scholarly journals Economic Evaluation of the Production of Perennial Crops for Energy Purposes—A Review

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (21) ◽  
pp. 7147
Author(s):  
Ewelina Olba-Zięty ◽  
Mariusz Jerzy Stolarski ◽  
Michał Krzyżaniak
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Economic Evaluation ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Perennial Crop ◽  
Perennial Crops ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Cost

Biomass is widely used for the production of renewable energy, which calls for an economic evaluation of its generation. The aim of the present work was to review the literature concerning the economic evaluation of the production of perennial crop biomass for energy use. Statistical analysis of the bibliographic data was carried out, as well as an assessment of methods and values of economic indicators of the production of perennial crops for bioenergy. Most of the papers selected for the review were published in the years 2015–2019, which was probably stimulated by the growing interest in sustainable development, particularly after 2015, when the United Nations declared 17 sustainable development goals. The earliest articles concerned the economic analysis of plantations of short rotation coppice; the subsequent ones included the analysis of feedstock production in terms of the net present value and policy. The latest references also investigated transport and sustainability issues. The crops most commonly selected for production cost analysis were willow, poplar, and Miscanthus. The cost of production of willow and poplar were similar, 503 EUR ha−1 year−1 and 557 EUR ha−1 year−1, respectively, while the cost of Miscanthus production was significantly higher, 909 EUR ha−1 year−1 on average. By analogy, the distribution of revenue was similar for willow and poplar, at 236 EUR ha−1 year−1 and 181 EUR ha−1 year−1; Miscanthus production reached the value of 404 EUR ha−1 year−1. The economic conditions of perennial crop production differed in terms of geography; four areas were identified: Canada, the USA, southern Europe, and central and northern Europe.

scholarly journals Nutrient Budgeting, Economics and Energetics of Cowpea under Potassium and Phosphorus Management

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-140
Author(s):  
VK Choudhary ◽  
P Suresh Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Fertility Restoration ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Acid Soil ◽  
Recommended Dose ◽  
Energy Productivity ◽  
Stover Yield ◽  
The Cost

Low availability of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in acidic soil is a major constraint for crop production. Cowpea was grown under split-plot design with three levels of K and P (viz., 100%, 75% and 50% of recommended dose). Green pod and stover yield was 20.9 and 16.9% higher with 100% K over 50% K application. Similarly, 100% P had 20.2% higher green pod and 16.6% higher stover yield over 50% P. Production efficiency was found higher with 100% K and P (48.6 and 49.0 kg ha-1 day-1 respectively) followed by 75% K. The actual gain of N, P and K, and balance were higher with the increase of K and P levels but reverse in case of gross and net return, and BCR. The energy productivity and energy use efficiency were higher on 100% K and P. Cowpea on acid soil along with 100% recommended dose of 40 kg K and 60 kg P ha-1 showed highest yield along with soil fertility restoration as well as reduced the cost of inorganic fertilizer, higher BCR (1.89) and energy requirement. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sja.v11i2.18408 SAARC J. Agri., 11(2): 129-140(2013)

scholarly journals Who bears the cost of forest conservation?

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahesh Poudyal ◽  
Julia P.G. Jones ◽  
O. Sarobidy Rakotonarivo ◽  
Neal Hockley ◽  
James M. Gibbons ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Forest Conservation ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Performance Standard ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Opportunity Costs ◽  
Median Income ◽  
The Cost

Background While the importance of conserving ecosystems for sustainable development is widely recognized, it is increasingly evident that despite delivering global benefits, conservation often comes at local cost. Protected areas funded by multilateral lenders have explicit commitments to ensure that those negatively affected are adequately compensated. We make the first comparison of the magnitude and distribution of the local costs of a protected area with the magnitude and distribution of the compensation provided under the World Bank social safeguard policies (Performance Standard 5). Methods In the Ankeniheny-Zahamena Corridor (a new protected area and REDD+ pilot project in eastern Madagascar), we used choice experiments to estimate local opportunity costs (n = 453) which we annualized using a range of conservative assumptions concerning discount rates. Detailed surveys covering farm inputs and outputs as well as off-farm income (n = 102) allowed us to explore these opportunity costs as a proportion of local incomes. Intensive review of publically available documents provided estimates of the number of households that received safeguard compensation and the amount spent per household. We carried out a contingent valuation exercise with beneficiaries of this compensation two years after the micro-development projects were implemented (n = 62) to estimate their value as perceived by beneficiaries. Results Conservation restrictions result in very significant costs to forest communities. The median net present value of the opportunity cost across households in all sites was US$2,375. When annualized, these costs represent 27–84% of total annual income for median-income households; significantly higher proportionally for poorer households. Although some households have received compensation, we conservatively estimate that more than 50% of eligible households (3,020 households) have not. Given the magnitude of compensation (based both on amount spent and valuation by recipients two years after the compensation was distributed) relative to costs, we argue that no one was fully compensated. Achieving full compensation will require an order of magnitude more than was spent but we suggest that this should be affordable given the global value of forest conservation. Discussion By analyzing in unprecedented depth both the local costs of conservation, and the compensation distributed under donor policies, we demonstrate that despite well-intentioned policies, some of the poorest people on the planet are still bearing the cost of forest conservation. Unless significant extra funding is provided by the global beneficiaries of conservation, donors’ social safeguarding requirements will not be met, and forest conservation in developing countries will jeopardize, rather than contribute to, sustainable development goals.

