Suchergebnisse

The paper presents an assessment of the economic efficiency of a 21 kW photovoltaic system consisting of 92 Viessmann Vitovolt P230RA modules and an SMA Sunny Tripower 17000TL inverter, installed at the Zwierzyniec-Bialy Słup Research and Education Centre of Roztocze National Park. The study was carried out from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2014. The total investment cost associated with the purchase and assembly of the photovoltaic system was PLN 505 489,67. The annual value of the electric energy produced, including revenue from the sale of certificates of origin during this period, was PLN 6 793,48. The payback period for the investment was calculated at 74 years, which is more than double the anticipated exploitation period (30 years), with a present net value (NPV) of PLN 229 000. The paper also presents the results of a simulation-based calculation of the economic efficiency of such a system for three levels of investment costs: PLN 6 000 per kWp — variant 1, PLN 7 000 per kWp — variant 2, and PLN 8 000 per kWp — variant 3. The payback period ranged from 19 to 25 years, depending on the variant, and the NPV was positive for all variants.

The paper presents the results of studies aimed at determining the potential of the use of straw for energy in Poland. The results of this analysis have been presented in a dynamic approach for the years 1975–2011, and in a territorial (by voivodship) approach for the years 1999–2011. These studies demonstrate that since 1983 straw harvests have exceeded the requirements of agricultural production. During the years 1983–1990, the average surplus over agricultural consumption amounted to 4 971 thousand tons, and recently, during the years 2007–2011, already 15 190 thousand tons. The quantity of these surpluses varies greatly by region, as it depends on the structure of land tillage, crop structure, farm size, as well as the type of livestock and the manner of husbandry. The greatest potential for using straw for energy-related purposes was noted in the following voivodships: Wielkopolskie, Lubelskie, Zachodniopomorskie, and Kujawsko-Pomorskie.

The aim of the executed research is to determine the influence of harvesting renewable energy on the labour market. Eurostat Databases provided a source of empirical data concerning the amount of produced energy. The number of the employed and the performance of the installed equipment were determined thanks to reports drafted by EurObserv'ER or International Renewable Energy Agency. The following sectors were considered: solid biofuels, biogas, liquid biofuels, geothermal, hydropower, municipal waste, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and wind power. The research concerned 28 member states of the EU between 2009 and 2015. Such a scope was established due to significant changes on the renewable energy market triggered by the Climate and Energy Package passed by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. The number of the working people (directly in the enterprises operating in the field of producing raw energy materials and energy from renewable sources, as well as providing equipment and services within this field) in relation to 1 000 tonnes of oil equivalent of the primary energy obtained in particular sectors of renewable energy sources was used as the performance indicator. Panel estimation was used as means of empirical indication of relations between the variables.

The aim of the study was the evaluation of the absorption of funds from the Cohesion Fund within the Operational Program Infrastructure and Environment for 2007–2013, Priority IX: Environmentally-friendly power infrastructure and power effectiveness, Action 9.4 – Generation of energy from renewable sources. The source material constituted data acquired from the Department of European Funds of the Ministry of Energy (institution implementing the action). The methods of comparative analysis were used for the purpose of the evaluation. The final result of the analyzed action was the performance of 64 facilities in 71 locations for total value of PLN 5 749 million, with co-funding of PLN 1 520 million. Circa 82% of this amount was allocated to 55 investments in "wind power" and the remaining part to 12 biogas plants (9,3%) and 4 power plants powered with solid biomass (8,7%). As a result of the performance of the studied action, the power of the sources generating electric energy increased by 823 MWe, including wind power — by 704 MWe, in plants powered with solid biomass — by 102 MWe, in biogas plants — by 17 MWe. Whereas, in terms of quantity of electric energy projected to be generated within one year, the proportions were slightly different and were as follows: in wind power — 1 790, in biomass power plants 650 GWh, in biogas power plants 144 GWh. Among the studied projects, biomass power plants were characteristic of the most favorable values of investment contributions for 1 MWh of planned production of electric energy. Their average value was much lower than in the case of a biogas plant (by 178%) and wind power plants (220%).

