Journal of Fundamentals of Renewable Energy and Applications
Open Access
ISSN: 2090-4541
ISSN: 2090-4541
Pilar Manas and Jorge de las Heras
Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Fundam Renewable Energy Appl
Bioenergy is renewable energy made available from materials derived from biological sources and is widely used for heat and power. It currently provides more than 60% of renewable energy sources (RES) in Europe (including biomass and biofuels), and is one of the key primary energy sources for 20% RES target in 2020. A significant proportion of the current bioenergy is based on energy crops as well as of the biogenic fraction of municipal and industrial waste. The terms â�?�?biomassâ�? and â�?�?biofuelsâ�? refers to organic matter that has stored energy through the photosynthesis process. Waste from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) for Cynara cardunculus L. or Helianthus annuus L. production may be a viable solution to obtain bioenergy. The study achieved two objectives: firstly, to assess the agronomical viability of waste from the Alc�?¡zar de San Juan WWTP in central Spain (wastewater and sludge) for energy crops production; secondly, the use of biomass and biofuel from Cynara cardunculus L. and Helianthus annuus L. grown in this way to obtain energy. Five study plots (10 m x 10 m: 100 m2) for each crop were set up on agricultural land near the Alc�?¡zar de San Juan WWTP. Five fertilizer treatment types were considered: drinking water taken as the control, treated wastewater, 1 t ha-1 of air-dried sewage sludge, 2 t ha-1 of air-dried sewage sludge and 0.7 t ha-1 of commercial inorganic fertilizer. The soil, irrigation water, sewage sludge, heating values (higher heating value and lower heating value) of the biomass and fatty acid composition of achenes oil were monitored. Sewage sludge from the Alc�?¡zar de San Juan WWTP was suitable for use as an energy crops fertilizer. However precaution should be taken when irrigating with wastewater because of high salinity.