The
overall objective of this work package is
to provide an overview of experiences and
concepts for sustainable production (and use)
of biomass for energy. This includes improvements
in conventional agricultural production, since
productivity improvement is vital for making
land available for new crops without increasing
pressure on existing land resources. Following
sub-objectives are identified:
1. To
provide an overview of known agricultural
practices (arable land, cattle farming/use
of pasture land and agro-forestry)
that lead to improvements in (sustainable)
yields compared to common practice
in varying contexts in Southern Africa.
2. To
provide an overview of experience
with different existing biomass production
systems for energy markets and use
and their environmental and socio-economic
impacts. This includes bio-ethanol
production from e.g. sugar cane, biodiesel
production from oil crops and production
of heat and power from woody biomass.
3. To
provide an overview of promising new
(or improved) biomass production and
utilisation schemes including their
expected environmental and socio-economic
impacts.
4. To
provide insights in possible introduction
schemes for sustainable biomass production,
integrated in current agricultural
practices (including pasture lands)
and provide estimates for the potential
contributions to sustainable energy
supply, income and employment generation
as well as ecological impacts (and
benefits) for the South African region.
This work
package is closely interlinked with work package
1 (current land use patterns) and work package
3 (sustainability analysis of alternative
land-use) and results are to be produced in
close collaboration.
Furthermore, three working groups are defined
dealing specifically with 1. Energy crops
for ethanol production, 2. Energy crops for
biodiesel production and 3. Biomass production
and supply for production of electricity and
heat.
