Complementing firewood with alternative energy sources in Rio Pardo Watershed, Brazil

Fontes alternativas para energia em complementação a lenha na Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Pardo, Brasil

ABSTRACT:

Wood is the primary energy source for grains and Tobacco drying in the Rio Pardo Watershed (RPW). The amount of firewood produced in the RPW is not enough to supply the demand. Recently, an automatized supply system was introduced in the region enabling the use of sawdust and pellets. In this context, this study aims to compare firewood, sawdust and pellets as energy sources for Tobacco curing in air-forced curing systems. Energetic density was used to estimate the biomass consumption in Tobacco curing. The consumption of biomass is lower for pellet, followed by firewood and sawdust. Pellets and sawdust could complement firewood in the region; however, research is necessary to ascertain the economic feasibility.

Key words:
tobacco; pellet; sawdust; energetic density