Meži klāj aptuveni 37,8% ES valstu teritorijas (166 milj.ha). Kopējā mežu platība ES pēdējo gadu laikā būtiski pieaugusi, pateicoties lauksaimniecības zemju apmežošanai. Mežainākās un ar meža resursiem bagātākās valstis ir Somija un Zviedrija, attiecīgi 73,9% un 66,9% šo valstu teritorijas klāj meži. Mazākais mežainums ir Īrijā (9,7%), Nīderlandē (10,8%), Dānijā un Lielbritānijā (abās 11,8%).
Ar mežu saistītās tautsaimniecības nozares nodrošina darbu 3,5 milj. ES iedzīvotāju un to kopējais gada apgrozījums ir 400 miljardi eiro.
Plašāka informācija - http://www.euractiv.com/en/sustainability/eu-forest-action-plan/article-156911
2007-01-31
Informācija par ES bioenerģijas rīcības programmu
Bioenerģija veidojas no koksnes, atkritumiem, lauksaimniecības kultūrām. Patreiz ES biomasa nodrošina aptuveni 4% no kopējā enerģijas patēriņa. Biomasas rīcības programmas galvenais mērķis, kas izvirzīts 2005.g. decembrī, ir dubultot šo īpatsvaru līdz 2010.g. Rīcības programmas realizācija samazinātu naftas produktu importu ES valstīs par 8%, samazinātu siltumnīcas efektu izraisošo gāzu emisiju par 209 milj.t CO2 ekvivalentu gadā un radītu līdz 300 tūkst. jaunas darbavietas lauksaimniecības un mežsaimniecības sektorā.
Plašāka informācija - http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/biomass-action-plan/article-155362
Plašāka informācija - http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/biomass-action-plan/article-155362
Diskusija par biomasas kurināmo EC
The debate on biofuels is heating up, with the Commission and the Greens guarding against potential negative impacts such as rainforest depletion in Brazil and increased competition with wood and food production.
The benefits of biofuels are well known. Supporters say they are a 'carbon neutral' source of energy - they do not emit more carbon dioxide than the amount absorbed as the plants grow.
This would help resolve the global-warming effect of cars burning petrol. Currently, transport emits a third of CO2 emissions, and 98% of that figure is accounted for by oil, according to the Commission.
In addition, biofuels can be produced in Europe, unlike oil and gas, which have to be imported. Another plus is that they could offer new income and employment opportunities to European farmers after the reform of the Common Agriculture Policy.
Issues:
In an 'energy and climate change package'external put forward on 10 January 2007, the Commission proposed that 10% of all transport fuels in the EU be produced from biofuels by 2020. This is up from the 5.75% target for 2010 laid down in the EU biofuels directive, adopted in 2003.
Biodiesel and ethanol, the most common biofuels in use today, are produced mainly from agricultural crops: sugar cane, soybean rapeseed and corn.
However, these crops are often water intensive and pose a number of environmental problems related to land use and soil degradation.
This is why the Commission favours so-called 'second-generation' biofuels which are more efficient and less problematic from an environmental viewpoint. These are typically made from agricultural residues and 'woody' sources such as straw, timber, woodchips and manure (see Commission public consultation on biofuels). They can be turned into high-value products such as bioplastics and other green materials, using so-called 'green chemistry' processes (see EurActiv LinksDossier on sustainable chemistry).
But these more energy-efficient biofuels are still only at the development stage and require bio-refineries to be built up to process this emerging type of feedstock.
Denmark is at the forefront of this development, with the announcementexternal in June 2006 of construction beginning on what will be Europe's largest biorefinery (€13.4 million plus €26.8m from the government) to produce cellulose ethanol.
Positions:
Green MEPs are increasingly sceptical that biofuels can replace oil in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.
On 30 January, the Greens launched a campaign against the unguarded promotion of 'plant fuels' produced from agricultural crops, arguing that studies indicate that they may take more energy to produce than they would offer in return.
But they point to another growing concern: the impact on farming. They say that a big push for biofuels could take land away from the food sector.
"Plant fuels are touted publicly as the solution to the problems of oil dependence and climate change, while being quietly pushed in the EU as the way to wean Europe's farmers off CAP subsidies," said Green MEP Friedrich Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, who is also vice-president of the Parliament's Agriculture Committee.
"Diverting scarce food resources from dinner tables to petrol tanks will increasingly place pressure on global food prices, meaning the poorest will go hungry," he added.
The Greens argue that big biofuels development in Europe would also have an impact on countries such as Brazil, where rainforests crucial for absorbing greenhouse gases will be knocked down to make more room for agricultural land. And because the ethanol produced in this way would need to be transported to Europe, they say that the result will be less forests and higher transport costs, both of which lead to increased CO2 emissions.
"The production of plant fuels is highly energy-intensive and often carbon negative, while the clearing of rain forests to facilitate the cultivation of plants for fuels also strips away the positive effects of plant fuels for our climate," said Green energy spokesperson Rebecca Harms.
The Greens' concerns were echoed by the Commission as well. In a speechexternal on 29 January 2007, Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "If an increased use of biofuels means that more cutting of rainforest to make way for plantations is needed, then it is not acceptable."
