BIOENERGIS-Using GIS Methodologies and Tools Towards Energy Crops for a Sustainable Land Use in Portugal/BIOENERGIS-Utilização de Metodologias e Ferramentas SIG para Promover o Uso Sustentável do Solo em Portugal com recurso a Culturas Energéticas

Funder

Organizational Unit

Publications

Low indirect land use change (ILUC) energy crops to bioenergy and biofuels: a review

Publication . Abreu, Mariana; Silva, Luís; Ribeiro, Belina; Ferreira, Alice; Alves, Luís; Paixão, Susana M.; Gouveia, Luisa; Moura, Patrícia; Carvalheiro, Florbela; Duarte, Luís C.; Fernando, Ana Luisa; Reis, Alberto; Gírio, Francisco

ABSTRACT: Energy crops are dedicated cultures directed for biofuels, electricity, and heat production. Due to their tolerance to contaminated lands, they can alleviate and remediate land pollution by the disposal of toxic elements and polymetallic agents. Moreover, these crops are suitable to be exploited in marginal soils (e.g., saline), and, therefore, the risk of land-use conflicts due to competition for food, feed, and fuel is reduced, contributing positively to economic growth, and bringing additional revenue to landowners. Therefore, further study and investment in R&D is required to link energy crops to the implementation of biorefineries. The main objective of this study is to present a review of the potential of selected energy crops for bioenergy and biofuels production, when cultivated in marginal/degraded/contaminated (MDC) soils (not competing with agriculture), contributing to avoiding Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) burdens. The selected energy crops are Cynara cardunculus, Arundo donax, Cannabis sativa, Helianthus tuberosus, Linum usitatissimum, Miscanthus × giganteus, Sorghum bicolor, Panicum virgatum, Acacia dealbata, Pinus pinaster, Paulownia tomentosa, Populus alba, Populus nigra, Salix viminalis, and microalgae cultures. This article is useful for researchers or entrepreneurs who want to know what kind of crops can produce which biofuels in MDC soils

2022-06Journal article

Open access

Marginal soils for bioenergy production : How to identify these soils in Portugal?

Publication . Abreu, Mariana; Reis, Alberto; Fernando, Ana Luisa

ABSTRACT: n the bioenergy/biorefineries sector, energy crops have achieved a relevant position as a feedstock for bio-based products, biofuels and bioenergy. To produce the energy crops, soils with low Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) risk must be utilized, such as marginal/degraded/contaminated (MDC) soils. Locating these types of soils in any territory, region, or country is challenging. Several criteria, e.g. soil drainage, dryness, temperature, have been identified by the European Union, and allow to classify soils as marginal. Yet, the dispersed information makes the identification and selection of marginal soils a challenging process. Therefore, this study details the tools and baseline documents that can be used to identify marginal areas, presenting low ILUC risk for the cultivation of energy crops. The application of the methodology to Continental Portugal allowed to obtain a preliminary map that indicates available soils for the cultivation of energy crops.

2023-09Book part

Open access