Title:
Effects of Adoption of a Renewable Energy Scheme on Carbon Footprint and Environmental Impact at an Agricultural Research Centre in Northern Ireland
Author(s):
Olave, R.J., Forbes, E.G.A., Johnston, C.R., Higgins, A., Browne, J.D.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
In Northern Ireland, agriculture contributes an estimated 28% to total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The agricultural research centre at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI Hillsborough) in Northern Ireland comprises 310 ha of land used by the dairy, beef, sheep, pig and renewable energy research units. The research centre also incorporated renewable energy technologies in 2008 to help to supply its energy demand in terms of electricity and heat generation. In order to assess the effectiveness of these technologies in reducing GHG emissions, a study was set up to demonstrate the impact of a renewable energy scheme and determine the contribution that fossil fuels have been making to the overall carbon footprint of the functioning site. The agriculture research centre has reduced GHG emissions from heat and power by between 35% and 15%, respectively, through the use of the renewable technologies and its carbon footprint in relative heat and power terms has also been reduced on average by approximately 140 and 105 t CO2e annually, respectively, since the baseline year.
Keywords:
energy, carbon footprint, Northern Ireland
Topic:
Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability
Subtopic:
Environmental impacts of bioenergy
Event:
23rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
4AV.2.4
Pages:
1511 - 1515
ISBN:
978-88-89407-516
Paper DOI:
10.5071/23rdEUBCE2015-4AV.2.4
Price:
FREE