In the same way, Dimas added: "It is not acceptable to place on the market biofuels that have been obtained through a production process that emits as much carbon dioxide as is saved from using them".
"Therefore, it is imperative that any support system for the production of these fuels must discourage the use of unsustainable production practices for biofuels."
"Second-generation biofuels need to enter to European markets as soon as possible as they are more promising both in terms of energy potential and of the limited impact on the environment."
Another concern relates to increased competition for wood resources as biofuels production rises.
A studyPdf external presented on 30 January by the Confederation of European Paper Industries claims that it is four times more economically viable to use wood as a paper-resource first than to use it for energy.
"As a result of sustainable forest management, Europe’s forests are increasing at an area of more than 4,000 football pitches per day," CEPI said.
However, it added that "increasing competition between wood for bio-energy and for the paper industry presents a new challenge." Refering to a studyPdf external by the European Environment Agency, which showed a slowdown in forest growth, CEPI said it wondered "how more ambitious targets on wood for bio-energy could be met without risking the overall sustainability of Europe's forest and agricultural resources".
Others are more upbeat about biofuels, such as biotech group EuropaBio, which says it "can and will play an important role in the development of second generation biofuels".
"Making ethanol fuel out of biomass is already a reality," said the group in a briefing paper on so-called white biotechnologies. "Thanks to the use of enzymes to break it down, the under-used resources of agricultural and forestry waste can be unlocked," it says, offering an opportunity for "alternative farm incomes".
Latest & next steps:
A revision of the 2003 biofuels directive is scheduled to be proposed, together with a new framework directive on renewables, later in 2007 said Ferran Tarradellas Espuny, the Commission's energy spokesman.
The timing of the new proposal will depend on the outcome of the March summit of EU leaders, which will decide on the fate of the Commission's energy package. Depending on this, the Commission could put forward a proposal in July or September, Espuny indicated.
Oriģināls - http://www.euractiv.com/en/sustainability/wood-food-biofuels/article-161307
The benefits of biofuels are well known. Supporters say they are a 'carbon neutral' source of energy - they do not emit more carbon dioxide than the amount absorbed as the plants grow.
This would help resolve the global-warming effect of cars burning petrol. Currently, transport emits a third of CO2 emissions, and 98% of that figure is accounted for by oil, according to the Commission.
In addition, biofuels can be produced in Europe, unlike oil and gas, which have to be imported. Another plus is that they could offer new income and employment opportunities to European farmers after the reform of the Common Agriculture Policy.
Issues:
In an 'energy and climate change package'external put forward on 10 January 2007, the Commission proposed that 10% of all transport fuels in the EU be produced from biofuels by 2020. This is up from the 5.75% target for 2010 laid down in the EU biofuels directive, adopted in 2003.
Biodiesel and ethanol, the most common biofuels in use today, are produced mainly from agricultural crops: sugar cane, soybean rapeseed and corn.
However, these crops are often water intensive and pose a number of environmental problems related to land use and soil degradation.
This is why the Commission favours so-called 'second-generation' biofuels which are more efficient and less problematic from an environmental viewpoint. These are typically made from agricultural residues and 'woody' sources such as straw, timber, woodchips and manure (see Commission public consultation on biofuels). They can be turned into high-value products such as bioplastics and other green materials, using so-called 'green chemistry' processes (see EurActiv LinksDossier on sustainable chemistry).
But these more energy-efficient biofuels are still only at the development stage and require bio-refineries to be built up to process this emerging type of feedstock.
Denmark is at the forefront of this development, with the announcementexternal in June 2006 of construction beginning on what will be Europe's largest biorefinery (€13.4 million plus €26.8m from the government) to produce cellulose ethanol.
Positions:
Green MEPs are increasingly sceptical that biofuels can replace oil in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.
On 30 January, the Greens launched a campaign against the unguarded promotion of 'plant fuels' produced from agricultural crops, arguing that studies indicate that they may take more energy to produce than they would offer in return.
But they point to another growing concern: the impact on farming. They say that a big push for biofuels could take land away from the food sector.
"Plant fuels are touted publicly as the solution to the problems of oil dependence and climate change, while being quietly pushed in the EU as the way to wean Europe's farmers off CAP subsidies," said Green MEP Friedrich Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf, who is also vice-president of the Parliament's Agriculture Committee.
"Diverting scarce food resources from dinner tables to petrol tanks will increasingly place pressure on global food prices, meaning the poorest will go hungry," he added.
The Greens argue that big biofuels development in Europe would also have an impact on countries such as Brazil, where rainforests crucial for absorbing greenhouse gases will be knocked down to make more room for agricultural land. And because the ethanol produced in this way would need to be transported to Europe, they say that the result will be less forests and higher transport costs, both of which lead to increased CO2 emissions.
"The production of plant fuels is highly energy-intensive and often carbon negative, while the clearing of rain forests to facilitate the cultivation of plants for fuels also strips away the positive effects of plant fuels for our climate," said Green energy spokesperson Rebecca Harms.
The Greens' concerns were echoed by the Commission as well. In a speechexternal on 29 January 2007, Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: "If an increased use of biofuels means that more cutting of rainforest to make way for plantations is needed, then it is not acceptable."
