Plant biomass as energy source

Abstract

Plant biomass used for power purposes is the most important energy source. At present plant biomass used for power makes up approximately 90 % of all the renewable energy used in Lithuania. The work aim is to determine the technical potential of plant biomass growing and usage for power purposes in Lithuania. Wood as a fuel is most widely used at present. The potential of this fuel makes 763 thousand toe, but only 80 % is used today. Potential of straw as a fuel makes about 167.2 thousand toe. The resources of plant energy biomass may be supplied by specially grown plants: osier willow, perennial grasses, rapes, cereals and sugar beets. 22 % of agricultural land can be attributed for this purpose. The total potential of plant biomass then would be 2.4 Mtoe but only 25.5 % of it is used at present. If this plant biomass potential were used the greenhouse gas emission would be reduced by 4.4 Mt and 6400 new work places would be created.