The objective of the study was to assess the economic and ecological efficiency of solar systems used to prepare domestic hot water. The study was carried out at 501 sites in the communes of Gorzków and Rudnik (Krasnystaw County, Lubelskie Voivodship), mainly households, in the years 2014–2015. The results indicate that solar collectors used to prepare domestic hot water and financed by the investors' own resources can be economically efficient, but the payback period for the investment depends on the type and quantity of energy carrier saved. The most beneficial effects were obtained at sites where water was heated using equipment powered by electricity and natural gas. In the case of coal savings, the payback period was longer than the lifespan of the solar installations. The use of solar collectors to heat domestic hot water (DHW) in the Gorzków and Rudnik communes led to a reduction in emissions of CO2, the primary greenhouse gas, as well as other substances. The study shows that the most beneficial cost-effectiveness of CO2 emission reduction was obtained by reducing the use of electricity, while the highest cost-effectiveness indicator was noted for gas installations.

The obligation of renewable energy production and the opportunities for additional large revenue from green certificates has led to an increased interest in biomass derived from imports. During the period under study, imports of biomass to Poland increased nearly eight times: from 423 thousand tons to 3 591 thousand tons. Agro biomass imports showed higher dynamics (1160%), including in particular sunflower husks and sunflower and palm oil cake. During the same period, imports of forest biomass increased by 478%, of mainly firewood and wood chips. By 2007, the vast majority of imported biomass had come from the current European Union countries (nearly 50%, the highest amounts from Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia and Germany), and the structure of imports was divided roughly evenly into agro and forestry sourced biomass. The introduction of mandatory restrictions on the use of forest biomass resulted in a significant increase in non-forest biomass share in the total imports of biomass, which have also significantly increased from year to year. In the last three years, agro biomass imports from the EU and Ukraine have accounted for almost 65% of total imports of biomass for energy purposes. A dramatic increase has also been observed in the imports of exotic biomass, although in relatively small absolute values: from 0 in 2009 to about 65 thousand tonnes in 2010 and 2011, and to more than 600 thousand tonnes in 2014.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the potential changes in agricultural land use in Poland as a consequence of implementing the European Green Deal, including its potential economic effects. The study covered crops of key importance to Polish agriculture, cultivated in a total area of 8.2 million ha, which accounts for more than 60% of land in good agricultural condition. The analyses were based on average values for 2016–2020 and used three scenarios for EGD implementation by 2030 (no EGD; partial implementation of the EGD; full implementation of the EGD). Each analysis took account of changes in the area of land under conventional, organic and precision farming systems. The study found that EGD requirements can be met by implementing the precision farming system, especially for intensive farming schemes like rape and sugar beet. Organic farming should be used either for extensively farmed cereals like oat or for fruits which are sold at higher prices when farmed organically. Another finding is that the full implementation of the EGD could decrease the production volume of key Polish crops by 13%, which can have important social impacts, such as increased prices of food products or a deterioration of food security.

International audience ; Sufficient generational renewal is an important contributor to resilient farming systems but across the EU there is widespread concern over the so-called 'young farmer problem'. This article recommends several policy areas to support generational renewal. The first need is to clearly define the exact generational renewal challenge, since available data provide no clear-cut evidence of an existing young farmer problem that is uniform across the EU. Second, while current policies seem effective in supporting the farm transfer process and providing aid during the early career phase of farmers, they lack targeting of the stage preceding farm take-over, during which possible entrants develop a successor identity. Increasing the attractiveness of farming as both an occupational and a lifestyle choice appears to be important in stimulating entry into farming. Third, policymakers should give high priority to facilitating access to land and labour, and to accommodating the capital-intensive nature of farming. Fourth, a mix of policies at different levels and domains that coherently contribute to the achievement of predefined goals regarding generational renewal is needed. Fifth, support for farm-specific advice and personal coaching holds underexploited potential for addressing the specificity of on-farm challenges regarding generational renewal.

Sufficient generational renewal is an important contributor to resilient farming systems but across the EU there is widespread concern over the so‐called 'young farmer problem'. This article recommends several policy areas to support generational renewal. The first need is to clearly define the exact generational renewal challenge, since available data provide no clear‐cut evidence of an existing young farmer problem that is uniform across the EU. Second, while current policies seem effective in supporting the farm transfer process and providing aid during the early career phase of farmers, they lack targeting of the stage preceding farm take‐over, during which possible entrants develop a successor identity. Increasing the attractiveness of farming as both an occupational and a lifestyle choice appears to be important in stimulating entry into farming. Third, policymakers should give high priority to facilitating access to land and labour, and to accommodating the capital‐intensive nature of farming. Fourth, a mix of policies at different levels and domains that coherently contribute to the achievement of predefined goals regarding generational renewal is needed. Fifth, support for farm‐specific advice and personal coaching holds underexploited potential for addressing the specificity of on‐farm challenges regarding generational renewal. ; en; EU; contact: isabeau.coopmans@ilvo.vlaanderen.be