In the same way, Dimas added: "It is not acceptable to place on the market biofuels that have been obtained through a production process that emits as much carbon dioxide as is saved from using them".
"Therefore, it is imperative that any support system for the production of these fuels must discourage the use of unsustainable production practices for biofuels."
"Second-generation biofuels need to enter to European markets as soon as possible as they are more promising both in terms of energy potential and of the limited impact on the environment."
Another concern relates to increased competition for wood resources as biofuels production rises.
A studyPdf external presented on 30 January by the Confederation of European Paper Industries claims that it is four times more economically viable to use wood as a paper-resource first than to use it for energy.
"As a result of sustainable forest management, Europe’s forests are increasing at an area of more than 4,000 football pitches per day," CEPI said.
However, it added that "increasing competition between wood for bio-energy and for the paper industry presents a new challenge." Refering to a studyPdf external by the European Environment Agency, which showed a slowdown in forest growth, CEPI said it wondered "how more ambitious targets on wood for bio-energy could be met without risking the overall sustainability of Europe's forest and agricultural resources".
Others are more upbeat about biofuels, such as biotech group EuropaBio, which says it "can and will play an important role in the development of second generation biofuels".
"Making ethanol fuel out of biomass is already a reality," said the group in a briefing paper on so-called white biotechnologies. "Thanks to the use of enzymes to break it down, the under-used resources of agricultural and forestry waste can be unlocked," it says, offering an opportunity for "alternative farm incomes".
Latest & next steps:
A revision of the 2003 biofuels directive is scheduled to be proposed, together with a new framework directive on renewables, later in 2007 said Ferran Tarradellas Espuny, the Commission's energy spokesman.
The timing of the new proposal will depend on the outcome of the March summit of EU leaders, which will decide on the fate of the Commission's energy package. Depending on this, the Commission could put forward a proposal in July or September, Espuny indicated.
Oriģināls - http://www.euractiv.com/en/sustainability/wood-food-biofuels/article-161307
Lielbritānijā cukurbiešu laukus sāk aizstāt ar daudzgadīgajām energokultūrām
"Yorkshire farmers are fortunate in one sense, in that there are developing biofuel industries in both Humberside and Teesside.
There is potentially a good market, therefore, both for grains such as wheat grown as a biofuel, and for oilseed rape.
Sugar beet itself can also be used to produce bioethanol. Sadly, the cost of transporting the beet to British Sugar's Wissington refinery in Norfolk means it is uneconomical for local farmers to continue growing it for that reason.
Drax Power Station, pictured, could conceivably in future take sugar beet as a biomass fuel, to burn alongside coal.
Given the high cost of processing the beet, however, that was some way off.
The power station does, however, hope to expand its use of willow coppice and elephant grass, both of which are being grown locally by farmers.
By 2009 it was hoped ten per cent of the electricity Drax produced would be the result of co-firing with willow and elephant grass.
This would save more than two million tonnes of CO2 a year - as well as proving an expanded market for farmers."
Oriģināls - http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/display.var.1149284.0.no_beet_surrender.php
There is potentially a good market, therefore, both for grains such as wheat grown as a biofuel, and for oilseed rape.
Sugar beet itself can also be used to produce bioethanol. Sadly, the cost of transporting the beet to British Sugar's Wissington refinery in Norfolk means it is uneconomical for local farmers to continue growing it for that reason.
Drax Power Station, pictured, could conceivably in future take sugar beet as a biomass fuel, to burn alongside coal.
Given the high cost of processing the beet, however, that was some way off.
The power station does, however, hope to expand its use of willow coppice and elephant grass, both of which are being grown locally by farmers.
By 2009 it was hoped ten per cent of the electricity Drax produced would be the result of co-firing with willow and elephant grass.
This would save more than two million tonnes of CO2 a year - as well as proving an expanded market for farmers."
Oriģināls - http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/display.var.1149284.0.no_beet_surrender.php
Saskaņā ar Pasaules Bankas paziņojumu, atjaunojamās enerģijas tehnoloģijas ir straujāk augošās energotehnoloģijas
"Renewable energy is the fastest growing energy technology in the world and has a major role to play in reducing poverty while protecting the environment, according to the World Bank.
In its report Improving Lives: World Bank Progress on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Fiscal Year 2006, released January 23, the bank said its annual commitments for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects totaled $668 million -- nearly double the 2005 level.
The funding, supporting 34 projects in 61 developing countries, is "an environmentally sustainable way to address the problem of one and a half billion people in the world who do not have access to modern energy," said Anil Cabraal, the bank’s lead energy specialist, in a press release.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) also is working to expand access to modern energy services in both rural and urban areas in the developing world by helping governments establish legal and regulatory regimes attractive to private investors while safeguarding citizens' interests, and through multilateral partnerships, the agency said.
With three-fourths of people who live in sub-Saharan Africa and nearly 60 percent of people in South Asia lacking access to electricity, there is a "global crisis in energy," World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz said in a November 2006 speech in Australia.
"Energy deprivation on that scale is a serious obstacle to development," Wolfowitz said.
EXPANDING ENERGY PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Because demand for energy in the developing world is predicted to further expand in coming decades, more advancements, investments and policies facilitating biofuel technology are needed, according to a report from the Washington-based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
IFPRI said energy generation should be centralized using local sources of farm wastes and more effectively collecting, transporting and storing energy from those wastes.
