Energy Crops Production
Objectives
Acquisition of kwnoledge, ability and expertise (1) Potential of some energy crops concerning their production, processing and utilization; (2) Valorization for energy and others purposes; (3) Environmental, economic and social dimension.
General characterization
Code
8458
Credits
6.0
Responsible teacher
Ana Luísa Almaça da Cruz Fernando
Hours
Weekly - 4
Total - 70
Teaching language
Português
Prerequisites
Basic background on biology and ecology.
Bibliography
Biewinga, E. E., van der Bijl, G. (1996) Sustainability of energy crops in Europe. A methodology developed and applied. Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Utrecht, Holanda, CLM 234-1996, 209 pp.
Jones, M. B. & Walsh, M. (2000) Miscanthus for energy and fibre, Jones, M. B. & Walsh, M. (Eds.), Earthscan Publications Ltd. (Publs.), 334 pp (ISBN 184971097X)
El Bassam, N. (1998) Energy plant species. James & James (Science Publishers) Ltd. (Ed.), Londres, Reino Unido, 334 pp. (ISBN 1873936753)
EEA - European Environment Agency (2005). Agriculture and Environment in EU-15 – the IRENA indicator report. Report No 6/2005. European Environment Agency. Copenhagen, Denmark, 128 p.. Available at: Agriculture and Environment in EU-15 – the IRENA indicator report. Report No 6/2005.
EEA - European Environment Agency (2006). How much bioenergy can Europe produce without harming the environment? Report No 7/2006. European Environment Agency. Copenhagen, Denmark, 67 p.. Available at: http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2006_7
EEA - European Environment Agency (2007). Estimating the environmentally compatible bioenergy potential from agriculture, EEA Report 12/2007. European Environment Agency. Copenhagen, Denmark, 134 p.. Available at: http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/technical_report_2007_12
EEA - European Environment Agency (2008). Maximising the environmental benefits of Europe´s bioenergy potential. EEA Report 10/2008. European Environment Agency. Copenhagen, Denmark, 94 p.. Available at: http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/technical_report_2008_10.
EEA - European Environment Agency (2009). Water resources across Europe — confronting water scarcity and drought. EEA Report 2/2009. European Environment Agency, Copenhagen, Denmark, 55 p.. Available at: http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/water-resources-across-europe.
Teaching method
Theoretical sessions with datashow. Practical sessions in classroom with computer.
Evaluation method
Elaboration of two written essays in group work. Oral presentation and discussion of one individual work. Final classification: average of the three classifications (0.35% each TP and 0.3% the oral presentation). Approval with a minimum classification of 9.5 values (grade of 20 values). At the beginning of the semester, it will be set the goal of each of the three elements of evaluation, including criteria for correction.
If students will not obtain a positive mark during continuous evaluation, they can go to exam. Final classification: 0,7*exam+0,3*individual presentation. Approval with a minimum classification of 9.5 values (grade of 20 values).
Subject matter
Theoretical component:
1. Production of potential biomass; conditioning factors. Photosynthetic process. Genotypes. Environmental factors. External factors. 2. Energy crops, Definition and scope. Production, harvesting, transport and storage. Processing and utilization. Environmental impact. Economic and social dimension. 3. Examples of energy crops: sweet sorghum, sweet cana, beterraba, Miscanthus, cardhum, bambu, Kenaf, cotton, line, sunflower rapesed.
Practical component
1. Study of the productivity of some energy crops in Portugal . 2. Characterization of some energy crops for energy or others purposes. 3. Evaluation of the environmental impact assessemnt of energy crops.