The problem of agro-biomass logistics for energy purposes

Regardless of the type of products manufactured, the distances from raw material sources, the location of production sites in relation to the sales market, or other conditions, one must account for the occurrence of a so-called time-space gap. The existence of such a gap requires the improvement of logistics processes consisting of delivering the right product, in the right quantity, in the right condition, at the right place, at the right time, for the right customer, at the right cost. Meeting these conditions is referred to in the literature as the 7Rs.Each type of biomass requires a different logistics process and creates different problems related to harvesting, processing, storage, or delivery. Different equipment and barriers are encountered in the case of solid biomass processing, and others in the case of liquid biofuels or biogas production. These difficulties result from the diversity of raw materials processed into final products.
Demand for energy from biomass
The basic document of the country’s energy policy is the “Energy Policy of Poland until 2030” adopted by the Council of Ministers in 2010, which, in accordance with the EU Convention (3×20 package) in the area of RES, adopts three main goals by 2020:
1. 20% reduction of greenhouse gases;
2. 20% increase in energy efficiency;
3. 20% share of renewable energy in the total energy balance [8].
According to 2011 data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS), the largest share in the renewable energy balance in 2010 was solid biomass energy, which accounted for 85.36% of all renewable energy sources obtained. Next in terms of share in RES were: liquid biofuels (6.65%), water (3.65%), wind (2.08%), biogas (1.67%), heat pumps (0.31%), geothermal energy (0.20%), municipal waste (0.04%), and solar radiation (0.03%) [3].
The domestic biomass market is in the initial phase of development; so far, it has mainly consisted of forest biomass, which in the future should be replaced by agricultural and waste biomass. (…)

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