According to the World Bank report, energy security can be enhanced in many countries through a better diversity of fuel sources, improvements in energy distribution infrastructures, increased supply and demand for more efficient fuels, and promotion of equitable energy distribution.
Where people do have access to energy, even small advancements such as the installation of more efficient windows and light bulbs can save energy and lower costs, the report said.
Access to reliable and affordable energy "is considered a prime contributor" to the delivery of education and health services and the generation of employment, according to the report.
Affordable energy access also is "crucial" for combating hunger and malnutrition: 95 percent of the world's staple foods need to be cooked to be digested, the report said.
The bank said it intends to continue to expand its support for alternative energy and development of energy efficiency in the fastest-growing and largest energy-consuming developing countries in Africa and Asia. It has developed a Clean Energy and Investment Framework to address simultaneously the challenge of energy access in developing countries and spur investments in clean technology.
The bank said that because of the high costs required to extend conventional electricity grids, it is devoting more financing for such projects as solar home-lighting systems, small hydropower systems, and wind power and biomass energy production using wood and animal and crop residues.
It said a project in Bangladesh in which solar power systems were installed in 90,000 homes "is considered the world's most successful solar power initiative."
Another example of bank support for renewable energy is a forest management project in Senegal that is able annually to produce tons of wood for fuel on a sustainable basis for urban household use. The project generates local income while reducing deforestation caused by unmanaged wood gathering.
Other examples are solar-powered public space lighting in Bolivia, which has resulted in safer streets for women and children, and improved district heating systems in Serbia, giving children warmer classrooms, according to its report."
In its report Improving Lives: World Bank Progress on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Fiscal Year 2006, released January 23, the bank said its annual commitments for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects totaled $668 million -- nearly double the 2005 level.
The funding, supporting 34 projects in 61 developing countries, is "an environmentally sustainable way to address the problem of one and a half billion people in the world who do not have access to modern energy," said Anil Cabraal, the bank’s lead energy specialist, in a press release.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) also is working to expand access to modern energy services in both rural and urban areas in the developing world by helping governments establish legal and regulatory regimes attractive to private investors while safeguarding citizens' interests, and through multilateral partnerships, the agency said.
With three-fourths of people who live in sub-Saharan Africa and nearly 60 percent of people in South Asia lacking access to electricity, there is a "global crisis in energy," World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz said in a November 2006 speech in Australia.
"Energy deprivation on that scale is a serious obstacle to development," Wolfowitz said.
EXPANDING ENERGY PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Because demand for energy in the developing world is predicted to further expand in coming decades, more advancements, investments and policies facilitating biofuel technology are needed, according to a report from the Washington-based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
IFPRI said energy generation should be centralized using local sources of farm wastes and more effectively collecting, transporting and storing energy from those wastes.
According to the World Bank report, energy security can be enhanced in many countries through a better diversity of fuel sources, improvements in energy distribution infrastructures, increased supply and demand for more efficient fuels, and promotion of equitable energy distribution.
Where people do have access to energy, even small advancements such as the installation of more efficient windows and light bulbs can save energy and lower costs, the report said.
Access to reliable and affordable energy "is considered a prime contributor" to the delivery of education and health services and the generation of employment, according to the report.
Affordable energy access also is "crucial" for combating hunger and malnutrition: 95 percent of the world's staple foods need to be cooked to be digested, the report said.
The bank said it intends to continue to expand its support for alternative energy and development of energy efficiency in the fastest-growing and largest energy-consuming developing countries in Africa and Asia. It has developed a Clean Energy and Investment Framework to address simultaneously the challenge of energy access in developing countries and spur investments in clean technology.
The bank said that because of the high costs required to extend conventional electricity grids, it is devoting more financing for such projects as solar home-lighting systems, small hydropower systems, and wind power and biomass energy production using wood and animal and crop residues.
It said a project in Bangladesh in which solar power systems were installed in 90,000 homes "is considered the world's most successful solar power initiative."
Another example of bank support for renewable energy is a forest management project in Senegal that is able annually to produce tons of wood for fuel on a sustainable basis for urban household use. The project generates local income while reducing deforestation caused by unmanaged wood gathering.
Other examples are solar-powered public space lighting in Bolivia, which has resulted in safer streets for women and children, and improved district heating systems in Serbia, giving children warmer classrooms, according to its report."
Energokultūru audzēšanas apjoms Latvijā var palielināties, mainoties ES atbalsta maksājumu shēmai
Enerģētisko kultūraugu audzēšanas apjoms Latvijā palielināsies, Eiropas Komisijai nolemjot piemērot enerģijas kultūraugu atbalsta shēmu arī uz jaunajām Eiropas Savienības dalībvalstīm
Ieviešot atbalsta shēmu, paaugstināsies energokultūras audzējošo saimniecību ieņēmumi, kas ļaus audzēt augus tieši enerģijai. Audzēt rapsi jau šobrīd ir ekonomiski izdevīgi, taču arī šī kultūrauga audzēšanas izmaksas ar katru gadu palielinās.