International audience ; Sufficient generational renewal is an important contributor to resilient farming systems but across the EU there is widespread concern over the so-called 'young farmer problem'. This article recommends several policy areas to support generational renewal. The first need is to clearly define the exact generational renewal challenge, since available data provide no clear-cut evidence of an existing young farmer problem that is uniform across the EU. Second, while current policies seem effective in supporting the farm transfer process and providing aid during the early career phase of farmers, they lack targeting of the stage preceding farm take-over, during which possible entrants develop a successor identity. Increasing the attractiveness of farming as both an occupational and a lifestyle choice appears to be important in stimulating entry into farming. Third, policymakers should give high priority to facilitating access to land and labour, and to accommodating the capital-intensive nature of farming. Fourth, a mix of policies at different levels and domains that coherently contribute to the achievement of predefined goals regarding generational renewal is needed. Fifth, support for farm-specific advice and personal coaching holds underexploited potential for addressing the specificity of on-farm challenges regarding generational renewal.

International audience ; Sufficient generational renewal is an important contributor to resilient farming systems but across the EU there is widespread concern over the so-called 'young farmer problem'. This article recommends several policy areas to support generational renewal. The first need is to clearly define the exact generational renewal challenge, since available data provide no clear-cut evidence of an existing young farmer problem that is uniform across the EU. Second, while current policies seem effective in supporting the farm transfer process and providing aid during the early career phase of farmers, they lack targeting of the stage preceding farm take-over, during which possible entrants develop a successor identity. Increasing the attractiveness of farming as both an occupational and a lifestyle choice appears to be important in stimulating entry into farming. Third, policymakers should give high priority to facilitating access to land and labour, and to accommodating the capital-intensive nature of farming. Fourth, a mix of policies at different levels and domains that coherently contribute to the achievement of predefined goals regarding generational renewal is needed. Fifth, support for farm-specific advice and personal coaching holds underexploited potential for addressing the specificity of on-farm challenges regarding generational renewal.

Multiple economic, ecological, institutional and societal challenges raise concern about the future functionality of agriculture and more specifically of farms in Europe, which leads to an increased need to understand and improve its resilience. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of farmers' perception and self-assessment of resilience that would serve as a solid basis for further research on farm resilience. In order to achieve the aim, a farmer survey was designed based on theories of risk communication, decision theory and psychometric models. We conducted the survey in 11 case study regions across the European Union. No previous empirical research on farm resilience included so many diverse case studies. ; EU; en; contact: alisa.spiegel@wur.nl

CONTEXT The ability of a farm to cope with challenges is often conceptualised as resilience. Although improving resilience of farms is a major policy goal in the European Union, the current state of resilience is often unknown. Previous resilience assessments have been based either on pre-defined indicators or on perceptions. In particular, empirical research of perceived resilience is still limited and usually restricted to one specific resilience capacity, one challenge, or one function. OBJECTIVE We investigate how European farmers perceive resilience capacities of their farms. Extending beyond previous research, we cover all three resilience capacities (robustness, adaptability, and transformability), consider a broad range of short-term shocks and long-term stresses, and include multiple functions. Furthermore, we analyse farms from diverse farming systems across Europe and investigate whether farms and farmers with similar perceived resilience capacities share characteristics. METHODS We address the complex nature of resilience capacities by accounting for multiple scales formulated as analytical steps of a resilience assessment framework. More specifically, these are 'resilience of what' (farms and farming systems), 'resilience to what' (challenges), 'resilience for what purpose' (functions), and 'what enhances resilience' (resilience attributes). These steps guided the development of a survey with farmers across eleven European farming systems. Based on three indices for each farmer indicating perceived robustness, adaptability, and transformability of their farms, we identified two classes of farmers with particularly strong and weak resilience profiles respectively. Using nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests, we furthermore compared other parameters collected via the survey across the identified classes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Our data sample outputs two classes of similar size characterised by all three perceived resilience capacities being above (below) regional average. This finding suggests that the perceptions of robustness, adaptability, and transformability are mutually dependent. Furthermore, we found that farmers who perceive their resilience above the regional averages are characterised by lower risk aversion, greater focus on providing public goods, a higher number of implemented risk management strategies, more active involvement in networks, and greater openness to innovation. SIGNIFICANCE The revealed links between particular characteristics of farms and farmers and different levels of perceived resilience capacities can support policy-makers in developing more targeted resilience-enhancing strategies, as well as in understanding farmers' responses to challenges. Finally, our results can serve as a basis for further research, e.g., for formulating and testing hypotheses on causal effects between perceived resilience and its components, and on links between perception- and indicator-based resilience assessments.

