserve resources, • constant increase of fossil fuel prices.

Energy aspirations: • safe, sustainable and continuous energy supply.

Enviromental challenges: • global warming issue,• contamination of soil, water and atmosphere.

Political challenges:• directives, regulations, strategies.

Consuption of renewable energy in EU

(AEBIOM, 2013)

Agriculture biomass

• crop production (hay, straw, stalks, corn stalks, cobs, husks field crops),• vegetable crops and ornamental horticulture (waste from parks and gardens),• grape and friut production (pruned residues),• agricultural products from processing industry (grape marc, olive marc, fruts pits, fruts shells),• livestock production (manure, slaughterhouse waste, fisheries waste, meat - bone meal),• energy crops from specially formed stands (Miscantus sp., Arundo

donax, Sudannian grass…).

Agricultural energy crops

Miscanthus sacchariflorus Miscanthus sinensis

Miscanthus x giganteus

x

Diploid2n=2x=38

Tetraploid2n=4x=74

Triploid2n=3x=57

• perennial grass• possibilaty for cultivation on lower quality soil and in different climatic –

geografical areas (7,5 - 17,5 °C, 500-1000 mm; to altitude 3000 m)• high yield (10-20 and more t d.m./ha), with harvest time from November till

March, Aprile

Why Miscanthus x giganteus?

Why Miscanthus x giganteus?

• soil tillage only in the first year of cultivation,

• cultivation - common agricultural mechanization,

• excellent resistance to desieses and pests,

• application of herbicides (first and second year),

• low fertilization requaiments,

• high heating value (17,7 MJ kg-1 do 18,8 MJ kg-1)

• CO2 neutral raw material (LCA-standard: saving 75-93% CO2),

• phytoremediation of contaminated soils,

• increases soil fertility, positive impact on biodiversity, decreases erosion.

Planting material

RhizomeMicropropagation plants

Possibilities of utilisation

Cofiring with solid fossil fuels and/or direct firing for heat and/or electrical energy production.

Production of liquid biofuels (second generation bioethanol).

Possibilities of utilisation

(www.biofuelstp.eu/cellulosic-ethanol.html)

Experimental fields in Croatia

Bistra (altitude 144 m) Sljeme (altitude 650 m)

Rhizomes planting 26.4.2011.

Sljeme, 2011. Donja Bistra, 2011.

Sljeme Donja Bistra

2011.

Donja BistraSljeme

2012.

Donja BistraSljeme

2013.

2014.

Sljeme Donja Bistra

At the end of vegetation season in the 3th growing year (2013.): - plant height - number of shoots per plant- dry matter yield (10-15 days after frost) on 10 m2

Maretials and metods

• volatile compounds - (CEN/TS 15148:2005),• ash (CEN/TS 14775:2009),• fixed carbon - (CEN/TS 15148:2005),• carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen content (HRN EN 15104:2011),• sulphur content (HRN EN 15289:2011),• heating values – HHV and LHV (HRN EN 14918:2010),• minor and major elements (CEN/TS 15290:2006, CEN/TS 15297:2006).

Maretials and metods

Location Plant height

(m)

Shoots number

per plant

DM Yield (t ha-1)

AutumanWinter Spring

Bistra 3,36 55,27 30,88 21,37 14,51

Sljeme 2,88 46,61 24,29 19,88 15,24

Field results

Laboratory results

Analysis Values

Proximate

Moisture (%) 23

Ash (%, db) 2,21

Cfix (%, db) 10,46

VM (%, db) 77,72

HHV (MJ kg-1) 18,47

Ultimate

C (%, db) 48,55

H (%, db) 4,24

N (%, db) 0,31

O (%, db) 46,44

S (%, db) 0,08

Minor and major elements

Cu (mg/kg, db) 4.47

Mn (mg/kg, db) 147.08

Zn (mg/kg, db) 48.81

Fe (mg/kg, db) 319.27

Na (mg/kg, db) 63.94

K (mg/kg, db) 892.95

Mg (mg/kg, db) 330.76

Ca (mg/kg, db) 907.0

Pb Below sensitivity level

Ni Below sensitivity level

Co Below sensitivity level

Based on CORINE Land Cover (CLC) digital database

there are 541,930 ha of unused agricultural land in Croatia !

