• analysis of the use of renewable energy sources (RES) for energy production and assessment of utilization development in implementing the decisions of the European Parliament and the Council directives;

• research, modelling and prediction of wind flow variation on the Baltic coast in Lithuania;

• analysis of RES use for electric power production in Lithuania and research of development possibilities;

• economical and environmental efficiency research of biogas and biofuel production and use;

• research of solid biomass use for energy production;

• promotion of state-of-the-art technologies using local and renewable energy sources, research of environmental issues; preparation of accredited training courses, development of RES database, services and consultations for users.

 

Research related to the development of the use of renewable energy sources for energy production is carried out in the laboratory. New technologies and perspectives of their application in Lithuania are analysed, data are collected on RES consumption, and milestones are foreseen for further RES penetration into state’s energy market aiming at optimally ensuring the implementation of the requirements of the European Parliament and of the Council directives.

 

In 2008 state funded project Analysis of Renewable Energy Sources use for Energy Production in Lithuania and Development Feasibility Study was completed. Investigation revealed that energy production in the country when using RES mainly depends on hydroenergy, wind energy and biomass fuel sources. It was determined that hydroenergy sources of small rivers are insignificant, whereas the ones of big rivers (the Nemunas and the Neris) are forbidden to be used due to environmental requirements, thus most of attention is to be devoted to the development of wind and biomass energy.

 

Importance of biomass fuel, as an energy source, worldwide and in Lithuania was estimated in the Laboratory. It was observed that an acute competition regarding main biomass type – wood – occurs among energy and industry sectors, which will strengthen in the nearest future. Assessment was carried out on how energy production efficiency in cogeneration biofuel power plants is affected by available fuel combustion technologies. The intercomparison of direct fuel combustion in furnaces of different types is presented. In accordance with indirect fuel combustion technologies (in gasification or pyrolysis reactors biofuel is transformed into gaseous or liquid fuel) possibilities to use more diverse and efficient equipment, for example, gas turbines, microturbines or fuel cells, are overviewed.

 

Enhancement of wood resources by cultivating willow plantations is meaningful. Information on specific requirements attributed to energetic willows and peculiarities of cultivation of willows and other energetic plants was collected at the Laboratory. Worldwide experience in cultivating willow plantations with commercial purposes was overviewed, and economical aspects of cultivating willow plantations were discussed. Possibilities for solar energy use for electricity production in Lithuania were analysed, a 15-year progress in photovoltaic (PV) module production was reviewed. Assessment of up-to-date production technologies of solar PV modules was carried out by emphasizing that PV module production sector is one of the most dynamic business sectors in the EU. Research revealed that expansion of PV module use worldwide is conditioned by PV module produced energy price, which for several times exceeds standard electricity price. Technical and economical feasibility assessment of energy production in wind power plants was carried out. Estimation and prediction methodology of wind energy parameters was developed.

 

 

 Structure of electric power production from RES in Lithuania in the period of 2006 and 2007

 

 

Statistical analysis of wind speed and direction measurement data is carried out at the Laboratory, wind resources are estimated on Lithuanian land and off-shore, short-term wind power prediction model is developed at the Laboratory. Wind speed distribution map of Lithuanian coastal region was developed. It was determined that wind power parameters of the Baltic Sea Lithuanian offshore and coastal region are similar to the wind power parameters of Germany, Poland and other European countries, where the average wind velocity at 50 m height in coastal region reaches 6–7 m/s, whereas at the sea – approximately 7–7.5 m/s.

 

 

Dependence of electricity production price of wind power plants on average wind velocity: • – onshore wind farms in coastal region 
 

Computation methodology of wind power parameters, based on WAsP software was developed. It was determined that the power output of offshore wind turbines is approximately 35% bigger than that of the onshore wind turbines with the same rotor diameter. The optimum distance from the coast to install offshore wind farms at the Baltic Sea Lithuanian nearshore is 6–10 km. However, due to bigger investment costs electricity production price of the offshore wind turbines is approximately 24% bigger than that of the onshore ones.

 

Cooperating with Wind Energy Department of DTU Risoe National Laboratory (Denmark) detailed analysis of Lithuanian coastal region wind resources was carried out and methodology for selecting wind farm construction site using WAsP software was developed. Numerical roughness and terrain maps of Lithuanian coastal region surface, which enable to estimate wind speed distribution in a region, were developed in accordance with Digital Data Bare of the Lithuanian Space Imagery Map LTDBK50000 at scale 1:50000.

 

 

 

 Researchers of the Laboratory in wind farm in Kretinga region

 

Wind resources were estimated using wind measurement data in the region, taking into account the terrain, land surface roughness and natural and urban obstacles. It was determined that the most favourable conditions for wind farm construction are a 20 km area in Lithuanian coastal region and in Tauragė region. Employing data of numerical weather forecast model HIRLAM (used at Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service), short-term (up to 54 hours) wind speed and wind power variation prediction methodology designed for Lithuanian wind farms, was developed, the impact of terrain, surface roughness and atmosphere stability conditions on the accuracy of forecasts was estimated.

 

With growing importance of renewable energy sources in the country’s energy sector, works related with an exhaustive analysis of biogas power objects’ activity, necessary for estimating efficiency of power objects and optimization, without which it would be complicated to forecast further development of biogas production and consumption sector, have been carried out in the Laboratory. Implementing EU projects, feasibility studies of biogas production and their use in transport are carried out.