Tāpat būs lielāka iespēja audzēt kultūras ko šobrīd Latvijā vēl neaudzē enerģijas iegūšanai, piemēram, kukurūzu tā zaļās masas dēļ biogāzes iegūšanai.
Tomēr pastāv vairāki sarežģījumi enerģētiskās shēmas iedzīvināšanai zemnieku vidū, norāda Arāja. Pagaidām nav atcelts nosacījums par drošības naudu, kas ir jāiemaksā iepirktās energokultūras pārstrādātājam
Arāja arī uzsver, ka zemnieks, noslēdzot līgumu, kļūst saistīts ar konkrēto produkcijas pircēju, un mainoties situācijai tirgū, iespējams, zemniekam nāksies pārdot produkciju par zemāku cenu, nekā to piedāvā citi pircēji.
Šie un arī citi šķēršļi gaida šī projekta iedzīvināšanu dabā. Taču EK sola atvieglot shēmas nosacījumus, tādējādi padarot atbalstu zemniekiem pieejamāku.
2004.gadā par rapša sējplatībām uz laukaugu papildu valsts tiešo maksājumu pretendēja 1 394 zemnieki, 2005.gadā tie ir aptuveni 1 500 pretendenti, informē ZM pārstāve. Taču nav zināms, cik no šo audzētāju saražotās produkcijas tiek pārstrādāts eļļā, cik biodegvielā. Turklāt arī no graudaugiem Latvijā iegūst bioetanolu un arī to saimniecību skaits, kas audzē graudaugus bioetanola ražošanai, nav zināms.
Šobrīd rapša, graudaugu audzētāji saņem vienotos platību maksājumus un valsts tiešos maksājumus. Vienotais platību maksājums šogad ir 22,92 lati (2005.gadā - 18,4 lati) par hektāru, bet papildu valsts tiešais maksājums ir 49,03 lati (2005.gadā - 47,34 lati) par hektāru.
Ieviešot enerģētisko kultūraugu atbalsta shēmu, klāt pie esošajiem maksājumiem audzētāji varētu saņemt vēl 45 eiro jeb (31,6 latus). Turpmāk gan vienotais platību maksājums un papildu valsts tiešais maksājums mainīsies, jo tas atkarīgs no pretendentu skaita un deklarētajām platībām.
LETA jau ziņoja, ka EK ierosinājusi attiecināt enerģijas kultūraugu atbalsta shēmu (SAPS), kas tika ieviesta ar 2003.gada Kopējās lauksaimniecības politikas (KLP) reformu, arī uz astoņām dalībvalstīm, tostarp Latviju, kuras pašlaik to neizmanto, aģentūru LETA iepriekš informēja EK pārstāvniecības Latvijā Preses un informācijas nodaļa.
Tas nozīmētu, ka vajadzētu palielināt maksimālo platību, par kuru var saņemt atbalstu, no pašreizējiem 1,5 miljoniem hektāru līdz diviem miljoniem hektāru. Lai vēl vairāk pamudinātu ražot izejvielas atjaunojamās enerģijas ieguvei, EK ierosina arī atļaut dalībvalstīm piešķirt valsts atbalstu, lai segtu līdz 50% no izdevumiem par daudzgadīgo kultūraugu ieviešanu platībās, par kurām iesniegts enerģijas kultūraugu atbalsta pieteikums.
Dati par bioetanola un biodīzeļdegvielas ražošanas attīstību, kā arī nesen uzbūvēto uzņēmumu jaudas liecina, ka nākamajos piecos gados ļoti palielināsies pieprasījums pēc enerģijas kultūraugiem, secinājuši EK eksperti.
Atbalsts enerģijas kultūraugiem ir pamudinājums lauksaimniekiem ražot kultūraugus enerģijas iegūšanai, nevis pārtikai. Pašlaik 8 no 10 jaunajām dalībvalstīm - Čehija, Igaunija, Kipra, Latvija, Lietuva, Ungārija, Polija un Slovākija -, kas piemēro SAPS, nevar saņemt šo enerģijas kultūraugu atbalstu, bet Malta un Slovēnija var saņemt šo atbalstu tikai pakāpeniski.
Ieviešot atbalsta shēmu, paaugstināsies energokultūras audzējošo saimniecību ieņēmumi, kas ļaus audzēt augus tieši enerģijai. Audzēt rapsi jau šobrīd ir ekonomiski izdevīgi, taču arī šī kultūrauga audzēšanas izmaksas ar katru gadu palielinās.
Tāpat būs lielāka iespēja audzēt kultūras ko šobrīd Latvijā vēl neaudzē enerģijas iegūšanai, piemēram, kukurūzu tā zaļās masas dēļ biogāzes iegūšanai.
Tomēr pastāv vairāki sarežģījumi enerģētiskās shēmas iedzīvināšanai zemnieku vidū, norāda Arāja. Pagaidām nav atcelts nosacījums par drošības naudu, kas ir jāiemaksā iepirktās energokultūras pārstrādātājam
Arāja arī uzsver, ka zemnieks, noslēdzot līgumu, kļūst saistīts ar konkrēto produkcijas pircēju, un mainoties situācijai tirgū, iespējams, zemniekam nāksies pārdot produkciju par zemāku cenu, nekā to piedāvā citi pircēji.
