AQricultura
- Stiinta si practica
SHORT -ROT A TION-PLANT
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A TION
Puscas Ancutal, Simona Bârsan2, E. Luca!
1- Universityof AgriculturalSciencesaud VeterinaryMedicineCluj-Napoca
2- ICIA Cluj-Napoca
Abstract
Because wood is seen as the most capable renewable energy source, initiatives
have to be undertaken to make biomass production mare efficient. Typical trees
meeting these requirements are amongst others poplars (Populus spec.) aud willows
(Salix spec.).
At the moment the amount of renewable energies (wind energy, solar power,
hydropower, biomass) on the total primary energy consumption in the EU is abolit 6%
(EC-White paper, 1997). The EU envisages raising the amount of renewable energies
from currently 6% up to 12% until the year 2010.
Keywords: short-rotation-plantation, wastewater, biomass.
In the less densely populated countries in Europe a significant paft of the
population is not connected to urban wastewater treatment. The Nordic aud
Wes1ernEuropean countries, inc1uding Germany, have with mare than 90% the
highest levels of tertiary treatment systems, which efficiently remove nutrients
(phosphorus or nitrogen or both) aud organic matter. In contrary, only aratind
half of the population in Southern, aud Eastern European countries is currently
connected to any wastewater treatment plants aud only 30 to 40% to tertiary
treatment (EEA .2005a). This is because policies to reduce water Pbllution were
implemented so far mainly in Northern aud Central Europe than in those
countries.
Romania for instance is a new EU member since 2007. Only large towns
have sewer networks. Smaller cities aud villages are not connected at all to
wastewater collection aud treatment systems (ROJANSCHI1999). In 2000, 261
large cities aud 346 villages (2.6% out of the total number) are connected to
sewer networks. In Braila aud Harghita counties no village has a sewage
network, aud Giurgiu aud Ialomita counties have only Oile(see Table 1).
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AQricultura- Stiinta si practica
Table 1
Water supply aud sewage systems in Romania (UN 2000)
Type of human settIements
Number of
settIements
Large cities
Rural communitv centers
262
2686
Villages
10390
With sewage
svstems
%
No.
261
99.6
330
12.3
16
0.2
The amount and quality of wastewater treatment to meet national norms is
unsatisfactory, so the end of the sewer systems is point sources for the surface
and ground water pollution (UN 2000). Recent figures show that this situation
has net changed significantly yet. Only 28% of the population is linked to
treatment plants, with no system having tertiary treatment (EUROSTAT 2005).
Only 17% of the 2.609 settlements with >2000 p.e. have sewage systems
(ICPDR 2006). Rural wastewater management is the major challenge for the
coming years in Romania, as they will be forced to comply as an EU member
-state to the EU requirements ofthe UWWT, regarding wastewater treatment and
discharge. Consequently, there is an enormous need to find applicable, locally
adaptable, decentralized wastewater treatment or reuse solutions in order to
provide rural areas with the required standards.
At the same time, created by ambitious EU renewable energy targets, the
market demand for biomass combustibles expands very quickly. This implicates
a high economic potential for biomass producers, which are mostly SMEs.
Especially, in the Eastem European countries there is a huge potential for the
generation of heat and power from biomass. The current main biomass energy
sources like forest-wood, recycle-wood and agricultural residues (about 52
million tons a year in Europe) cannot meet the upcoming demand for heat and
power generation (min. 100 million tons in 2010). Therefore, Oile of the major
problems for European SMEs working in the field of biomass production for
renewable energy is the price of biomass, which depends on the technological
efficiency, the produced amount of energy but also on the guaranteed long-term
availability of sufficient biomass. Therefore a huge potential is seen in the
application of biomass, which is competitive, storable, ca2-neutral and in
connection with different types of wastewater a low-cost fuel for heat and power
generation.
