Adaptation of bioenergy village concept in small towns of Latvia
2013
Naglis-Liepa, K., Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Jelgava (Latvia) | Pelse, M., Latvia Univ. of Agriculture, Jelgava (Latvia)
Energy policy is a significant component of the European Union (EU) sustainability policy. Along with transnational agreements, which determine the development of energy sector in accordance with the environmental, competition, availability, and supply aspects, local initiatives also exist, including bioenergy villages. Bioenergy villages are an example of a sustainable policy implementation at the lowest level of administrative territories. The positive aspect of bioenergy villages appears in the support of local public as well as in the positive effect of a bioenergy village on agriculture and the environment. By establishing local residential places that are self-sufficient with bioenergy, sustainable development is stimulated not only at the local, but also national level. The aim of the present paper is to calculate, by means of a simulation model, the amount of resources needed for the establishment and operation of a bioenergy village and its effects on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and resource imports. By developing and exploiting a simulation model for a bioenergy village, which was based on the authors' calculations on economic and environmental effects of biogas production as well as assumptions and calculations regarding the use of biomass and information on the output and consumption of energy in Auce town, it was found that establishing a bioenergy village would have the following positive affects: GHG emissions would decrease by 1 792.7 7 t C02eq a year, local agriculture would have to supply the necessary biogas substrate - 4 233.3 t of silage and 15 366.7 t of cattle liquid manure, imports of resources (energy and fertilisers) would decline by a value of LVL 199 060.69 a year, and the cost of thermal energy for residents would not change.
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