Biomass seen as future energy source
Teagasc researcher Bernard Rice told the Teagasc National Tillage Conference in Carlow that the era of cheap and abundant oil supplies is over and alternative sources will be necessary over the next 15 years.
In response to the impending scarcity of transport fuels, the EU has set substitution targets for alternatives to the current petrol and diesel use with the aim of achieving a 23% substitution by 2020.
“There will be opportunities for farmers to produce biomass for energy or to convert various farm by-products or residue materials for biofuels,” he said. However, he cautioned that the opportunities are still very limited due to tight financial returns.
“This is beginning to change,” he said, referring to the details in the 2004 Finance Act which allows road excise to be reduced on liquid biofuels from approved projects.
Ireland currently imports almost 90% of its energy needs. Without excise relief it will be necessary to import biofuels.
Teagasc research has shown that the best prospects are biodiesel from vegetable oil or animal fat and ethanol from sugar beet to replace the existing additive used in petrol. The current additive (MTBE) is based on methanol which faces environmental scrutiny and has been banned in California. Developments which will lead to the breakdown of straw, woody and other waste materials into liquid biofuels more efficiently are developing rapidly.