Oile major solution to meet both challenges, especially in Europe's rural
areas, is the decentralized use of wastewater for the irrigation of special biomass
producing energy plantations, so called Short-Rotation-Plantations (SRP) with
fast growing tree species like willows or poplars, providing e.g. wood chips and
pellets for the renewable generation of mainly heat but also power. The
irrigation with liquid residues like wastewater, manure or effluents from biogas
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plants is of high interest for SRP-operators because these liquid wastes provide
them on the Oilehand with low costs fertilizers aud irrigation water aud on the
other hand with additional income from treating these wastes. Thus, using the
nutrients of wastewater for accelerating biomass growth in a recycling process at
low cost aud protecting surface waters from polIution runs simultaneously.
AdditionalIy, in Central aud Eastern Europe, with its growing competition
in the agriculture sector, the high amount of falIow agriculturalland (approx. 50
mill. ha) aud the enormous number of net connected small communities (see
above), there are substantial employment opportunities for farmers in the SRP
biomass production sector.
Another urgent demand to develop efficient technologies for reusing
wastewater for irrigation in SRPs exist because of the increasing water scarcity
in many Central aud Southern European countries. Highly populated countries
such as Germany aud Spain have the least available water per capita in Europe
aud are considered water-stressed along with Cyprus, Bulgaria, Belgium, Malta,
Macedonia, Italy aud UK. In other words, 46% of the EU 27 population (210
million people) lives in places that are water-stressed. Most of these countries
with high so-called WEI] have a high water demand for irrigated agriculture.
. These figures demonstrate that water scarcity is net just a Mediterranean
problem but countries across the EU suffer to varying degrees. Only Austria aud
Finland can be considered as net being affected at alI by water scarcity (EEA
2005b).
However, especialIy the Mediterranean countries are right now in tension
situation or shortage, including Mediterranean Spain, meaning that the natural
water resources are already very highly stressed. It is predicted that Spain will
exceed the average annual volume of renewable natural resources by 2025
(EUWI 2006). Consequently, water demands cannot be entirely covered any
mare by the conventional resources. Thus, the country is in urgent need to meet
a growing pact of their demand from "unconventional" supply sources, such as
wastewater reuse. The potential of reuse in Europe is high, especialIy in Spain,
which could reach a maximum water reuse of 2.000 Mm3/year (Hochstrat et al.,
2005).
Agricultural activities demand up to 60% of a EU country's water demand.
Current efficient irrigation technologies for watering plants with high root
volumes like willows and poplars of SRPs are only designed to use fresh water,
net for reusing wastewater. Consequently, in spite of its high economic aud
environmental potential for biomass production, SRP-operators are net able to
re-use wastewater for irrigation, mainly because there is a lack of appropriate
technology which is easy to use aud to instalI, applicable in remote areas, at low
cost and adaptable to different local conditions and liquid wastes.
.
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CURRENT WASTEWATER TREATMENT SITUATION IN ROMANIA/
REGION OF CLUJ
Oile ofthe main objectives ofthe Romanian government at this moment is
to improve water quality and increase the supply of water resources, as well as
the treatment of wastewater.
Water supply: Romania's water resources are relatively poor and unequally
distributed in time and space, being formed of surface waters: inland rivers,
lakes and reservoirs, the Danube River, ground waters.
The water resources, though technically utilisable, cannot be used without
the achievement, of certain significant investments in complex development
works ofthe hydrographic basins and in treatment installations because:
- The major water resource, the Danube River, can only be used to a small
extent, owing to its position, at the southeastern edge ofthe country.
- The inland rivers are unequally distributed all over the territory, significant
areas remaining with insufficient resources, presenting at the same time
important flow variations.
- The pollution of certain inland rivers exceeds the legal limits, which makes
their use difficult and sometimes even prohibitive.
Romania's water collection and distribution systems, and urban
wastewater sewage and purification systems, is inadequate, because of their old
equipment, fragmentation and low revenue base. The population's drinking
water supply is in a particularly dangerous situation due to the lack of
investments in water delivery, water treatment stations and distribution
pipelines. There are no water treatment plants having a tertiary treatment step
(for nitrogen and phosphorous elimination) and for this reason eutrophication is
present in many lakes and reservoirs. Diffuse pollution due to fertilizer
application as well as to that of pesticides and herbicides on the agriculturalland
is also a major concern. Most major cities in Romania still have no purification
system for their urban wastewater, which flows direct1y into rivers and streams.
