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One of the main concerns worldwide is the production of renewable energy based on agricultural waste, in most countries the agricultural sector is the basis of the national economy. The most important amount of biomass residues is generated by agricultural crops. The energy potential of biomass residues from agricultural crops depends to a large extent on the amount of resources available and their characteristics. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the energic and theoretical potential of biomass result. A mathematical calculation model for all indicators was defined in the paper. Maximum total amounts of biomass residues obtained from the studied crops are estimated at 9,985.18 kilotons, 11,105.04 kilotons, 2,542.03 kilotons and 1,564.56 kilotons. Due to the pedoclimatic conditions and the agricultural production, Romania has a high biomass potential, having a great diversity of types of crops that can be found in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecopedological resources together with the physical-geographical factors and the regime of climatic factors constitute a subsystem called biotope or resort which is in close connection with the associations of plants and animals, together making up terrestrial ecosystems, they having the ability to transform the energy they store in biomass, between these and socio-economic interventions, relations of a varied and complex reciprocity can be established. The Timişoara metropolitan area, from this paper, is a project that includes the municipality of Timişoara, the city of Recaş and 25 other neighboring territorial administrative units in order to create an integrated administrative unit between the municipality of Timişoara and the neighboring localities, which would include 468,162 of inhabitants, on an area of 223952 ha, establishing relations of economic, social and cultural cooperation, territorial development, technicalbuilding equipment and environmental protection, each locality maintaining its autonomy. In Romania, metropolitan areas were regulated by law 351 of July 6, 2001 an area constituted by association, based on voluntary partnership, between large urban centers and urban and rural localities located at distances of up to 30 km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of the Common Agricultural Policy and the changing of its paradigm was a subject of extensive consideration in the literature, but never the implications of specific cultural aspects on agricultural performance and production structures were ever taken into consideration. The main aim of the paper is the analysis of the some aspects regarding the influences of the cultural models on agricultural production structures in Romania and some EU- 28 countries, form a larger perspective, starting with the CAP transformations over the time and the European agricultural model, analysing the role of the multifunctional agriculture in shaping the holding's structure and performances, and in the last it is considered the role of agriculture and rural communities in promoting renewable including bio-fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenges caused by climate change are becoming inevitable. The main cause is represented by human activities, which are associated with the overexploitation of ecosystem services and natural resources, to meet the ever-growing demand for human needs. This leads to extensive environmental degradation and the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, leading to a dangerous increase in the global average temperature. The benefits of biofuels compared to traditional fuels aim at greater energy security, lower environmental impact, financial savings and socioeconomic aspects related to the rural sector. The concept of sustainable development embodies the idea of inter-connectivity and balance between economic, social and environmental concerns. Romania relies heavily on biomass for the contribution of energy from renewable sources in this sector, biomass being generally used more in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to make an x-ray of the potential of biological waste collection for the production of biofuels and fertilizers in Romania. It presents the existing legislative framework on bio-waste management as well as recycling technologies. A case study on the evaluation of the potential for selective collection of bio-waste for its anaerobic digestion is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper, presents a proposal approach for valorisation of the rural biomass energy potential, by combining the characteristics of the pyrolysis technology with the unconventional resources in the rural environment, to create a technical-socialeconomical concept for energy production. Romania has an important untapped biomass potential in rural environment that can be used in local pyrolysis heating systems with future expansion possibilities on a national level approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first article in a series meant to identify secondary effects of fuel production and consumption. The article presents, th synthesis, the main ideas and contributions of the paper "Economic effects of bio fuels production and consumption in Romania" written by the authors in 2009 within the research programme of the Institute of National Economy: Economic- social mechanisms and policies of increasing environmental factors in accordance with the European and world programs for diminishing the effects of the world resources crisis. The paper pursues the adjustment process of fossil fuel consumption to the rigors of an economy aiming to diminish carbon-composites emissions in atmosphere. At the same time, it is a warning regarding the secondary effects that might occur from the overblown consumption and production of first-generation bio fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a case study on the prospects of reducing CO2 emissions by the combined combustion of coal and biomass in the boilers of energy groups in thermal power plants. By 2030, Romania will give up coal-fired electricity