Conference article

The Bioenergy Potential for the Centre Region of Portugal: The Use of Biomass as a Fuel Source

Tanya C. J. Esteves
Escola Superior Agrária de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

António J. D. Ferreira
Escola Superior Agrária de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

José C. Teixeira
Universidade do Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

Pedro Cabral
Instituto Superior de Estatística e Gestão de Informação, Lisboa, Portugal

Download articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.3384/ecp11057366

Published in: World Renewable Energy Congress - Sweden; 8-13 May; 2011; Linköping; Sweden

Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 57:49, p. 366-373

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Published: 2011-11-03

ISBN: 978-91-7393-070-3

ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)

Abstract

Renewable energy is one of the most effective ways to achieve the sustainability essential for our future. The consumption of fossil fuels is rapidly depleting resources deemed essential for Man’s survival.

This work’s main focus is to increase bioenergy use in the centre region of Portugal by allying R&D to facilitate bioenergy availability and distribution throughout the study area.

Accordingly; the available bioenergy potential was important to determine once this knowledge is very limited in the Centre Region of Portugal. Biomass residues for forest stands; burned areas; shrublands and agriculture land uses; municipal solid waste; animal husbandry waste; used vegetable oils; agricultural and food industry and energy crops were the considered material; once they represent great part of the regional available biomass. Additionally; the ideal location for the implementation of the Bioenergy Competency Centre (BCC) was determined; using a GIS approach that considered four scenarios.

Results show the most favorable for the yield of each of the bioenergy sources for bioenergy and that there are minor variations for the BCC best location for the 4 considered scenarios.

Keywords

Geographical Information Systems; Bioenergy potential; Land use; Bioenergy resources; Kyoto protocol

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