Šie un arī citi šķēršļi gaida šī projekta iedzīvināšanu dabā. Taču EK sola atvieglot shēmas nosacījumus, tādējādi padarot atbalstu zemniekiem pieejamāku.
2004.gadā par rapša sējplatībām uz laukaugu papildu valsts tiešo maksājumu pretendēja 1 394 zemnieki, 2005.gadā tie ir aptuveni 1 500 pretendenti, informē ZM pārstāve. Taču nav zināms, cik no šo audzētāju saražotās produkcijas tiek pārstrādāts eļļā, cik biodegvielā. Turklāt arī no graudaugiem Latvijā iegūst bioetanolu un arī to saimniecību skaits, kas audzē graudaugus bioetanola ražošanai, nav zināms.
Šobrīd rapša, graudaugu audzētāji saņem vienotos platību maksājumus un valsts tiešos maksājumus. Vienotais platību maksājums šogad ir 22,92 lati (2005.gadā - 18,4 lati) par hektāru, bet papildu valsts tiešais maksājums ir 49,03 lati (2005.gadā - 47,34 lati) par hektāru.
Ieviešot enerģētisko kultūraugu atbalsta shēmu, klāt pie esošajiem maksājumiem audzētāji varētu saņemt vēl 45 eiro jeb (31,6 latus). Turpmāk gan vienotais platību maksājums un papildu valsts tiešais maksājums mainīsies, jo tas atkarīgs no pretendentu skaita un deklarētajām platībām.
LETA jau ziņoja, ka EK ierosinājusi attiecināt enerģijas kultūraugu atbalsta shēmu (SAPS), kas tika ieviesta ar 2003.gada Kopējās lauksaimniecības politikas (KLP) reformu, arī uz astoņām dalībvalstīm, tostarp Latviju, kuras pašlaik to neizmanto, aģentūru LETA iepriekš informēja EK pārstāvniecības Latvijā Preses un informācijas nodaļa.
Tas nozīmētu, ka vajadzētu palielināt maksimālo platību, par kuru var saņemt atbalstu, no pašreizējiem 1,5 miljoniem hektāru līdz diviem miljoniem hektāru. Lai vēl vairāk pamudinātu ražot izejvielas atjaunojamās enerģijas ieguvei, EK ierosina arī atļaut dalībvalstīm piešķirt valsts atbalstu, lai segtu līdz 50% no izdevumiem par daudzgadīgo kultūraugu ieviešanu platībās, par kurām iesniegts enerģijas kultūraugu atbalsta pieteikums.
Dati par bioetanola un biodīzeļdegvielas ražošanas attīstību, kā arī nesen uzbūvēto uzņēmumu jaudas liecina, ka nākamajos piecos gados ļoti palielināsies pieprasījums pēc enerģijas kultūraugiem, secinājuši EK eksperti.
Atbalsts enerģijas kultūraugiem ir pamudinājums lauksaimniekiem ražot kultūraugus enerģijas iegūšanai, nevis pārtikai. Pašlaik 8 no 10 jaunajām dalībvalstīm - Čehija, Igaunija, Kipra, Latvija, Lietuva, Ungārija, Polija un Slovākija -, kas piemēro SAPS, nevar saņemt šo enerģijas kultūraugu atbalstu, bet Malta un Slovēnija var saņemt šo atbalstu tikai pakāpeniski.
2007-01-09
Miskantu un īscirtmeta kārklu plantāciju ierīkošanas iespēju salīdzinājums Velsā
Jan 9 2007
"Agriculture is entering a period of change. New crops such as miscanthus and short rotation willow coppice (SRC) are set to change cropping patterns and open up a new energy market to growers and the wider rural community.
As custodians of the environment, the choices that farmers and landowners make have direct implications, both positive and negative, for the rest of us.
There is now no doubt that our climate is changing, and there are two ways in which we can respond. The first is through mitigation – reducing greenhouse gas emissions – and the second is through adaptation – responding to the impacts of climate change.
Mitigating actions include changing the way we farm, by reducing carbon emissions, for example, and by replacing processes that emit greenhouse gases with carbon neutral energy sources. Biomass crops such as miscanthus and SRC fall into this category.
Biomass crops are widely regarded as almost carbon-neutral because the carbon dioxide released when these crops are burnt as a fuel for heat or for electricity is matched by the amount of carbon dioxide the plants absorbed through photosynthesis when they were growing. As a fuel, therefore, they are substantially more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels.
However, this doesn’t give us the full picture. The way the crops are grown, the land use they replace and biodiversity all need to be considered for a good understanding of the environmental impact of introducing these crops into the Welsh landscape.
Wales is predominantly agricultural with roughly 74% of the total land area – 1,629,000 hectares or just over four million acres – classified as agricultural. Of this, 85% is permanent pasture or rough grazing, 11% is arable and the remaining 4% is woodland or set-aside.
Miscanthus and SRC are both long-term perennial crops. Miscanthus originated in Asia and the current commercial variety miscanthus x giganteus is a sterile hybrid that does not produce seed. It is a fast-growing, clump- forming, non- invasive grass, a long-term perennial crop with a potential productive life of some 20 years.
