Title:
Increasing the Dry Matter And Energy Yield Potential of Poplar Biomass in Flanders
Author(s):
Vansteenkiste, D., Prins, W., Van Acker, J.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Merely 2% of the gross energy consumption in Flanders (Belgium) is covered by biomass. Key questions to be addressed are (1) how the future regional biomass supply for renewable energy production will be ensured, and (2) how this feedstock can be converted most intelligently into energy. We propose selecting and deploying highly productive poplars -in terms of both yield and quality -in short-rotation cultures (SRC) on marginal arable land. These poplars should provide readily accessible biomass that is adapted to thermochemical conversion technologies and for combined heat and power generation. Based on a theoretical scenario analysis with different yield options, it was estimated that pyrolytic intermediate products from poplar may allow significant displacements of various sources and sinks of primary energy. To evaluate the feasibility of the more ambitious scenarios, we envisage advanced comparative structural research of poplar cultivars and detailed study of the decomposition behavior of poplars in thermochemical experiments. Feedstock and intermediary product characterization will be carried out at various scale levels (submicron to cm, in 2D and 3D) and processing stages by using a top-notch computer-tomographic scanning installation (UGCT Nanoscan) and advanced dynamic and static thermal analysis equipment (DSC-TGA). Some preliminary results are presented.
Keywords:
poplar, short rotation forestry (SRF), structure, thermochemical conversion, wood
Topic:
Fuels from biomass
Subtopic:
Production, supply and use of solid biofuels
Event:
18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
VP3.1.15
Pages:
1704 - 1708
ISBN-13:
978-88-89407-56-1
ISBN-10:
88-89407-56-5
Paper DOI:
10.5071/18thEUBCE2010-VP3.1.15
Price:
FREE
