Energy balance of biofuel production and application

Abstract

The energy input and output are two important factors used to determine the energetic and ecological uselfulness of a fuel or its production technology. In the following paper 24 methods for 5 different biofuels, which can be rpoduced in agriculture and forestry are analysed and energetic balances are drawn up for them. A balancing develop in the ATB Potsdam-Bornim is used for this. The program is based on the recent guideline VDI 4600 of the Association of German Enginners, with ensures reliability and comparability of the results. The results show that the energetic input is relatively low compared to the output, especialy for by-product and residual substances such as cereal straw and forest clearing timber. Whenever fuel crops are cuiltivated, the energetic efficiency is critically determined by the quantity of nitrogen applied