Multifunctional use of plantation systems

Multifunctional use of plantation systems

Blas MOLA-YUDEGO

Summary

This session focuses on the different environmental effects provided by fast growing plantations for energy. In addition to wood biomass, some plantations can deliver alternative ecosystem services. In the last years, several studies have analysed the environmental profile of willow and poplar plantations in Europe, with their effects on landscape, biodiversity, soil and water. In general, there has been positive effects on biodiversity, water and soil, with particular emphasis to wastewater applications and soil remediation of heavy metals. Among the implementations of this environmental benefits, the wastewater treatment plant of Enköping stands out as a successful example of business model. The plant includes a plantation system to treat wastewater through irrigation, and additional areas for the sludge, which are used in a combined way to both the water treatment plant and the district heating plant. 

Objectives

The main objectives of this session are:

  • To review the potential environmental effects of fast growing plantations for energy.
  • To describe methodologies to quantify these effects and introduce the idea and role of externalities and environmental services.
  • To review the production of services in combined systems for waste-water treatment in the municipality of Enköping (Sweden).

Materials

Session slides [PDF]

Plantations and ecosystem services [video]. Are plantations only to produce biomass? Plantations can produce additional ecosystem services, related to soil and water quality, landscape, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, etc… There have been extensive studies concerning soil and water quality, demonstrating their potential for phytoremediation alternatives. A successful business model has emerged, combining the production of wood for energy with the treatment of sewage and sludge on a water treatment facility. Within our research, effects on soil can be found on Dimitriou et al, (2012) and on water on Dimitriou et al. (2012), also por poplar. 

Readings

Langeveld, H., Quist-Wessel, F., Dimitriou, I., Aronsson, P., Baum, C., Schulz, U., … & Berndes, G. (2012). Assessing environmental impacts of short rotation coppice (SRC) expansion: model definition and preliminary results. Bioenergy Research, 5(3), 621-635 [PDF]

Industrial Symbiosis in Sweden [Youtube] A video presenting the waste-water and district heating plant at Enköping, Sweden, combining different ecosystem services derived from plantations.