scholarly journals Energy saving in a urban farm with a heat pump

2020 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 36-41
Author(s):  
E. A. Porutchikova ◽  
O. Y. Zaborskaya ◽  
A. F. Porutchikov
Keyword(s):  
Heat Pump ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Housing Stock ◽  
Electric Heating ◽  
Home Gardening ◽  
Fresh Vegetables ◽  
Urban Farm ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Favorable Temperature

Despite the high urbanization in the world, at the level of 55% in Europe and the USA, there is still a culture of home gardening in cities, both for decorative purposes and for growing crops for consumption in the household. This tradition is favored by the prevalence of low-rise buildings, whose share in the USA is 92%, in Europe 80%, in Russia only 52%. Due to the lack of access to land, the inhabitants of Russia need new approaches to crop production, which will allow access to fresh vegetables at home, such methods can be aero and hydroponic plants that allow growing plants without soil, and these plants can be easily automated. Due to the specifics of the housing stock in Russian cities, a balcony or a loggia was determined as the best place for installing personal farms. The balcony or loggia are unheated rooms of the apartment, redevelopment with the balcony or loggia attached to the room or the transfer of heating devices is prohibited, therefore, to arrange optimal conditions for plants, along with warming, this room must be heated. Calculations showed that to maintain the required temperature on the insulated The balcony of an apartment building in Moscow will require 7488 MJ of thermal energy for the entire heating period. The cost of electricity costs per year, when using a heat pump, can be reduced by more than 35% compared to electric heating, and the energy consumption during conditioning is also taken into account in the total cost of heat supply using a heat pump, which allows you to create more favorable temperature conditions in summer.

Economic and Bioenergy Efficiency of Cultivation of Saflor Varieties Depending on Care for Cultivations on Herbicide-Free and Herbicide

2020 ◽  
pp. 103-111
Keyword(s):  
Economic Evaluation ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Energy Intensity ◽  
Herbicide Application ◽  
Total Energy Consumption ◽  
Care Systems ◽  
Energy Coefficient ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Cultivation Techniques

