Title:
Results from the 3-Year VOICE Project on Full-Chain of Pure Vegetable Oil in S. Europe: Production and Use in Technologies
Author(s):
Chiaramonti, D., Prussi, M., Martelli, F.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
The supplying Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO) chain is probably the first generation biofuel chain which have the greatest chances of “surviving” to the development of second generation biofuels. In fact, the advantages offered by bringing the added value of the final product to the biomass producer improve the economics and makes the project manageable by medium/small farmers or entrepreneurs. This research paper report the results obtained by the 3-year project LIFE-VOICE (Vegetable Oil Initiative for a Cleaner Environment), which investigated the entire chain in Italy. The purpose of this large EU project was to investigate the most suitable oil crops for Italy, some EU and non-EU Mediterranean Countries, as well as to transfer the know-how developed in Germany on SVO technologies (both production and use) to Italy. Three different EU Countries, and 12 different partners (research Institutes, Industries and Companies, Association of Farmers, etc), participated to the field activities, studying each single step of the SVO chain. The overall VOICE strategic objective was the development of proposals for policies to National and local authorities in this area. Various oil crops were investigated: among others, standard and high-oleic sunflower, rape, camelina, and flax were the most interesting ones for the Italian conditions. Field activities, either in conventional or organic cultivations, were performed and data collected. Oil was then extracted both in a dedicated decentralised pressing and filtering system, as well as in a centralised plant: the oil was analysed according to the German norm DIN 61605. When necessary, actions to reduce the content of phosphorous and alkali content were taken, and the resulting refined oils examined. Vegetable oil was used to feed technologies converted to SVO: 5 kWe Senertec-DACHS cogenerators, a 50 kWe generator, a Capstone C-30 kWe micro gas turbine, some burners for greenhouse and school heating, and a John Deere tractor. The engines and the tractors were converted by the partner VWP-Germany, while the conversion of the microturbine was developed by CREAR-Italy. The most significant emissions were measured and compared. Oil crops were selected, and field performances assessed under various cultivation practices, locations, etc. The decentralised pressing-filtering unit as well as converted technologies performed very well during the project, while industrial extraction confirmed its poor oil quality for energetic purposes. Long term demonstration is still necessary for the newly developed microturbine, which major advantage compared to diesel engine was however the extremely low emission level of the exhaust gases. Results from the VOICE project were elaborated into proposal for supporting policies and promotional strategies at both local (regional) as well as national levels. The potential in terms of land available and vocation of agricultural area was assessed in Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal, as well as the potential was preliminary estimated for some non-EU MED Countries.
Keywords:
sunflower, straight vegetable oil, biofuels sustainability, short bioenergy chain
Topic:
Fuels from biomass
Subtopic:
Production, supply and use of liquid biofuels from oilseeds
Event:
18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
VP3.3.23
Pages:
1810 - 1815
ISBN-13:
978-88-89407-56-1
ISBN-10:
88-89407-56-5
Paper DOI:
10.5071/18thEUBCE2010-VP3.3.23
Price:
FREE