Many willow species are native to Britain where they have been part of the landscape for hundreds of years. Willow (salix.spp.) is a diverse species, with several hundred varieties readily available within Wales.
The osier or basket willow salix viminalis is a shrub native to the UK and it is the parental stock to many of the willow varieties planted for use as short rotation coppice. Its production is more comparable to agricultural cropping methods than it is to forestry.
Both crops are planted in the spring, miscanthus as rhizomes and SRC as rods. Weed control is essential during the establishment phases (years 1 and 2) and herbicides are routinely used.
Trials in upland areas of Wales suggest fertiliser applications may be beneficial and the addition of lime is likely to be essential in these areas. Using organic wastes such as cattle slurry or treated sewage sludge can reduce the environmental impact compared to inorganic fertiliser applications.
As the crops approach harvest they translocate nutrients, back into the rhizomes in the case of miscanthus, or into the stools in the case of SRC.
Leaves drop in the winter adding organic matter and increasing soil nutrient status. Both crops have much lower agricultural inputs than conventional arable crops and the risk of ground water contamination by agro- chemicals is very low.
There are currently no pests and diseases in miscanthus, but SRC crops attract a lot of invertebrates and the crop is susceptible to a number of insect pests, particularly willow beetles, which can cause considerable damage. The crop is also susceptible to diseases, the most important of which is rust.
But the need for insecticides to control pests and disease can be minimised by careful plantation design and varietal selection. Varieties are now being bred with resistance to pests and diseases in an effort to reduce dependence on fungicides and insecticides.
Both crops have a good root system and well-developed mechanisms for recycling mineral nutrients. They can be used as buffers along rivers, blocking surface run-off and phosphorus pollution, particularly at the bottom of slopes. As the crops are perennial, soil disturbance is reduced with the potentially damaging effect of yearly soil cultivations being avoided.
The roots help bind soil together, stabilising it and reducing the risk of soil erosion. Both crops use a large amount of water and SRC is deep rooting and can damage land drains. SRC will grow well on most land where there is a reasonable level of rainfall and is therefore well suited to the Welsh climate.
Miscanthus and SRC are fast growing, tall crops that can radically change the appearance of a site so it is important to consider the site’s ecological and historical value as well as the visual impact of the crop on the landscape. For this reason it is currently a requirement that those proposing to grow SRC complete an environmental statement provided by the Forestry Commission. This will then determine whether a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required.
Replacement of grassland with biomass crops may have greater environmental implications. With 85% of Welsh agricultural land under grass this is likely to be particularly an issue in Wales.
Ploughing up long-term grassland releases large amounts of carbon to the atmosphere and this adversely affects the greenhouse gas abatement objective of biomass production. But there is a big difference between replacing a 50-year-old species rich meadow, and replacing a three-year-old intensively managed rotational grass crop, for example.
Energy grass crops can be grown on set-aside land and can make farmers useful additional income in the process.
Transport also needs to be taken into account. In order to be both economically and environmentally viable, crops need to be grown close to where they will be used as a fuel.
Good planning and management practices include avoiding priority habitats and untouched wildlife niches, and minimal use of insecticides and herbicides. These measures alone can go a long way to ensuring that biodiversity is maintained or increased over previous land use. In addition, the crops need to be part of a mix of farming land use.
Energy crops can create new habitats and opportunities for colonisation by many species of plants and animals. SRC has been found to be particularly species diverse, with three times as many invertebrates as cereal crops and a higher density and more species of birds – although it is potentially detrimental to some species that prefer a more open habitat.
Fewer bird species are found in miscanthus crops, though young crops of miscanthus offer patches of bare ground that are popular with birds such as skylarks and lapwings, and the crop offers a good over-wintering habitat.
Both SRC and miscanthus are harvested in winter, which is outside breeding times and summer migrants are not present. Two-to- three-year-old miscanthus plantations are used as over-wintering sites for birds, small mammals and invertebrates.
So it would appear that younger crops of both SRC and miscanthus have a higher level of biodiversity than older, fully established crops.
Of the two, willow can be seen as being richer in biodiversity terms, with miscanthus having biodiversity levels more comparable to arable crops, though with the added bonus of no insecticide and fertiliser requirements.
Properly planned SRC and miscanthus plantations can enhance the landscape and environment, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and bring new markets to the rural economy.
Farmers are the custodians of the environment and keeping them in business is key to keeping our rural heritage alive."
"Agriculture is entering a period of change. New crops such as miscanthus and short rotation willow coppice (SRC) are set to change cropping patterns and open up a new energy market to growers and the wider rural community.
As custodians of the environment, the choices that farmers and landowners make have direct implications, both positive and negative, for the rest of us.
There is now no doubt that our climate is changing, and there are two ways in which we can respond. The first is through mitigation – reducing greenhouse gas emissions – and the second is through adaptation – responding to the impacts of climate change.
Mitigating actions include changing the way we farm, by reducing carbon emissions, for example, and by replacing processes that emit greenhouse gases with carbon neutral energy sources. Biomass crops such as miscanthus and SRC fall into this category.
Biomass crops are widely regarded as almost carbon-neutral because the carbon dioxide released when these crops are burnt as a fuel for heat or for electricity is matched by the amount of carbon dioxide the plants absorbed through photosynthesis when they were growing. As a fuel, therefore, they are substantially more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels.
