CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2011
| Author | Voytenko, Yuliya |
|---|---|
| Title | Bioenergy in Ukraine: Sustainable Pathways for the Development of Ukraine's Agro-biomass Potential |
| Summary | Ukraine (UA) has significant potential for bioenergy. Biomass can supply 1 EJ per year (or 18% in the country’s energy balance). The major part of this is formed by agricultural residues and energy crops. Annually nearly 175 PJ can be derived from straw, which is currently not used elsewhere. At present the biofuels sector in UA is not institutionalised. Biomass supplies only 0.5% in UA’s energy balance. The development of bioenergy is believed to help the country combat its significant energy security problem, contribute to the revitalisation of its agriculture and bring a number of other economic, social and environmental benefits. The work highlights and defines key factors and organisational elements for the transformation of local agro-bioenergy systems in Western Europe (WE) (i. e. Sweden, Denmark and Spain) and UA, and structures them into five types of new agro-biomass frameworks for organisation and action (ABFs). ABFs are described, analysed and compared via in-case and cross-case study analysis of 23 initiatives on straw use for energy in listed countries with the application of a conceptual framework developed by the author. All ABFs share key components but differ markedly according to the local context and resources, the nature of goals, the number of actors, complexity and degree of formalisation. Three major pathways delineated in this work include: 1) ‘straw for local heating’; 2) ‘straw for district heating’; 3) ‘straw for combined heat and power’. A roadmap towards the expansion of Pathway 1 and establishment of Pathways 2 and 3 in UA is suggested and discussed. Pathway 2 is viewed as the most feasible for the country to undertake considering its currently exploited biomass resources and forecasted potentials. Recommendations for the target audience (i.e. policy makers, non-governmental actors, academia and researchers), who would like to move new bioenergy systems forward are suggested. Among other, a recommendation to construct a 5-10 MW demonstration straw-fired district heating plant is given. The outcomes of the study are transferable to various contexts on the condition that local specificities are taken into account. This work accounts for different sides in discussions over bioenergy sustainability, which took place in academic and public circles within the last few years. Major concerns around biofuels include food versus fuel debate, greenhouse gas neutrality of biofuel production and use, and overall environmental impacts of biofuels at different stages in their lifecycles. Energy production from residual agricultural biomass (i.e. straw), which is studied within the scope of this work, avoids most of the general concerns on biofuel sustainability, however, has its own specific challenges, which need to be understood and managed appropriately. |
| Supervisor | Mnatsakanian, Ruben |
| Department | Environment Sciences and Policy PhD |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2011/e05voy01.pdf |
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