There is also concern with the accumulations of heavy metals and organic
compounds existing in sediments, and the reduction of the nitrogen, pesticides
and other degradation product concentration in waters.
In conclusion, the major areas of concern are related to the improvement
of the quality of supplied water and water resources and the development of new
wastewater treatment plants and the modernisation of the existing ones.
Generally speaking, the water resources of Romania are limited as the
quantity and availability for use are affected by the pollution of certain
watercourses and groundwater in some areas. Inner rivers are, to a large extent,
characterised as a category I according to Romanian standards, but less than 8%
are considered to be degraded (category D). Water pollution is caused by
economic activities and accidental wastewater discharges.
Urban and industrial wastewater discharges into rivers have been
incompletely treated. The statistical analysis of the status of major wastewater
sources, revealed the following global aspects.
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Finally, higher pollution potential is rotind among municipal units, the
chemical industry, mining companies, quarrying activities, the metallurgic
industry and livestock farming. Groundwater quality is mainly affected by
increased concentrations of nitrates. Concerning the contamination of
groundwater with phosphates, the affected areas are limited, with most water
unaffected by this polluting agent. A special situation is created through intense
contamination of underground waters with organic substances, ammonia and,
especially, bacteriological pollution. The most affected underground waters
from the point of view of quality are in rural areas
Romania needs investments totalling US $38 billion to implement EU
environmental protection standards by 2018, when all transitional periods
negotiated with the EC will expire.
The investments are planned to be made in the following sectors:
- Air Pollution
Control
- Wastewater
- Solid and Hazardous Waste
- Engineering and Consulting Services
In what concerns the wastewater treatment, the Urban Wastewater
Treatment Directive implementation requires investments of 9.5 billions Euro
(untiI2018) necessary to achieve the European Union standards.
There are 1398 wastewater treatment plants and storage installations
(municipal and industrial). In 2005 only 492 plants were functioning adequately.
The critical situation of wastewater treatment plants results from old pipes and
wastewater networks and the modification in their treatment capacity without
being adapted from initial design parameters. All in all, there is a high need for
investments to be done both for collecting systems and wastewater treatment
plants. The existing wastewater treatment plants in Romania cover only 77% of
the total flow evacuated through the public sewage networks. Therefore
important investments are necessary in order to construct adequate facilities for
treatment of sludge generated from wastewater treatment. Furthermore, only a
small part ofthe sludge is used for agricultural purposes. However, sludge usage
in agriculture is being encouraged.
There is a need for new reorganized management system in water and
wastewater infrastructure. In order to achieve this, local authorities as owners of
the assets will enter into concession contracts either with experienced utilities
operators with a proven record of capacity to prepare and implement
comprehensive investments or with new regional operators (consortiums of
existing operators). For the same purpose, collaboration and association of
multiple municipalities is encouraged.
All in all, this sub-sector is characterized by:
Absence of or insufficient wastewater treatment facilities - water
pollution is Romania's largest environmental issue; water pollution from
household, industrial and agricultural sources has negative impact on
fish breeding, irrigation and drinking water supplies
.
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.
..
Low percentage of population connected to centralized drinking water
supply
Insufficient aud/Of low quality of drinking water
.
High volume of unpaid water caused by networks leakages aud low level
.
.
of payment collection from the consumers
Public funds allocated exist but are not sufficient; an existing need for
large scale investments
Lack of experienced staff for promoting, management aud
implementation of large scale investments
.
Inadequate facilities for sludge treatment
Fragmented water system in small aud medium cities aud poor
management
In the region of Cluj, the Somes Water Company covers all needs for mare
than 600 000 people in Cluj aud Salaj area; the water distribution system is of
850 km aud the canalization 604 km.