Potential of Miscanthus x giganteus biomass in Croatia

Potential biomass yield in tons of dry matter (10 – 12) of Miscanthus x giganteus grass by counties of the Republic of Croatia on poor quality soils

County 5% 10% 15%Zagreb County 16.396 – 19.675 32.791 - 39.349 49.187 – 59.024

Krapinsko-zagorska 7.320 – 8.784 14.640 - 17.568 21.960 – 26.353Sisačko-moslavačka 31.531 – 37.838 63.063 - 75.675 94.594 – 113.513

Karlovac County 26.637 – 31.964 53.273 - 63.928 79.910 – 95.891Varaždin County 4.405 – 5.286 8.809 - 10.571 13.214 -15.857

Koprivnički-križevačka 6.420 – 7.704 12.839 - 15.407 19.259 – 23.111Bjelovarsko-bilogorska 10.468 – 12.561 20.935 - 25.122 31.403 – 37.684

Primorsko-goranska 10.279 – 12.334 20.557 - 24.669 30.836 – 37.003Ličko-senjska 16.650 – 19.980 33.300 - 39.960 49.950 – 59.940

Virovitičko-podravska 4.486 – 5.383 8.972 - 10.766 13.458 – 16.149Požeško-slavonska 8.168 – 9.802 16.337 -19.604 24.505 – 29.406Brodsko-posavska 8.667 – 10.401 17.335 - 20.802 26.002 – 31.202

Zadar County 14.200 – 17.040 28.400 - 34080 42.600 – 51.120Osječko-baranjska 11.540 – 13.848 23.081 - 27.697 34.621 – 41.545Šibensko-kninska 14.259 – 17.110 28.517 - 34.220 42.776 – 51.331

Vukovarsko-srijemska 4.885 – 5.862 9.770 - 11.724 14.655 -17.587Splitsko-dalmatinska 27.103 – 32.524 54.206 - 65.047 81.309 – 97.571

Istria County 31.896 – 38.275 63.792 - 76.550 95.688 – 114.826Dubrovačko-neretvanska 9.884 – 11.861 19.769 -23.722 29.653 -35.583

Međimurska 3.038 – 3.646 6.076 -7.291 9.114 -10.937City of Zagreb 2.734 – 3.280 5.467 -6.561 8.201 -9.841

TOTAL 270.965 – 325.158 541.930 – 650.316 812.894 – 975.473

Potential biomass yield in tons of dry matter (15 – 20) of Miscanthus x giganteus grass by counties of the Republic of Croatia on better quality soils

County 5% 10% 15%Zagreb County 24.593 – 32.791 49.187 – 65.582 73.780 – 98.373

Krapinsko-zagorska 10.980 - 32.791 21.960 – 29.281 32.941 - 43.921Sisačko-moslavačka 47.297 – 14.640 94.594 - 126.126 141.892 - 189.189

Karlovac County 39.955 – 63.063 79.910 -106.546 119.864 - 159.819Varaždin County 6.607 – 53.273 13.214 -17.619 19.821 - 26.428

Koprivnički-križevačka 9.630 – 8.809 19.259 -25.679 28.889 - 38.518Bjelovarsko-bilogorska 15.702 - 12.839 31.403 -41.871 47.105 - 62.806

Primorsko-goranska 15.418 – 20.935 30.836 -41.114 46.253 - 61.671Ličko-senjska 24.975 – 20.557 49.950 -66.600 74.925 - 99.900

Virovitičko-podravska 6.729 – 33.300 13.458 -17.943 20.186 - 26.915Požeško-slavonska 12.253 – 89.72 24.505 -32.674 36.758 - 49.010Brodsko-posavska 13.001 – 16.337 26.002 -34.669 39.003 - 52.004

Zadar County 21.300 – 17.335 42.600 -56.800 63.900 - 85.200Osječko-baranjska 17.311 – 28.400 34.621 -46.162 51.932 - 69.242Šibensko-kninska 21.388 – 23.081 42.776 -57.034 64.163 - 85.551

Vukovarsko-srijemska 7.328 – 28.517 14.655 -19.541 21.983 - 29.311Splitsko-dalmatinska 40.655 - 9.770 81.309 - 108.412 121.964 - 162.619

Istria County 47.844 – 54.206 95.688 -127.584 143.532 - 191.376Dubrovačko-neretvanska 14.826 – 63.792 29.653 -39.537 44.479 - 59.306

Međimurska 4.557 – 19.769 9.114 -12.152 13.671 - 18.229City of Zagreb 4.100 – 6.076 8.201 -10.934 12.301 - 16.401

TOTAL 406.447 – 541.930 812.894 – 1.083.859 1.219.342 – 1.625.789

The results confirmed that Miscanthus x giganteus grown in Croatia is environment-friendly crop with high-energy properties of biomass which is suitable

for production of “green energy”.

Conclusion

Nikola Bilandzija, Ph.D.University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture

Department of Agricultural Engineeringe-mail: nbilandzija@agr.hr

Thank you for your attention !