production. The Innovative Cluster Energy Management and Sustainable Development has submitted a technical project on reducing CO2 emissions through the combined combustion of coal and biomass. The project can be applied to the energy groups of the Oltenia Energy Complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within Romania-Bulgaria Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013, Constanta Maritime University and Varna Business agency have implemented the project Green Energy Cluster Constanta-Dobrich. As a biological solution to green energy in Dobrogea area, the biomass resources were analysed. The aim of this paper is to highlight the capacity of Constanta County regarding the biomass as a source of renewable energy, in the climate region and the policy context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea that has conditioning this paper was the use of biofuel based on rapeseed oil on a medium-power diesel engine, alternative power supply being used, both as with diesel fuel and with rapeseed oil mixed with diesel in various proportions. This paper presents experimental results on a diesel engine effective power and torque performance of fueled with fuels based on rapeseed oil compared with diesel fuel. Fuels used in experimental research were mixtures of rapeseed oil, rapeseed methyl ester and diesel in different proportions: 80% diesel fuel - 20% rapeseed oil, 50% diesel fuel - 50% rapeseed oil, 25%diesel fuel - 75 % rapeseed oil, 100% rapeseed oil, 100% rapeseed methyl ester (RME) and 100% diesel fuel as (reference fuel). Because the researches were focused on the use of fuels derived from rapeseed oil on the existing Romanian engines, the work initially focused on those factors that do not involve changes or adjustments to diesel engine. International researches conducted so far have highlighted the effective power and torque performance differences of fuels based on rapeseed oil in comparison with diesel fuel. In Romania there have been intensive studies on different biofuels used in diesel engines. BIOCOMB consortium of the Technical University of Cluj- Napoca in collaboration with University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, from the researches made possible that Cluj- Napoca to be the first city in the country where buses fueled with biodiesel from from rapeseed oil. The novelty of these experiments refers to the fuel blends used in the experimental tests and to the importance of results of effective power and engine torque performance. Practical implications of the work are found in the immediate applicability in the possibility of increasing the performance of agricultural tractors powered by biofuels and also open new directions in applied research on ways of streamlining the use of biofuels. The theme and direction of approach in this paper represents an innovation in the field of national research. Results and conclusions issued in the work are possible due to the support of the research project co-funded by the European Social Fund through Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development 2007-2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Petroleum - Gas University of Ploiesti Bulletin, Economic Sciences Series is the property of Petroleum - Gas University of Ploiesti and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Permanent grasslands represent, all over the world, an asset that contributes to maintaining ecological balance in all other natural ecosystem, a never-ending reservoir of vegetal biomass that supplies most of the necessary food for animals and that can also be an important source of "green energy". In Romania, only 56% of the grassland area (i.e. 2,200,000 ha) would be enough to cover the necessary fibrous fodder for the cattle, while the rest of 44% (i.e. 1,700,000 ha) could be used to produce energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass energy production is a priority for the global economy in terms of ensuring the premises for sustainable development. The current context, determined by increases in energy costs, involves the identification of applicable and eco-intensive measures by which the use of biomass in productive activities will reduce the level of pollution and, implicitly, global warming. Progress of the bioeconomy is intercorrelated with the dimension of agriculture, which is the major provider of biomass for food, feed, and other bio-based industries. The agricultural sector in the last decades is characterized by an increase in energy production and consumption, with direct consequences on the environment. Biomass is for Romania, a renewable energy source, particularly valuable, both in terms of potential and in terms of future use, through complementarity with the sustainable development programs of the state that aim to develop the capacity of production and the creation of well-being. This research aims to estimate the energy efficiency of three types of COP farms (which cultivate cereals, oilseeds, and protein crops) of different physical sizes, and the analysis of the potential energy generated by energetical cultures, with emphasis on biomass energy. The energy balance at the farm level remains a very important method to determine the efficiency of agricultural systems and for the assessment of potential energy from biomass. With this study, we emphasize the need to support a more sustainable demand for biomass and to make the bioeconomy market more competitive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article starts from the premise that agricultural bioenergy crop production has massive influence in changing the land use paradigm in Romania, due the fact that important land surface areas are cultivated with such crops because of the increasing demand of biofuels. The main aim of the paper is to answer a research question: are there any changes in arable land use patterns determined by the increasing of the agricultural bioenergy crop production and what is the pressure on food consumption? The results show that the competition agricultural vs. energy crops has a considerable impact on land use pattern changes and