Bioenergy from Low-Intensity Agricultural Systems: An Energy Efficiency Analysis
In light of possible future restrictions on the use of fossil fuel, due to climate change obligations and continuous depletion of global fossil fuel reserves, the search for alternative renewable energy sources is expected to be an issue of great concern for policy stakeholders. This study assessed...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2016-12-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/1/29 |
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| author | Oludunsin Arodudu Katharina Helming Hubert Wiggering Alexey Voinov |
| author_facet | Oludunsin Arodudu Katharina Helming Hubert Wiggering Alexey Voinov |
| author_sort | Oludunsin Arodudu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In light of possible future restrictions on the use of fossil fuel, due to climate change obligations and continuous depletion of global fossil fuel reserves, the search for alternative renewable energy sources is expected to be an issue of great concern for policy stakeholders. This study assessed the feasibility of bioenergy production under relatively low-intensity conservative, eco-agricultural settings (as opposed to those produced under high-intensity, fossil fuel based industrialized agriculture). Estimates of the net energy gain (NEG) and the energy return on energy invested (EROEI) obtained from a life cycle inventory of the energy inputs and outputs involved reveal that the energy efficiency of bioenergy produced in low-intensity eco-agricultural systems could be as much as much as 448.5–488.3 GJ·ha−1 of NEG and an EROEI of 5.4–5.9 for maize ethanol production systems, and as much as 155.0–283.9 GJ·ha−1 of NEG and an EROEI of 14.7–22.4 for maize biogas production systems. This is substantially higher than for industrialized agriculture with a NEG of 2.8–52.5 GJ·ha−1 and an EROEI of 1.2–1.7 for maize ethanol production systems, as well as a NEG of 59.3–188.7 GJ·ha−1 and an EROEI of 2.2–10.2 for maize biogas production systems. Bioenergy produced in low-intensity eco-agricultural systems could therefore be an important source of energy with immense net benefits for local and regional end-users, provided a more efficient use of the co-products is ensured. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:48:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-faf0bfb484174a14bae78791e42c0825 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T12:48:03Z |
| publishDate | 2016-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-faf0bfb484174a14bae78791e42c08252022-12-22T04:23:17ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732016-12-011012910.3390/en10010029en10010029Bioenergy from Low-Intensity Agricultural Systems: An Energy Efficiency AnalysisOludunsin Arodudu0Katharina Helming1Hubert Wiggering2Alexey Voinov3Leibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, GermanyLeibniz-Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Eberswalder Straße 84, 15374 Müncheberg, GermanyPotsdam University, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24-25, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, GermanyITC, Faculty of Geoinformation and Earth Observation, University of Twente, Hengelosestraat 99, 7514 AE Enschede, The NetherlandsIn light of possible future restrictions on the use of fossil fuel, due to climate change obligations and continuous depletion of global fossil fuel reserves, the search for alternative renewable energy sources is expected to be an issue of great concern for policy stakeholders. This study assessed the feasibility of bioenergy production under relatively low-intensity conservative, eco-agricultural settings (as opposed to those produced under high-intensity, fossil fuel based industrialized agriculture). Estimates of the net energy gain (NEG) and the energy return on energy invested (EROEI) obtained from a life cycle inventory of the energy inputs and outputs involved reveal that the energy efficiency of bioenergy produced in low-intensity eco-agricultural systems could be as much as much as 448.5–488.3 GJ·ha−1 of NEG and an EROEI of 5.4–5.9 for maize ethanol production systems, and as much as 155.0–283.9 GJ·ha−1 of NEG and an EROEI of 14.7–22.4 for maize biogas production systems. This is substantially higher than for industrialized agriculture with a NEG of 2.8–52.5 GJ·ha−1 and an EROEI of 1.2–1.7 for maize ethanol production systems, as well as a NEG of 59.3–188.7 GJ·ha−1 and an EROEI of 2.2–10.2 for maize biogas production systems. Bioenergy produced in low-intensity eco-agricultural systems could therefore be an important source of energy with immense net benefits for local and regional end-users, provided a more efficient use of the co-products is ensured.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/1/29bioenergybiofuelenergy efficiencyNEGEROEIhigh-intensity industrialized agricultural production systemslow-intensity eco-agricultural production systems |
| spellingShingle | Oludunsin Arodudu Katharina Helming Hubert Wiggering Alexey Voinov Bioenergy from Low-Intensity Agricultural Systems: An Energy Efficiency Analysis Energies bioenergy biofuel energy efficiency NEG EROEI high-intensity industrialized agricultural production systems low-intensity eco-agricultural production systems |
| title | Bioenergy from Low-Intensity Agricultural Systems: An Energy Efficiency Analysis |
| title_full | Bioenergy from Low-Intensity Agricultural Systems: An Energy Efficiency Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Bioenergy from Low-Intensity Agricultural Systems: An Energy Efficiency Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bioenergy from Low-Intensity Agricultural Systems: An Energy Efficiency Analysis |
| title_short | Bioenergy from Low-Intensity Agricultural Systems: An Energy Efficiency Analysis |
| title_sort | bioenergy from low intensity agricultural systems an energy efficiency analysis |
| topic | bioenergy biofuel energy efficiency NEG EROEI high-intensity industrialized agricultural production systems low-intensity eco-agricultural production systems |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/1/29 |
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