CONTEXT: The ability of a farm to cope with challenges is often conceptualised as resilience. Although improving resilience of farms is a major policy goal in the European Union, the current state of resilience is often unknown. Previous resilience assessments have been based either on pre-defined indicators or on perceptions. In particular, empirical research of perceived resilience is still limited and usually restricted to one specific resilience capacity, one challenge, or one function. OBJECTIVE: We investigate how European farmers perceive resilience capacities of their farms. Extending beyond previous research, we cover all three resilience capacities (robustness, adaptability, and transformability), consider a broad range of short-term shocks and long-term stresses, and include multiple functions. Furthermore, we analyse farms from diverse farming systems across Europe and investigate whether farms and farmers with similar perceived resilience capacities share characteristics. METHODS: We address the complex nature of resilience capacities by accounting for multiple scales formulated as analytical steps of a resilience assessment framework. More specifically, these are 'resilience of what' (farms and farming systems), 'resilience to what' (challenges), 'resilience for what purpose' (functions), and 'what enhances resilience' (resilience attributes). These steps guided the development of a survey with farmers across eleven European farming systems. Based on three indices for each farmer indicating perceived robustness, adaptability, and transformability of their farms, we identified two classes of farmers with particularly strong and weak resilience profiles respectively. Using nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests, we furthermore compared other parameters collected via the survey across the identified classes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Our data sample outputs two classes of similar size characterised by all three perceived resilience capacities being above (below) regional average. This finding suggests that the perceptions of robustness, adaptability, and transformability are mutually dependent. Furthermore, we found that farmers who perceive their resilience above the regional averages are characterised by lower risk aversion, greater focus on providing public goods, a higher number of implemented risk management strategies, more active involvement in networks, and greater openness to innovation. SIGNIFICANCE: The revealed links between particular characteristics of farms and farmers and different levels of perceived resilience capacities can support policy-makers in developing more targeted resilience-enhancing strategies, as well as in understanding farmers' responses to challenges. Finally, our results can serve as a basis for further research, e.g., for formulating and testing hypotheses on causal effects between perceived resilience and its components, and on links between perception- and indicator-based resilience assessments.

CONTEXT The ability of a farm to cope with challenges is often conceptualised as resilience. Although improving resilience of farms is a major policy goal in the European Union, the current state of resilience is often unknown. Previous resilience assessments have been based either on pre-defined indicators or on perceptions. In particular, empirical research of perceived resilience is still limited and usually restricted to one specific resilience capacity, one challenge, or one function. OBJECTIVE We investigate how European farmers perceive resilience capacities of their farms. Extending beyond previous research, we cover all three resilience capacities (robustness, adaptability, and transformability), consider a broad range of short-term shocks and long-term stresses, and include multiple functions. Furthermore, we analyse farms from diverse farming systems across Europe and investigate whether farms and farmers with similar perceived resilience capacities share characteristics. METHODS We address the complex nature of resilience capacities by accounting for multiple scales formulated as analytical steps of a resilience assessment framework. More specifically, these are 'resilience of what' (farms and farming systems), 'resilience to what' (challenges), 'resilience for what purpose' (functions), and 'what enhances resilience' (resilience attributes). These steps guided the development of a survey with farmers across eleven European farming systems. Based on three indices for each farmer indicating perceived robustness, adaptability, and transformability of their farms, we identified two classes of farmers with particularly strong and weak resilience profiles respectively. Using nonparametric Mann-Whitney U tests, we furthermore compared other parameters collected via the survey across the identified classes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Our data sample outputs two classes of similar size characterised by all three perceived resilience capacities being above (below) regional average. This finding suggests that the ...