food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy sector in Romania consists of three sub-sectors: electricity, natural gas and heat. Among these, the sub-sector of thermal energy is in the most precarious situation because it has been neglected for a long time. This sub-sector is particularly important both due to the amount of final heat consumption (of over 50% of final energy consumption), and to the fact that it has a direct negative effect on the population, industry and services. This paper presents the main directions for developing a modern strategy of the thermal energy sub-sector, which would fit into Romania's Energy Strategy that is still in preparation This is based on the author's 50 years of experience in this field that includes knowledge about the processes and the equipment of thermal energy, expertise in the management and restructuring of energy companies and also knowledge of the specific legislation. It is therefore recommended, following the European regulations and practices, the promotion and upgrading of district heating systems using efficient cogeneration, using trigeneration in Romania, modernizing buildings in terms of energy use, using of renewable energy sources for heating, especially biomass, and modernizing the energy consumption of rural settlements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest in biofuels is growing globally and the demand for bioenergy throughout the European Union will expand considerably in the following years. Numerous studies have shown that energy resulted from green plants has much to offer, as it is renewable and largely carbon-neutral compared with fossil fuel combustion. However, this is an increasingly controversial issue due to its strong impact on economy, environment and land use. Romania is one of the European Union Member States with a large biofuel production resources, owing to its high land agricultural area and good conditions for cereal and oilseed growth. There has been an increasing tendency to grow biofuels in the Romanian cultivated areas over the last decades; however, it is difficult to know if biofuel production is sustainable in this part of Europe and what impact may have unsustainable production since there is no or scientific research on this topic. The aim of this paper is to present the dynamics of biofuel crops (biodiesel) areas in Romania over the last decade, and to introduce a short review on the possible impacts on the environment, greenhouse gas emissions (GES) and land use in order to defend the need of information for our particular situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is and will be a permanent source of food and residual biomass, but also an energy consumer with high GHG emissions. In Romania 2018 agriculture consumed 6.05 TWh energy with an emission of 18.32 Tg.CO2e and at a collection level of 67% could be obtained 21Tg.db dry residual vegetable agricultural biomass with an energy potential of 100 TWh, energy resource untapped. With micro-gasification processes CHAB and CHBAP from chopped and from agripellets with a lot of ash that cannot be burned efficiently, Energy and Biochar are produced without residues and with negative carbon footprint. Biochar is also usable as an efficient agricultural amendment with which economically and safely sequester CO2 compared to known processes and with heat, that can be stored more efficiently than power, power is produced - when and as needed - and with negative carbon footprint. In a plant with CHAB concept from a 1 tonne of dry residual biomass is produced on average 2.5 MWht of heat and 200 kg of biochar with a minim negative carbon footprint of -400 kg.CO2. Annually, from 20 Tg of agro-pellets with CHAB plants is produced 4 Tg of biochar and 50 TWh of thermal energy and 5.25 Gg of diesel will not be burned, having as ecological effect a negative carbon footprint of -18.25 Tg CO2/year which offsets by 25% the CO2 emissions of RO agriculture. CHBAP plants produce thermal and electrical energy with a cogeneration index of 5% and an almost zero carbon footprint with very low heat storage capacities and accumulator batteries. The fully automated CHAB and CHABAP plants is easy to uses by operators with medium training, contribute to increasing the level of employment in rural areas, contributing to the decarbonization of the Romanian economy in a GNDE requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass represents the most important resource for food and energy, in direct link to solar energy. As long as the sun and the plants exist, primary energy shall also exist in sufficiently high quantity for population supply, if ecological relations humans/nature are not worsening. Biomass as renewable energy may grow in agriculture systems, in volume and value, in order to achieve all forms of consumption energy (heat, steam, electric power, fuel), as well as raw materials for all industries based on oil (chemistry, medicines, surfactants, solvents etc.). The success of the operation in Romania supposes technologies, political will and a change in infrastructure. The main research methods are secondary methods, the informational base of the research being the statistical data published by the international organisms, papers and studies published nationally and abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study regarding the usage of renewable resources in the North West region, Romania, starts from the premise that the production of energy from renewable resources is at the beginning, the usage of these sources not being enough promoted or known. In this direction, in this paper there was achieved a profile of the producer of energy from renewable resources, in North West region, Romania. The research was made using a questionnaire applied to all the producers of energy from renewable resources (11 registered producers), from the following counties: CIuj, Bihor, Salaj, Satu-Mare, Bistrita-Nasaud, Maramures. The results highlighted that most producers registered in the North West region use as unconventional source the wind source, followed by hydro energy. Only few producers use as renewable source the solar and biomass ones. A detailed