Oak Park HouseTeagasc HQBuilt 1830-1890

TEAGASC ‐

Promoting Innovation in the Irish Bio‐Economy

Teagasc  Role

Advisory Offices

Research Farms

Colleges

Food Research  Programme

TEAGASC ‐

Promoting Innovation in the Irish Bio‐Economy

The Geography of Teagasc

HQ, Oak Park, Carlow

Agricultural Research 

TEAGASC ‐

Promoting Innovation in the Irish Bio‐Economy

Teagasc  Goals

∙

Improve the competitiveness of agriculture, food and the wider bio‐economy

∙

Support sustainable farming and the environment

∙

Encourage diversification of the rural economy and enhance the quality of lifein rural areas

∙

TEAGASC ‐

Promoting Innovation in the Irish Bio‐Economy

Crops, Environment & Land Use Programme

Research Priorities

.

Crop agronomy & sustainable   crop  production systems

.

Crop genomics & the geneticimprovement of tillage crops

.

Energy crops and bio‐processing.

BETTER farm.

Horticulture.

Forestry

Field tour: energy crop production Field tour: energy crop production Willow Willow

Reed canary grassReed canary grassHempHemp

MiscanthusMiscanthus

Laboratory tour

• Stirling biomass‐CHP plant

• Non‐wood pellets and briquettes

• Emissions from biomass combustion

• Cereal grains for home heating

• On‐site biomass boilers?

Stirling CHP plant37.5 kWe , 140 kWth

Pellets for home heating

•Sawdust most suitable  material

• Alternatives– Willow

– Miscanthus

– Rape straw– Wheat straw

– Barley straw• How do they compare

with wood pellets?

Issues with alternative biomass pellets

•

Low bulk density– Pelleting difficulties

•

Higher ash content– Need automated ash removal systems

•

Lower ash melting point– Slagging and clinker

•

Higher CL and S contents– Corrosive elements lead to boiler degradation

•

Higher N content– Increased NOx emissions

Benekov grain boiler 001

Regards,

Andrew Keppel

Engineering Department,Teagasc Crops Research Centre,Oak Park,Co. Carlow,Ireland

Phone: +353 59 91 70255Fax: +353 59 91 42423

Grain boilers•Oats best, triticale ok•16% moisture preferable

Suitable for:•Tillage farm homes•Other rural homes?

Current research

•

Future low emission biomass combustion systems

•

Partners from– Austria, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Finland

•

Focus on NOx and PM emission reduction– Primary and secondary measures

Future Bio Tec

KWB 100 kW boiler

Fuel:wood pellets

Heating: Research building

Offices/labs

Heizomat 300 kW boiler

Fuel: wood chips (miscanthus?) Heating: Oak Park House (admin)

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Crops in the Irish climateCrops in the Irish climate

Favoured Neutral Disadvantaged

Grass Oats, barley Sugar beet

Conifers Miscanthus Grain maize

Winter wheat Rape-seed Sunflower,soya

High in lignocellulose, low in starch, protein, fermentable sugar

Ireland’s Agri-Food Industry�.

€8.16bn, 10% of total exports and 7% of GVA

Ireland’s Agri‐Food Industry

TEAGASC ‐

Promoting Innovation in the Irish Bio‐Economy

Ireland’s Agri-Food Industry

To support science‐based innovation in  the agri‐food sector 

and the wider bio‐economy so as to  underpin profitability,

competitiveness and sustainability.

Teagasc Mission

TEAGASC ‐

Promoting Innovation in the Irish Bio‐Economy