A well-recognized scientific method of assessing crop production in inflation is the analysis of economic and bioenergy efficiencies. Bioenergy assessment allows you to compare the effectiveness of different technologies in crop production in terms of energy consumption and identify ways to save it. The aim of the research was to determine the economic and bioenergy efficiency of growing safflower varieties depending on the care of crops on herbicide and herbicide backgrounds. The research was conducted in 2017-2019 in the fields of the Institute of Oilseeds of NAAS. Sowing of safflower varieties Zhyvchyk and Dobrynya was carried out in the first decade of April with a sowing rate of 240 thousand similar seeds per hectare, which were sown on herbicide-free (control) and herbicide (Harnes 3 l/ha) backgrounds. The system of the main tillage: classical. Variants of the crop care system: 1 - without care (control); 2 - harrowing before and after germination; 3 - 2 row spacing; 4 - harrowing and inter-row cultivation. Economic evaluation of the cultivation of safflower varieties by different care systems using herbicides was performed using generally accepted methods in accordance with DSTU 4397 and GSTU 3-37-4-94. In the process of economic evaluation were determined by the total cost of cultivation, the cost and cost of products, profits and profitability. Evaluation of bioenergy efficiency of safflower technology included analysis of the structure of total energy consumption per 1 ha and 1 quintal of production by cost items. Depending on the methods of crop care, the yield of safflower variety Zhyvchyk was in the range: on the background without herbicide 1.08-1.35 t/ha, on the herbicide background 1.24-1.34 t/ha and variety Dobrynya: on the background without herbicide 1.16-1.40 t/ha, on a herbicide background 1.34-1.64 t/ha. The increase from the application of soil herbicide was equal to: for the variety Zhyvchyk 0.09-0.13 t/ha, for the variety Dobrynya 0.15-0.18 t/ha. Depending on the option of crop care, the yield of safflower increased by: 0.15-0.30 t/ha. The highest yields of safflower of Zhyvchyk variety - 1.54 and Dobrynya variety - 1.64 t/ha were obtained when growing against the background of soil herbicide application with harrowing and inter-row cultivation. The lowest amount of costs was obtained in the variants without herbicide application and without crop care and was for the variety Zhyvchyk 2990 UAH/ha, for the variety Dobrynya 2998 UAH/ha. On a herbicide-free background and with crop care, the costs increased to: 3118-3272 UAH/ha in the variety Zhyvchyk and 3124-3279 UAH/ha in the variety Dobrynya. On a herbicidal background with different care options, the costs were equal to: 3818-4101 UAH/ha in the variety Zhyvchyk and 3827-4112 UAH/ha in the variety Dobrynya. The highest costs (4101-4112 UAH/ha) are calculated for the technology of cultivation with the use of herbicide and two inter-row treatments. The cost of production increased from 18360 to 26180 UAH/ha in the variety Zhyvchyk and from 19720 to 27880 UAH/ha in the variety Dobrynya in variants with the use of different care systems against the background of soil herbicide application in relation to the control. The highest cost for both varieties of safflower was obtained against the background of herbicide application with harrowing and inter-row tillage. The cost of production, depending on the methods of crop care and application of soil herbicide was equal to: in the variety Zhyvchyk 2372-3079, in the variety Dobrynya 2291-2878 UAH/t. The level of profitability, depending on the cultivation techniques of safflower varieties was 514-642%. According to the average three-year yield data, the analysis of economic efficiency of safflower cultivation showed that taking into account the total cultivation costs and the cost of the obtained products, higher profit for Zhyvchyk variety (17262-22147 UAH/ ha) and for Dobrynya variety (18783-23836 UAH/ha) obtained against the background of soil herbicide application. This indicator was higher in the variants with crop care techniques in relation to control. The largest conditionally net profit - 23836 UAH/ha for the variety Zhyvchyk and 22147 UAH/ha for the variety Dobrynya was obtained in the variants with harrowing and inter-row cultivation. The total energy consumption for both varieties was lower on the herbicide-free background without care and was equal to 8391 MJ/ha, the highest costs - 10853 MJ/ ha obtained on the herbicide background with the use of harrowing and inter-row tillage. The highest energy intensity of seeds was obtained against the background of application of soil herbicide without care and was for the variety Zhyvchyk 8097 MJ/t, for the variety Dobrynya 7549 MJ/t. On a herbicide-free background, they decreased to 7770 and 7234 MJ/t, respectively. In the variants with agricultural crop care methods, energy intensity indicators also decreased to 6790-7397 in the variety Zhyvchyk and 6494-6947 MJ/t in the variety Dobrynya in relation to the control. The lowest values of energy consumption for the variety Zhyvchyk (6790 MJ/t) and for the variety Dobrynya (6494 MJ/t) were obtained on a herbicide-free background with two inter-row treatments. The yield of gross energy depending on the cultivation techniques was: for the variety Zhyvchyk 24408-34804 and for the variety Dobrynya 26216-37064 MJ/ha. It was the smallest on a herbicide-free background in the absence of crop care techniques. The highest energy yield in both varieties was obtained against the background of the application of soil herbicide with harrowing and inter-row tillage. The energy coefficient was 2.8-3.3 for the Zhyvchyk variety and 3.0-3.5 for the Dobrynya variety. Higher indicators of energy coefficient, both in the variety Zhyvchyk and in the variety Dobrynya, were when grown on a herbicide-free background. In the variants with crop care techniques on both backgrounds, the energy factor also increased.

scholarly journals Cost and Energy Reduction of a New nZEB Wooden Building

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 3570
Author(s):  
Endrik Arumägi ◽  
Targo Kalamees
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Performance Indicator ◽  
Energy Levels ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Zero Energy ◽  
Construction Costs ◽  
The Cost

The current study demonstrates the possibilities of reducing energy use and construction costs and provides evidence that wooden nearly-zero-energy buildings (nZEB) are technically possible at affordable construction costs by using novel design processes and procurement models that enable scalable and modular production. The energy efficiency solutions were derived by increasing/decreasing the insulation value of the building envelope in successive steps. Financial calculations were based on the investment needed to achieve the nearly-zero-energy levels. Overall, many opportunities exist to decrease the cost and energy use compared to the current (pre-nZEB) practice because the net present value can change up to 150 €/m² on the same energy performance indicator (EPI) level. The EPI in the cost-even range was reached by combining a ground-source heat pump (between 115 and 128 kWh/(m2·a)) and efficient district heating (between 106 and 124 kWh/(m2·a)). As energy efficiency decreases, improving energy efficiency becomes more expensive by insulation measures. Throughout the EPI range the most cost efficient was investment in the improvement of the thermal transmittance of windows (3–13 €/(kWh/(m2·a))) while investments in other building envelope parts were less effective (4–80 €/(kWh/(m2·a))). If these were possible to install, photovoltaic (PV) panels installed to the roof would be the cheapest solution to improve the energy performance. Integrated project delivery procurement (design and construction together) and the use of prefabricated wooden structures reduced the constructing cost by half (from ~2700 €/net m2 to 1390 €/net m2) and helped to keep the budget within limits.