analyze of the questionnaire pointed out the fact that: the presence of the producers on the market is less than five years, their activity is highly influenced by the production costs, the number of the producers is relatively low, due to the lack of government stimulants in the usage of projects that have as a goal the usage of these types of resources. The results of the questionnaire underlined the interest in the domain of environment protection this being one of the major aims in the renewable energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon of climate change and its main effect, the global warming, is more and more present at the planetary level. The reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions represents a way to avoid significant environmental degradation by climate change. The use of renewable energy offers a "clean" alternative for energy production, which allows considerable reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. As part of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), of the Kyoto Protocol, and also as a EU member, Romania committed to contribute to the global effort for GHG emissions mitigation. Starting from the biomass potential of Romania, the following paper presents an evaluation of GHG emissions reduction by using biomass energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The renewed interest in biomass-derived energy, which was the main source of heat and power until the industrial revolution and still contributes a significant portion to energy consumption in the developing world, is based on the premises that bioenergy can serve to reduce dependence on foreign energy supplies, boost and reduce the volatility of farmers’ incomes, develop a sustainable renewable energy basis, and cut greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Growing urgency to address these problems and the European Union''s global leadership role motivate the baseline assessment of the potential for sustainable bioenergy production in the most recent two EU member states (Bulgaria and Romania) and the former Soviet republics in Central Asia and the Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) by reviewing the literature and drawing on available data. The paper integrates the monitoring and assessment of ecological and environmental indicators with management practices, and shows that there is still a lack of knowledge and approaches at this nexus. The main factors to be considered by the countries included in our study are: the type of energy carrier, the transportation and production processes, as well as the long-term environmental impacts associated with intensive biomass production. Specifically, the baseline assessment is using typical indicators to describe bioenergy carriers and their production and consumption in thermal or mass units as well as in percentage shares of total renewable energy produced or consumed. Our findings indicate that the potential for developing sustainable bioenergy production is generally small but with considerable cross-country variation. Only Bulgaria, Romania, and Kazakhstan are endowed with the necessary natural, climatic, and economic conditions to develop sustainable biomass productions and markets. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper provides a resource-based assessment of availability of biomass resources for energy production in Romania, at NUTS-3 level. The estimation of available biomass includes the residues generated from crop production, pruning of vineyards and orchards, forestry operations and wood processing. The estimation of crop residue availability considers several site-specific factors such as crop yields, multi-annual yield variation, environmental constraints and competitive uses. The evaluation of agricultural residues was based on specific residue to product ratios, depending on crop type and crop yield. An estimate of pruning residues is proposed, based on current orchard and vineyard areas and specific ratios of residues. Woody biomass considers forest and forestry residues (including firewood) and wood processing by-products, taking into account the type and share of the unused part of the tree biomass and technical and economic aspects, including availability and competitive use. The amount of agricultural and forest residues available for bioenergy in Romania was estimated at 228.1 PJ on average, of which 137.1 PJ was from annual crop residues, 17.3 PJ residues from permanent crops and 73.7 PJ/year from forestry residues, firewood and wood processing by-products. The biomass availability shows large annual and spatial variations, between 135.6 and 320.0 PJ, due to the variation in crop production and forestry operations. This variation, which is even larger at the NUTS-3 level, if not properly considered may result in shortages in biomass supply in some years, when biomass is available in a lower amount than the average. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sawdust briquettes are characterized by different geometric parameters (length, diameter and geometric form), depending on the briquetting press characteristics. Geometric parameters of the sawdust briquettes have an influence on the energetic conversion. In the present paper we examine the influence of the length of cylindrical sawdust briquettes on the efficiency of their conversion into heat. For this purpose, the energetic efficiency of the conversion process for cylindrical sawdust briquettes in different length and from two different wood species has been analyzed. The efficiency of the conversion process was evaluated as the ratio between the energy resulted at the end of the conversion process and the energy introduced in the system through the solid biofuels used. In order to assess the input biofuel energy, the calorific value of each biofuel was evaluated using the calorific method according to the existing standards Also, a technical analysis of the fuels was performed in order to assess the ash content, the volatile matter and charcoal content. In order to assess the thermal energy obtained in the conversion process, and stored in the thermal agent, a