Legislation demands that energy policy and climate change goals are closely aligned. The EU Biofuels Directive (2003/30/EC) has set Ireland a biofuel penetration target of 5.75% by 2010, and a 30% increase in the use of biomass in electricity generation. In addition, the Kyoto Protocol has set a limit on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 13% above 1990 levels. Meeting our renewable energy targets will involve a large element of land-use change and as 90% of agricultural land is grassland, the most likely scenario is that biomass/biofuel cultivation will be at the expense of grassland. Associated with this land-use change will be an alteration in GHG emissions.
This project seeks to assess the impact on GHG emissions of changing from intensive pasture and marginal grassland to biomass crops. In particular, it will assess the following:
-The change in GHG emissions when moving from a grassland system to a perennial biomass crop (Miscanthus), an intermediate perennial crop (Canary grass - Phalaris spp.), and annual crops (Hemp, Rape).
-Assess future sustainability by modeling the effects of future climate change on future productivity and GHG emissions.
Application Deadline:
15 September 2010
Contact:
Lorraine Oliver,
recruit@teagasc.ie
