1. RURENER PROJECT MEETING
Tirano, 11 marzo 2010
Vineyard pruning cycle for heat production in
east Veneto, Italy.
A contracting example in a cooperation model
Federico Correale Santacroce

2. L‘Azienda Regionale “Veneto Agricoltura“
Veneto Agricoltura is a Public Agency of Veneto Region directly involved
in research, demonstration, technical advice, evaluation of new
technologies in agriculture, forestry, agri-food, aquaculture sectors.
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3. Veneto Agricoltura Bioenergy Action Plan
Since 2007 VA have a specific department dedicated to bioenergy, and a new
strategic Action Plan:
It is based on the following key assumptions:
Prerequisite: The ratio of the fossil energy input and the renewable energy
output should be largely positive.
“Money to farmers”: the biomass utilisation for energy should represent an
opportunity for income both for farms and forest entreprises.
Advantages for environment: Bioenergy development constitues a
sustainable source of energy. Its utilisation can contributes to improve the
environment of involved lands.
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4. Bioenergy and agricultural products
A wide variety of biomass potentially available
Some agricultural chains are already well
structured
Farmer point of view: Cost and profit
calculation, with an accurate evaluation of
incomes alternatives
We have to consider the reluctance to
innovation of cultivation techniques, sometimes
despite the interesting experimental results...
THE FARMER in our vision: is not just a
supplier of commodities, but need to play a
leading role within a complete chain (direct
contracting in energy trade)
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5. Vineyard prunings and woody residues (I)
Available biomass pruning residues in Italy
Crop Cultivated area (ha) Residue (ton/ha) Total biomass
obtainable (Mt)
Vineyard 871.597 2,9 2,53
Olive trees 1.170.362 1,7 2,00
Apple trees 64.447 2,4 0,15
Pear trees 45.826 2,0 0,09
Peach trees 67.458 2,9 0,20
Citrus trees 179.470 1,8 0,32
Almond trees 86.406 1,7 0,15
Hazel trees 69.561 2,8 0,19
TOTAL 2.555.127 - 5,63
Fonte, ISTAT, mod. Cotana F., Cavalaglio G.
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6. Vineyard prunings and woody residues (II)
Italian local laws often forbid to burn
prunings directly on the field, a traditional
practice, and plants disease growth up
leaving residues on place.
Energy generation (exp. Heat) solve
technical and economical problems of
residues disposal to landfill.
Wood from vineyards pruning is good to
produce chips or pure/mixed pellet, and it
is possible to burn it in modern boiler or
stoves.
Energy used in all the chain (582 kWh/t) is
approximately 12% of total energy
obtained by biomass residues, while the
remaining 88% (4268 kWh/t) represents
the renewable energy quote (Cotana F.,
Cavalaglio G., 2008)
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7. Vineyard prunings and woody residues: a study case
Società Cooperativa Agricola Livenza - COAL – Motta di Livenza
(TREVISO)
1976: 14 farms
2009: 150 farms, total 1.000 ha of vineyards (2.500 ha with other
crops
Production of prunings in this area is 0,9-3,2 t /ha; potentiality of
COAL is about 5.000 ha
In the past, prunings residues were traditionally manually harvested
from ground, and burn for bread cooking. Now is frequently chipped
or burned on place, when allowed.
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8. How does it work:
Round bale Bale Stocking Bale chipping
Pruning Harvesting Moisture 30-35% Moisture 10-12% Stove
Direct chipping Chips Stocking
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9. Fact Sheet I:
Harvesting 100 ha :
Round bale machine (customize from commercial grass bale m.)
Bale diam. 1,5 – 2 m
N. Bale harvested /ha: 47 in 76h
Average weight: 0,57 t
TOTAL PRODUCTION: 1,71 t/ha (moist. 50%)
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10. Fact Sheet II:
Processing (chipping; av. Moisture of bale: 11%):
Chipper JENZ HEM 561 335 kw truck mounted
N. Bale chipped: 44/h
Chipper Performance: 14,8 t/h
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11. Fact Sheet III:
Average Costs (€/t):
Harvesting and baling 21,07
trasport/stocking 12,66
Chipping 19,16
Total 52,89
Actual costs to harvest and take out of field pruning residues to landfill is
About 50 €/t …….but is only a COST, without any correlated income.
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12. Two different “scenarios„:
Contracting
Selling heat and/or electricity to community, other farm, private
buildings, installing little stoves (60kwt up to 1 Mwt) or . Cooperative
sell heat within a contract benchmarked to fossil fuel price.
Seller is responsible of all chain, from suplying of biomass to
manage plants.
COAL manages about 50 little plants
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13. Two different “scenarios„:
Medium scale cogeneration
It’s an interesting solutions as in Italy there is now high national grant for
electric power production from renewables.
Actually
COAL manage 1 plant of 1 MWe
Only 500 Kw are sustainable in COAL area (about 5.000 Ha involved in
prunings “production”) other biomass needed is coming from forest wood and
other cultural residues
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14. Mixed pellet from vineyards: a good perspective
Currently it has no specific market in the
Veneto region
It requires processes of standardization
and commercial certification of products
(the final consumer is increasingly
demanding about technical and
environmental quality of product)
It could benefit from the diffusion of
innovative boilers and dedicated stoves
(the improvement of combustion)
But….High cost: about 83,09 €/t on (VA
experience on another similar study
case).
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15. Conclusions
Vineyard prunigs: from problem to energy resource
High convenience at small-medium scale.
Contracting: best solution dimensioning the chain to biomass
locally available.
Medium scale cogeneration: highly attractive with actual national
incentives (electric power from renewables).
Importance of some technical details and of correct evaluation of
plants dimensioning step (stoves or cogenerator plant)
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16. Partners
A.I.E.L. - aiel@cia.it
Dott. Eliseo Antonini
Dott.ssa Annalisa Paniz
COAL Motta di Livenza
www.coopcoal.com
Veneto Agricoltura
Dott. Federico Correale Santacroce
Thanks for your attention Dott. Loris Agostinetto
Sportello di orientamento per le bioenergie
sportello.bioenergie@venetoagricoltura.org
Web: http://www.venetoagricoltura.org
E-Mail: info@venetoagricoltura.org
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