However, this doesn’t give us the full picture. The way the crops are grown, the land use they replace and biodiversity all need to be considered for a good understanding of the environmental impact of introducing these crops into the Welsh landscape.
Wales is predominantly agricultural with roughly 74% of the total land area – 1,629,000 hectares or just over four million acres – classified as agricultural. Of this, 85% is permanent pasture or rough grazing, 11% is arable and the remaining 4% is woodland or set-aside.
Miscanthus and SRC are both long-term perennial crops. Miscanthus originated in Asia and the current commercial variety miscanthus x giganteus is a sterile hybrid that does not produce seed. It is a fast-growing, clump- forming, non- invasive grass, a long-term perennial crop with a potential productive life of some 20 years.
Many willow species are native to Britain where they have been part of the landscape for hundreds of years. Willow (salix.spp.) is a diverse species, with several hundred varieties readily available within Wales.
The osier or basket willow salix viminalis is a shrub native to the UK and it is the parental stock to many of the willow varieties planted for use as short rotation coppice. Its production is more comparable to agricultural cropping methods than it is to forestry.
Both crops are planted in the spring, miscanthus as rhizomes and SRC as rods. Weed control is essential during the establishment phases (years 1 and 2) and herbicides are routinely used.
Trials in upland areas of Wales suggest fertiliser applications may be beneficial and the addition of lime is likely to be essential in these areas. Using organic wastes such as cattle slurry or treated sewage sludge can reduce the environmental impact compared to inorganic fertiliser applications.
As the crops approach harvest they translocate nutrients, back into the rhizomes in the case of miscanthus, or into the stools in the case of SRC.
Leaves drop in the winter adding organic matter and increasing soil nutrient status. Both crops have much lower agricultural inputs than conventional arable crops and the risk of ground water contamination by agro- chemicals is very low.
There are currently no pests and diseases in miscanthus, but SRC crops attract a lot of invertebrates and the crop is susceptible to a number of insect pests, particularly willow beetles, which can cause considerable damage. The crop is also susceptible to diseases, the most important of which is rust.
But the need for insecticides to control pests and disease can be minimised by careful plantation design and varietal selection. Varieties are now being bred with resistance to pests and diseases in an effort to reduce dependence on fungicides and insecticides.
Both crops have a good root system and well-developed mechanisms for recycling mineral nutrients. They can be used as buffers along rivers, blocking surface run-off and phosphorus pollution, particularly at the bottom of slopes. As the crops are perennial, soil disturbance is reduced with the potentially damaging effect of yearly soil cultivations being avoided.
The roots help bind soil together, stabilising it and reducing the risk of soil erosion. Both crops use a large amount of water and SRC is deep rooting and can damage land drains. SRC will grow well on most land where there is a reasonable level of rainfall and is therefore well suited to the Welsh climate.
Miscanthus and SRC are fast growing, tall crops that can radically change the appearance of a site so it is important to consider the site’s ecological and historical value as well as the visual impact of the crop on the landscape. For this reason it is currently a requirement that those proposing to grow SRC complete an environmental statement provided by the Forestry Commission. This will then determine whether a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required.
Replacement of grassland with biomass crops may have greater environmental implications. With 85% of Welsh agricultural land under grass this is likely to be particularly an issue in Wales.
Ploughing up long-term grassland releases large amounts of carbon to the atmosphere and this adversely affects the greenhouse gas abatement objective of biomass production. But there is a big difference between replacing a 50-year-old species rich meadow, and replacing a three-year-old intensively managed rotational grass crop, for example.
Energy grass crops can be grown on set-aside land and can make farmers useful additional income in the process.
Transport also needs to be taken into account. In order to be both economically and environmentally viable, crops need to be grown close to where they will be used as a fuel.
Good planning and management practices include avoiding priority habitats and untouched wildlife niches, and minimal use of insecticides and herbicides. These measures alone can go a long way to ensuring that biodiversity is maintained or increased over previous land use. In addition, the crops need to be part of a mix of farming land use.
Energy crops can create new habitats and opportunities for colonisation by many species of plants and animals. SRC has been found to be particularly species diverse, with three times as many invertebrates as cereal crops and a higher density and more species of birds – although it is potentially detrimental to some species that prefer a more open habitat.
Fewer bird species are found in miscanthus crops, though young crops of miscanthus offer patches of bare ground that are popular with birds such as skylarks and lapwings, and the crop offers a good over-wintering habitat.
Both SRC and miscanthus are harvested in winter, which is outside breeding times and summer migrants are not present. Two-to- three-year-old miscanthus plantations are used as over-wintering sites for birds, small mammals and invertebrates.
So it would appear that younger crops of both SRC and miscanthus have a higher level of biodiversity than older, fully established crops.
Of the two, willow can be seen as being richer in biodiversity terms, with miscanthus having biodiversity levels more comparable to arable crops, though with the added bonus of no insecticide and fertiliser requirements.
Properly planned SRC and miscanthus plantations can enhance the landscape and environment, reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and bring new markets to the rural economy.
Farmers are the custodians of the environment and keeping them in business is key to keeping our rural heritage alive."
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