JRC/Nordic Energy Research/NoBio/Norwegian Centre for Bioenergy Research
Workshop "Biomass resources and bioenergy in Norway and other Nordic countries"
Dr. Ioannis DimitriouSLU
Bioenergy production and environmental implications of Short
Rotation Coppice cultivation in Sweden
Dr I. Dimitriou, Dep. of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural
Sciences SLU
© Lantmäteriverketet. Ur GSD –
Översiktskartan, dnr 507-98-4720
Short Rotation Willow Coppice fields in Sweden
UppsalaSLU
Mechanised planting with approx. 12,000 cuttings/ha
Dr. I. Dimitriou, Dep. of CropProduction Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Dr. I. Dimitriou, Dep. of CropProduction Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Dr I. Dimitriou, Dep. of Crop ProductionEcology, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural
Sciences SLU
Dr I. Dimitriou, Dep. of Crop ProductionEcology, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural
Sciences SLU
Dr I. Dimitriou, Dep. of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural
Sciences SLU
Ca. 14,000 ha are currently cultivated in Sweden for energy (with willow/Salix)
Predictions for rapid increase (e.g. Ministry of Agriculture, 2006)
Grown on agricultural land
Double-row system, fertilisation, weed control
Harvested every 3-4 years, life span app. 25 years
Average production: 6-10 t DM/ha/yr
Short Rotation Coppice in Sweden
Dr I. Dimitriou, Dep. of Crop Production Ecology, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural
Sciences SLU
SRC cultivated area has remained almost stable during the last 10 years, the predictions have not become true...
…farmers do not usually fertilise and biomass production is therefore lower than the potentially achieved…
…the recent increases in cereal prices give negative signs for area increase…
Short Rotation Coppice in Sweden
Can these trends for SRC be altered in the future?
Probably yes…
… if SRC “value”improves!
SRC improved value can happen due to:
• Increased biomass (better sorts/clones –fertilisation?)
• Cheaper management activities
• Better prices for willow chips
• Additional value, e.g. via environmental impact
So, what is the impact of SRC on the “near”/local
environment?
SRC impact on environment
• Water
• Soil
• Biodiversity
• Landscape?
Dr. I. Dimitriou, Dep. of CropProduction Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Wastewater treatment in Enköping
100 kg N/ha yrLångaveka (inorganic fertilisation)
150 kg N/ha yrEnköping (wastewater fertilisation)
Klemedtsson et al., unpublished data
SRC impact on environment
• Water
• Soil
• Biodiversity
• Landscape?
Soil C sequestration (0-23 cm) 6 Salix genotypes
0.00
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.10
0.12S
oil C
seq
uest
ratio
n (t
C h
a-1 y
r-1)
BjörnGudrun
JorrLoden
ToraTordis
Mean: 0.08 t/ha/yr
Commercial varieties of Salix vary greatly in terms of C sequestration potential.
(Weih & v Bussel 2006)
Treatments sl+ash (sl+ash)x2 sl ash control Harvest interval (yrs) 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3 1 3
Cd Supply 1.2 2.5 1.2 1.3 0 Potential output 5.6 5.2 8.9 7 8 5.7 6.9 7 6.7 5.2 Change –4.4 –4 –6.4 –4.5 –6.8 –4.5 –5.6 –5.7 –6.7 –5.2
Cu Supply 303 606 500 106 0 Potential output 28 14 48 18 34 14 39 14 30 12 Change 275 289 558 588 466 486 67 92 –30 –12
Ni Supply 18 38 13 25 0 Potential output 12 7 15 6 12 5 11 5 10 6 Change 6 11 23 32 1 8 14 20 –10 –6
Zn Supply 449 899 569 330 0 Potential output 243 245 359 330 308 284 258 273 240 213 Change 206 204 540 569 261 285 72 57 –240 –213
Table. Balance between supply via sludge–ash application and potential output via willow plantation harvest (in g ha-1 yr-1), for the various treatments, if a potential harvest occurred annually or every three years. The potential output with a stem harvest was calculated for a 30:70 bark:wood ratio for year 1 and a 25:75 bark:wood ratio for year 3. Changes indicate potential changes in the soil pool (In: Dimitriou et al., 2006)
Cadmium and SRC
SRC impact on environment
• Water
• Soil
• Biodiversity
• Landscape?
Dr I. Dimitriou, Dep. of Crop ProductionEcology, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural
Sciences SLU
Dr I. Dimitriou, Dep. of Crop ProductionEcology, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural
Sciences SLU
Dr I. Dimitriou, Dep. of Crop ProductionEcology, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural
Sciences SLU
Photo: Nils-Erik Nordh
Weih et al. (2003) Basic Appl EcolSite number
05
1015202530
1 2 3 5 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21
Cumulative species numberPoplar standsArable fieldsJoint species
1 2 3 5 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 211 2 3 5 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21
Vascular Flora Diversity in Swedish Poplar Stands
Dr I. Dimitriou, Dep. of Crop ProductionEcology, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural
Sciences SLUPhoto: Nils-Erik Nordh
SRC impact on environment
• Water
• Soil
• Biodiversity
• Landscape?
Dr I. Dimitriou, Dep. of Crop ProductionEcology, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural
Sciences SLU
Photo: Nils-Erik Nordh
Dr I. Dimitriou, Dep. of Crop ProductionEcology, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural
Sciences SLUPhoto: Nils-Erik Nordh
Dr I. Dimitriou, Dep. of Crop ProductionEcology, Swedish Univ. of Agricultural
Sciences SLU
More information on related work
• …within Rating-SRC, an ERA-NET Bioenergy project under the SRC Call (Sweden, Germany).
• http://ratingsrc.slu.se/
Will/should all these environmental advantages
offering additional value to SRC compared to other agricultural crops be translated into “real”
value (in terms of compensation to the farmer)?