Energetic Analysis of Draught Animal Hay Harvest

Autor:	Kenneth Mulder, Ben Dube
Rok vydání:	2014
Předmět:	Ecology Primary energy business.industry Agroforestry Biomass Energy security Resource depletion Renewable energy Agronomy Biofuel Bioenergy Alternative energy Environmental science Animal Science and Zoology business Agronomy and Crop Science
Zdroj:	Outlook on Agriculture. 43:281-287
ISSN:	2043-6866 0030-7270
Popis:	For most of human history, biomass has been the primary energy input for society. Concerns regarding climate change, resource depletion and energy security have prompted renewed interest in the use of biomass as an energy source. Draught animals, in addition to being a traditional means of utilizing biomass, can be used to harvest biomass. Data from oxen-powered haying at Green Mountain College in Vermont show an energy return on energy invested (EROI) of 5.93 for pelletized grass, with 80% of the energy input being renewable. Comparisons with other draught animal hay harvesting systems suggest that this performance is mediocre. Modest goals for system improvements could raise the EROI to over 10. Due to their competitive energy efficiency and low capital requirements, draught animals deserve more serious examination as a renewable energy source.
Databáze:	OpenAIRE
Externí odkaz:	https://explore.openaire.eu/search/publication?articleId=doi_________::0a0256214f22ec80ba4da2842a701a04 https://doi.org/10.5367/oa.2014.0181 Zobrazit plný text záznamu