ORIGINAL RESEARCH
The Concept of an Energy Self-Suffi cient
Farm System Compatible with Sustainable
Development in a Selected Region in Poland
Jacek Bieranowski, Tomasz Olkowski
Department of Electrical and Power Engineering, Electronics and Automatics, Faculty of Technical Sciences,
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
11 Oczapowskiego St, 10-736 Olsztyn, Poland
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
11 Oczapowskiego St, 10-736 Olsztyn, Poland
Submission date: 2015-05-18
Acceptance date: 2015-11-26
Publication date: 2016-03-17
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2016;25(2):529–544
KEYWORDS
energy potential of organic waste from agriculturemathematical model of the systemdegree of energy substitutionenergy self-sufficient farmCO2 reductiondegreeof energy substitutionenergy self-suffi cient farmCO 2 reduction
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
This paper analyses the real quantity of organic waste in the Polish province of Warmia and Mazury to
determine the degree of farm energy self-suffi ciency. Systems engineering methods were used in the performance
of the study. A relational and mathematical model was constructed to estimate the energy potential
of waste biomass in the selected area. This model is the basis for conducting detailed studies, whose results
are presented in the content of the paper.
The constructed model allows the determination of such parameters as:
• The value of the energy potential of organic waste generated by farms in the selected area.
• The value of the technical (real) energy potential of organic waste from farms using specifi c technologies.
• The type of waste with the highest energy potential.
Our paper defi nes the concept of the degree of primary energy substitution with renewable energy from agricultural organic waste and presents a methodology for determining the degree of covering the real demand of farms for electrical energy and heat.
A statistical model for estimating the unit energy potential of organic waste from a given farm per 1 ha of area was also developed. This model allowed the total energy potential of organic waste from agriculture to be determined for the studied area. In the studied province, the total energy potential of organic waste from agriculture amounts to 16.74 PJ·yr-1.
Although this study shows that the energy potential contained in organic waste from agriculture is signifi cantly large, it is disregarded by farmers and decision-makers. Focusing on the production of energy crops in order to satisfy the demand for energy biomass distorts the image that emerges from our studies: the level of renewable energy generated only from organic waste makes the idea of energy self-suffi ciency of farms appear plausible. We considered only those groups of waste that cannot be used in agriculture. The use of the energy potential of organic waste will permit a signifi cantly high reduction of primary CO2 environmental emissions.
The constructed model allows the determination of such parameters as:
• The value of the energy potential of organic waste generated by farms in the selected area.
• The value of the technical (real) energy potential of organic waste from farms using specifi c technologies.
• The type of waste with the highest energy potential.
Our paper defi nes the concept of the degree of primary energy substitution with renewable energy from agricultural organic waste and presents a methodology for determining the degree of covering the real demand of farms for electrical energy and heat.
A statistical model for estimating the unit energy potential of organic waste from a given farm per 1 ha of area was also developed. This model allowed the total energy potential of organic waste from agriculture to be determined for the studied area. In the studied province, the total energy potential of organic waste from agriculture amounts to 16.74 PJ·yr-1.
Although this study shows that the energy potential contained in organic waste from agriculture is signifi cantly large, it is disregarded by farmers and decision-makers. Focusing on the production of energy crops in order to satisfy the demand for energy biomass distorts the image that emerges from our studies: the level of renewable energy generated only from organic waste makes the idea of energy self-suffi ciency of farms appear plausible. We considered only those groups of waste that cannot be used in agriculture. The use of the energy potential of organic waste will permit a signifi cantly high reduction of primary CO2 environmental emissions.
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