Low Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) Energy Crops to Bioenergy and Biofuels—A Review

Mariana Abreu, Luís Silva, Belina Ribeiro, Alice Ferreira, Luís Alves, Susana M. Paixão, Luísa Gouveia, Patrícia Moura, Florbela Carvalheiro, Luís C. Duarte, Ana Luisa Fernando, Alberto Reis and Francisco Gírio
Additional contact information
Mariana Abreu: LNEG—National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, I.P., Bioenergy and Biorefineries Unit, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal
Luís Silva: LNEG—National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, I.P., Bioenergy and Biorefineries Unit, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal
Belina Ribeiro: LNEG—National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, I.P., Bioenergy and Biorefineries Unit, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal
Alice Ferreira: LNEG—National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, I.P., Bioenergy and Biorefineries Unit, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal
Luís Alves: LNEG—National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, I.P., Bioenergy and Biorefineries Unit, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal
Susana M. Paixão: LNEG—National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, I.P., Bioenergy and Biorefineries Unit, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal
Luísa Gouveia: LNEG—National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, I.P., Bioenergy and Biorefineries Unit, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal
Patrícia Moura: LNEG—National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, I.P., Bioenergy and Biorefineries Unit, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal
Florbela Carvalheiro: LNEG—National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, I.P., Bioenergy and Biorefineries Unit, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal
Luís C. Duarte: LNEG—National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, I.P., Bioenergy and Biorefineries Unit, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal
Ana Luisa Fernando: MEtRICs, Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Alberto Reis: LNEG—National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, I.P., Bioenergy and Biorefineries Unit, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal
Francisco Gírio: LNEG—National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, I.P., Bioenergy and Biorefineries Unit, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-68

Abstract: Energy crops are dedicated cultures directed for biofuels, electricity, and heat production. Due to their tolerance to contaminated lands, they can alleviate and remediate land pollution by the disposal of toxic elements and polymetallic agents. Moreover, these crops are suitable to be exploited in marginal soils (e.g., saline), and, therefore, the risk of land-use conflicts due to competition for food, feed, and fuel is reduced, contributing positively to economic growth, and bringing additional revenue to landowners. Therefore, further study and investment in R&D is required to link energy crops to the implementation of biorefineries. The main objective of this study is to present a review of the potential of selected energy crops for bioenergy and biofuels production, when cultivated in marginal/degraded/contaminated (MDC) soils (not competing with agriculture), contributing to avoiding Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) burdens. The selected energy crops are Cynara cardunculus , Arundo donax , Cannabis sativa , Helianthus tuberosus , Linum usitatissimum , Miscanthus × giganteus , Sorghum bicolor , Panicum virgatum , Acacia dealbata , Pinus pinaster , Paulownia tomentosa , Populus alba , Populus nigra , Salix viminalis, and microalgae cultures. This article is useful for researchers or entrepreneurs who want to know what kind of crops can produce which biofuels in MDC soils.

Keywords: herbaceous species; forest crops; microalgae culture; marginal soils; degraded soils; contaminated soils; chemical process; biochemical technologies; thermochemical process; energy potential (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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