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Economic assessment of Eucalyptus (spp.) for biomass production as alternative crop in Southern Italy

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  • Sgroi, Filippo
  • Di Trapani, Anna Maria
  • Foderà, Mario
  • Testa, Riccardo
  • Tudisca, Salvatore

Abstract

The increase in energy prices and the stagnation of sales prices of the main agricultural commodities required a rethinking of farm production strategies. Since during the last years, thanks to a series of policies aimed at promoting renewable sources it has been a rapid diffusion of lignocellulosic biomass species, this paper aimed at evaluating the economic feasibility of the introduction of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.) as energy crop for farmers of Southern Italy, by comparing it with traditional crop rotations. In particular, economic analysis has been carried out in a representative case study located in the Sicilian hilly hinterland where, in 2013, it has been built a biomass plant for energy production. However, results showed that introduction of eucalyptus for biomass production is less profitable for farmers than traditional crops, considering the incompressibility of production costs and the actual market price of woodchips.

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  • Sgroi, Filippo & Di Trapani, Anna Maria & Foderà, Mario & Testa, Riccardo & Tudisca, Salvatore, 2015. "Economic assessment of Eucalyptus (spp.) for biomass production as alternative crop in Southern Italy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 614-619.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:44:y:2015:i:c:p:614-619
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2015.01.032
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    7. Salvatore Tudisca & Anna Maria Di Trapani & Filippo Sgroi & Riccardo Testa & Giusi Giamporcaro, 2014. "Role of alternative food networks in Sicilian farms," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 22(1), pages 50-63.
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    9. Filippo Sgroi & Salvatore Tudisca & Anna Maria Di Trapani & Riccardo Testa & Riccardo Squatrito, 2014. "Efficacy and Efficiency of Italian Energy Policy: The Case of PV Systems in Greenhouse Farms," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-17, June.
    10. Riccardo Squatrito & Filippo Sgroi & Salvatore Tudisca & Anna Maria Di Trapani & Riccardo Testa, 2014. "Post Feed-in Scheme Photovoltaic System Feasibility Evaluation in Italy: Sicilian Case Studies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(11), pages 1-19, November.
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    12. Hauk, Sebastian & Knoke, Thomas & Wittkopf, Stefan, 2014. "Economic evaluation of short rotation coppice systems for energy from biomass—A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 435-448.
    13. Riccardo Testa & Anna Maria di Trapani & Filippo Sgroi & Salvatore Tudisca, 2014. "Economic Sustainability of Italian Greenhouse Cherry Tomato," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(11), pages 1-15, November.
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    11. Ramírez-Arpide, Félix Rafael & Espinosa-Solares, Teodoro & Gallegos-Vázquez, Clemente & Santoyo-Cortés, Vinicio Horacio, 2019. "Bioenergy production from nopal cladodes and dairy cow manure on a farm-scale level: Challenges for its economic feasibility in Mexico," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 383-392.
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