The Use of Cost-Benefit Analysis for Evaluating Efficiency of Public Investment Projects (The Case of Sochi-2014 Winter Olympic Games)

2011 ◽  
pp. 57-78
Author(s):  
I. Pilipenko
Keyword(s):  
Net Present Value ◽  
Olympic Games ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Public Investment ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Investment Efficiency ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Step Method ◽  
Investment Projects ◽  
The Usa

The paper analyzes shortcomings of economic impact studies based mainly on input- output models that are often employed in Russia as well as abroad. Using studies about sport events in the USA and Olympic Games that took place during the last 30 years we reveal advantages of the cost-benefit analysis approach in obtaining unbiased assessments of public investments efficiency; the step-by-step method of cost-benefit analysis is presented in the paper as well. We employ the project of Sochi-2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Russia to evaluate its efficiency using cost-benefit analysis for five accounts (areas of impact), namely government, households, environment, economic development, and social development, and calculate the net present value of the project taking into account its possible alternatives. In conclusion we suggest several policy directions that would enhance public investment efficiency within the Sochi-2014 Olympics.

IMPROVEMENT OF INNOVATIVE ACTIVITY OF THE ENTERPRISE

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nataliya Stoyanets ◽  
◽  
Mathias Onuh Aboyi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Innovative Development ◽  
Technological Equipment ◽  
Alliance Partner ◽  
Innovation Potential ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Technological Platform ◽  
The Cost

The article defines that for the successful implementation of an innovative project and the introduction of a new product into production it is necessary to use advanced technologies and modern software, which is an integral part of successful innovation by taking into account the life cycle of innovations. It is proposed to consider the general potential of the enterprise through its main components, namely: production and technological, scientific and technical, financial and economic, personnel and actual innovation potential. Base for the introduction of technological innovations LLC "ALLIANCE- PARTNER", which provides a wide range of support and consulting services, services in the employment market, tourism, insurance, translation and more. To form a model of innovative development of the enterprise, it is advisable to establish the following key aspects: the system of value creation through the model of cooperation with partners and suppliers; creating a value chain; technological platform; infrastructure, determine the cost of supply, the cost of activities for customers and for the enterprise as a whole. The system of factors of influence on formation of model of strategic innovative development of the enterprise is offered. The expediency of the cost of the complex of technological equipment, which is 6800.0 thousand UAH, is economically calculated. Given the fact that the company plans to receive funds under the program of socio-economic development of Sumy region, the evaluation of the effectiveness of the innovation project, the purchase of technological equipment, it is determined that the payback period of the project is 3 years 10 months. In terms of net present value (NPV), the project under study is profitable. The project profitability index (PI) meets the requirements for a positive decision on project implementation> 1.0. The internal rate of return of the project (IRR) also has a positive value of 22% because it exceeds the discount rate.

Is it worth doing fieldwork with this organisation? A method for considering context before conducting fieldwork research in Sport for development and peace.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tegwen Gadais ◽  
Laurie Décarpentrie ◽  
Andrew Webb ◽  
Marie Belle Ayoub ◽  
Mariann Bardocz-Bencsik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Limited Time ◽  
Sport For Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Existing Data

Much has been written about sport as a tool for development and peace. But more research on Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) organizations, is needed to better understand their actual contributions to the UNs sustainable development goals. Yet, the unstable, risky, and restricted contexts in which many NGOs and SDP agencies operate often leaves researchers struggling to find effective yet feasible methods through which to examine agencies in these fields. Indeed, conducting field work on and with SDP agency often implies allocating significant quantities of researcher’s limited time, funding, and other vital resources. And as limited resources need to be invested wisely, SDP researchers will clearly need to prepare their fieldwork. Nevertheless, there are but a handful of methodological papers that address the question of how to prepare for SDP field work. In other words, the question of how we know if it is worthwhile, and safe enough, to proceed with SDP field work remains. Building on previous research, the purpose of this study is to raise important ontological and epistemological questions about what can be known about a given context, before setting off on fieldwork. We further explore the use of the Actantial Model as a research method for analyzing existing data before deciding whether to conduct fieldwork in complex and frequently insecure situations. In other words, will the cost (material, temporal, financial, and physical) of conducting fieldwork be worth it? By applying the Actantial Model, with the specific aim of informing decisions regarding subsequent fieldwork, to one specific case, contributions regarding the pertinence of conducting fieldwork are provided.

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