The canalization system includes 4 systems, which collects wastewater aud
meteoric waters aud transports them to the treatment stations. The regional
system of Cluj takes over the wastewaters aud the meteoric waters from all
consumers in the region aud transports them to the treatment station of
Someseni. The capacity of the treatment station is of 2 170 1/s. This treatment
station is partially auto-supporting itself by transforming the biogas in electric
energy with a 625kW power, generating a big part ofthe energy necessary to its
function.
CURRENT RENEWABLE ENERGY SITUATION IN ROMANIA/
REGION OF CLUJ
Romania had to commit to specific obligations regarding environment in
order to become a European Union (EU) Member State. While successful in
achieving admittance to the EU in January 2007, it must now continue the
improvement processes in all agreed areas in order to reach the EU standards.
Romania is covered by 40% of agricultural laud aud 27% of forest. The
share of biomass in the total energy of the country was 10.94% in 1998.
Currently, biomass is used only for heating purposes, direct buming for cooking
aud hot water preparation consuming the largest share. District heating systems
are the most immediate aud low-cost application. About 95% of the biomass
currently used is firewood aud agricultural waste, the rest is wood waste from
industrial processes.
Biogas has been used in the past to a larger amount. Today, the number of
large pig aud cattle units is decreasing.
Potential biomass is regionally distributed over Romania. Fuel-wood aud
wood waste is mostly found in the Carpathians aud Sub Carpathians, while
agricultural waste is available in the South Plain aud Moldavia, biogas in the
South aud Westem plains. In their Renewable Energy Resource Assessment for
Romania, the EBRD estimates the South Plain region most promising for the
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utilization of agricultural waste, aud the Carpathian aud Sub Carpathian
Mountains as most promising for the development of district.-heating plants
from firewood and wood waste. However, there are no special incentives for the
implementation ofbiomass projects.
There is only Oiledemonstrating wind energy project in Romania (4 kW).
Two demonstration projects with over 100 kW each, in the Semenic Mountains
aud at Black Sea offshore, are no longer in operation due to lack of funds. There
is Oile current project (22 750 kW and 4 2 MW turbines at Constanta, Black
Sea). Romania has very good technical potential for wind energy development.
Large areas with' wind speeds over 11 m/s are identified.
A large scale program for various solar applications has been
implemented: solar domestic hot water systems for hotels at the Black Sea, for
apartment blocks, solar drying for agricultural products, solar cooling for fish
preservation. However, due to poor quality, lack of maintenance aud a stop of
activities with the market reforming in 1990, only 10% of the installed 1 Mio
m2 of collector area is still in operation. Currently, some demonstrative
capacities, less than 1 kW are installed.
The average solar radiation in Romania ranges from 1,100 to 1,300
kWhlm2 per year. A solar radiation map has been issued by the National
Institute of Meteorology aud Hydrology. There are good opportunities for solar
energy development, aud experiences from the past can be used. In the
Renewable Energy Resource Assessment, the EBRD estimates domestic solar
water heating for public buildings aud hotels, passive solar systems, and stand
alon'esystems for sites far from the grid, to be the most promising applications.
In the region of Cluj there are only a few companies which promote renewable
energy sources, through engineering aud consultancy services, especially in the
field of: solar water heating systems, solar electric power systems, wind power
generators, hydro-energy aud wind energy but also other renewable energy.
There is no registered situation concerning the renewable energies in the
region of Cluj. Only very few information on personal use of the families house
heating.
SRP SITUATION IN ROMANIAIREGIONOF CLUJ
The environmental market is unquestionably increasing in Romania. This
evolution can be attributed both to the general concern for environment
protection at the global level aud to the European Union integration process aud resulting higher environmental standards- that Romania is obligated to
follow. Unfortunately in the region of Cluj there are no concrete records
concerning the SRP's cultivation, but the availability of laud aud its erosion
problems aud the necessity of wastewater treatment, makes this idea be viable in
the area.