test bench was used, consisting in a boiler with direct combustion and natural draft, radiators for domestic space heating, and a data acquisition system with temperature sensors to establish the thermal agent temperature variations on tour and retour on a complete working cycle. The heat embodied in combustion air was neglected, being considered a limitation of the system, because due to the natural convection of the boiler it could not be evaluated accurately. The sawdust used in experimental research was from two wood species, fir and beech, collected from Apuseni Mountains (fir) and Cluj-Napoca (beech). From the collected sawdust three types of sawdust briquettes were prepared, characterized by the wood species: beech, fir and beech and fir mixed in equal proportions of 50%, their geometrical shape -- cylindrical, variable length - 30mm, 50mm and 70mm and constant diameter -- 55mm. The results showed an influence of sawdust briquettes length on the conversion efficiency. This is due mainly to the variations in the energy stored in the thermal agent varying with the length of the briquettes. The analysis of energy consumed in the conversion process through fuels shows that it is influenced by the length briquettes use in a very low proportion. This is especially influenced by the different values of the calorific value and energetic density of fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofuels are a very attractive alternative to conventional fuel (diesel fuel) in their use on medium power diesel engines. The effects of using on Diesel engines have been intense studied the engine performances and emissions resulting from use as fuels. The hydrocarbons (HC) emitted by a diesel engine are complex mixtures of unburned and partially burned fuel components in the gaseous and liquid phases, containing dangerous compounds for both the environment and human health. The purpose of this study was to identify from experimental researches the emissions of hydrocarbons using as fuels based on rapeseed oil compared with diesel fuel. This engine type (engine D-2402) equipped the middle power vehicles with different destinations and implicitly with different operating regimes and loads. The engine used in the experimental test equiped some tractors in Romania and the supply unit adapted as the case to use biofuels. Fuels used in experimental research were mixtures of rapeseed oil, rapeseed methyl ester and diesel in different proportions, namely: 80% diesel fuel - 20% rapeseed oil, 50% diesel fuel - 50% rapeseed oil, 25%diesel fuel - 75 % rapeseed oil, 100% rapeseed oil, 100% rapeseed methyl ester (RME) and 100% diesel fuel as (reference fuel). Worldwide research on the use of biofuels in the medium-power diesel engines has underlined the immediate results of using the biofuels on consumption problems, pollution and wear of engine parts. Results and conclusions issued in the work are possible due to the support of the research project co-funded by the European Social Fund through Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development 2007-2013. The theme and direction of approach in this paper represents an innovation in the field of national research. The novelty of these experiments refers to the fuel blends used in the experimental tests and to the importance of results on emissions of hydrocarbons. Practical implications of this work have applicability on the possibility to use these cheaper classes of biofuels in diesel engines in order to reduce hydrocarbon emissions into the atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The socio-economic conditions facing the world today, both globally and nationally, recovering energy from solid waste is required as a necessity. Getting heat to contribute to the heating and domestic hot water is beneficial not only in terms of increased living standards and the use of alternative energy sources, but also in terms of creating jobs in the processing waste-producing industries and the development of necessary technologies conversion. Also, accessing specific EU funds will lead to an accelerated rural development in the spirit of sustainable development concepts and strategy of the society. In this context, the paper aims to identify the main types of solid waste available in rural areas of Transylvania and their energy potential. It also addresses opportunities for energy recovery and the correlation can be done between physical and chemical characteristics and solid waste conversion technologies to obtain solid biofuels as a source of heat and conversion technologies used for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Petroleum - Gas University of Ploiesti Bulletin, Economic Sciences Series is the property of Petroleum - Gas University of Ploiesti and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The study is aimed at evaluating the potential of biomass energy production as an alternative to fossil fuel depletion and to analyse the environmental benefits and drawbacks of using biomass. Synthetic data related to Romanian case are presented and a method of biomass potential assessment is developed. A life cycle assessment methodology is presented in order to evaluate the environmental impacts. The paper concludes by summarizing the biomass energy production potential and suggests steps for identifying and utilisation of biomass for energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly 50% of Romanian households use wood as a source of heating. A series of contradicting official reports regarding the demand and supply of firewood in Romania indicates that the consumed volume is higher than the available quantity. This study aims to characterise the dynamics of the firewood market and shed light on the officially reported figures. We analysed certain variables and their influence on firewood demand for six consecutive years. The demand was significantly higher than the supply and was strongly correlated with the unemployment rate. This socio-economic facet leads us to believe that abruptly diminishing fuelwood consumption is an unrealistic policy objective of the authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]