the Saee is developing a program to support the cultivation of energy crops. This was announced by Yuriy Shafarenko, Director of renewable energy Agency of Saee, thematic round table "Bioenergy is one of the ways to energy independence of Ukraine" information Agency "UKRINFORM".
"In Ukraine, there are about 4 million hectares of marginal land which could be used to advantage for growing energy crops it. It's poplar, energy willow, miscanthus. With a yield of energy crops from 1 million acres and their use in the production of heat to replace the equivalent of up to 5.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year", - said Yuriy Shafarenko.
the country already has successful projects in this area is the plantation of energy willow in Ivano-Frankivsk, Volyn, Lviv, Ternopil and Rivne regions.
If you use the full potential of bioenergy, the amount of the replacement gas will reach the equivalent of 20 billion cubic meters per year, and that 2/3 of the country's needs in gas.
At the same time, Yuri Shafarenko said that the cultivation of energy crops is a complicated matter, because the investor begins to receive return on investment only 3 years after the first harvest. To encourage investors to work in this field need incentives.
Therefore, the Saee, in conjunction with the bioenergy Association of Ukraine and international partners working to develop mechanism to support the cultivation of energy crops. Among the possible incentives - reimbursement for purchase of seedlings, fertilizers and equipment. Now this question is discussed.
During the round table were discussed issues of establishing plantations of energy crops within the forest protection belts along the roads. The discussion was joined by representatives of Minamaneho, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Ukravtodor, the bioenergy Association of Ukraine Nulesu and other organizations. Active discussions revolved around economic feasibility and ways of financing such a project.
according to Director of "Energy willow" Leonid Melezhik, 10 km of road, planted with energy willow will be able to provide biomass to produce heat, which is enough for heating the normal school area of 1100 m2 during the heating season. In addition, 10 km of plantations to absorb more than 1,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
In General, the results of the round table, all participants confirmed the importance of the direction of the cultivation of energy crops in Ukraine that will allow to:
- to provide the raw material for solid fuel boilers and Biotec;
- to replace the use of gas and coal;
- CO2 emissions
- to revive business and create new jobs.
