Energy crops could cover energy demand in surplus agricultural lands
From: Energy Bioenergy Crops
Energy crops could cover energy demand in surplus agricultural lands
A brand new study (2013) found that the projected energy demand (2035) in developing countries, can be covered with energy crops in surplus agricultural lands, then not competing with food production. The study, from the Department of Energy Technology, at Aalto University School of Engineering (Finland) was accepted by the sound scienfitc journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews .
marginal lands evolution and perspectives
The authors did first an extensive literature review considering current status on land availability, land use pattern, crops and energy production and their present and projected demands. Historical trends in land use changes, crop yields, per capita land use were also reviewed from statistical database and literature sources. In the second part, a set of assumptions were made based on the information and insight gained from the reviewed literature to determine the extents of land availability for growing selected energy crops to meet the projected demands.
Perennial plants can occupy pastures and degraded lands The study focus all the assessment in perennial species and agricultural residues mostly. Regarding energy crop, this publication focused on scenario building with jatropha, willow, poplar, switchgrass and miscanthus.
Energy crops could cover energy demand in surplus agricultural lands
The study considers different crops including miscanthus, switchgrass and willows in meadows, pastures and surplus lands
Land use changes may exist, but there is enough land available for perennials.