 

 

 

Persistent increase of mineral fuel prices oblige to tackle acute issues of biofuel industry development. Issues of further biofuel use in transport are solved, considering other alternative possibilities of biofuel use, such as liquefied oil gas, suspended natural gas and biogas. The Laboratory participates in the activity of National Biofuel technological platform.

 

 

Investigation related with rational consumption of biomass sources for producing biofuel and solid biofuel use for the production of thermal and power energy is carried out in the Laboratory. Data covering the technology cycle from raw material collection, preparation, processing into solid biofuel and combustion in different types of boilers are collected and analysed.

 

At present time RES comprise approximately 9.3% from the primary energy consumption in Lithuania. Biggest share of RES (approximately 91.66%) accounts for solid biomass, mainly wood, thus most of attention is given to issues related to wood fuel production and use. Research is carried out by implementing different EU programs.

Sixth Framework Programme project Co-firing – from Research to Practice: Technology and Biomass Supply Know-how Promotion in Central and Eastern Europe (COFITECK)

 

The objective of the project is to contribute to optimisation of fuel mixtures firing technologies and biomass fuel supply chains.

 

Three informative statements, introducing with biomass mixture firing technologies for energy production, were prepared. Processes occurring in biomass preparation boilers were analysed, successful experience examples were reviewed and emerging problems were discussed. In other three informative statements possibilities of biomass production and supply in firing fuel mixtures were emphasized. The brochure Overview of contemporary fuel mixture firing technologies was translated into Lithuanian.

 

 

 

Publications of the COFITECK project: Biomass Mixture Firing Technologies in Producing Electric Power and Biomass Supply Possibilities for Fuel Mixture Firing

 

When implementing the project, seminars were organized, where the interested parts were introduced with up-to-date technologies in the field of fuel mixture firing in EU countries and experience, accumulated in different Lithuanian enterprises, was shared among participants. Issues of biomass production and supply in Lithuania were discussed as well.

 

The moment of seminar

 

The objective of the project – to promote cooperation of science research centres, business and other partners in the field of biomass and waste reutilisation. During the project there was an attempt to review biomass sources available in Europe and identify potential and value of biofuel production. Using the Geographical Information System maps of Europe biomass source use were developed and schemes of economical factors and environmental impact in accordance with optimal lifetime development cycle scenarios (LCA) were determined. LCA is a standardized computation method, which estimates the impact of a product on the environment in all stages of production process. The following objectives were achieved while implementing the project:

 

• the efforts of the European research centres, business representatives and politicians in the field of biomass use by implementing new technologies were united;

• information was collected on the best cases of biomass use in Europe, which is foreseen to be used in publication The White Book;

• possibilities of up-to-date means were overviewed by estimating possibilities of different types of land areas for cultivating biofuel, using new types of plants in various countries, estimating social and economical factors in different environment;

• biomass and biofuel production coherence was estimated according availability, production, price and environmental criteria, and optimal biomass production scenarios were predicted using LCA computation models.

 

The following Intelligent Energy – Europe projects were implemented in the Laboratory in the year 2008:

 

• Market Development of Gas Driven Cars Including Supply and Distribution of Natural Gas and Biogas (MADEGASCAR 2007–2010);

• Regional Bioenergy Initiatives Increasing the Market for Biomass Heating in Europe (REGBIE+ 2006–2009);

• Monitoring and Control of Energy Consumption in Municipality Public Buildings over Internet (ENERinTOWN 2006–2008);

• Solutions for Biomass Fuel Market Barriers and Raw Material Availability (EUBIONET III 2008–2011).

 

Cooperating with research centres of Germany, Denmark and Poland, investigations of bioenergy development perspectives in Europe regions were carried out. Main objective of performed projects is to provide considerable input to the implementation of EU tasks in energy sector pursuing that share of RES in the region and in the total EU energy balance would satisfy the indicators of directives and other regulating documents.

 

 

During implementation of project REGBIE+ assessment of biomass sources in various EU regions is carried out, as well as in Lithuanian, Kaunas district. Possibilities of biomass use in energy production are analysed by estimating experience of other countries (Sweden, Germany, Austria, etc.). Capacity of presently operated boilers in our country exceeds 550 MW, whereas consumption of wood fuel comprises 80% from available scopes of renewable energy sources. Therefore it is necessary to predict different promoting means, new technologies of biofuel preparation and firing by searching for more efficient heat production methods. Researchers of Lithuanian Energy Institute together with specialists from other countries implementing this project deal with above mentioned issues, exchange with up-to-date achievements in the field.

 

In 2008 project ENERinTOWN was completed. Its objective was to reduce energy use in public buildings of municipalities by creating a constant monitoring system via internet when data is recorded for emphasizing energy consumption tendencies and comparing similar buildings. Energy consumption monitoring system was implemented in 12 public buildings of Kaunas, Kėdainiai, Vilkaviškis and Šakiai municipalities, seminars were organized for municipalities’ energy specialists, publication Manual for equipment purchasing and buildings design taking into account efficient energy use was prepared.

 

The objective of EUBIONET III is to enhance biomass fuel use in EU countries by searching for ways to overcome market obstacles. Analysis of biofuel use, future perspectives and basic obstacles is carried out, national biomass programs are analysed, biomass fuel potential is estimated, most of attention giving to agriculture waste and assessment of potential of new biofuel types. Price mechanisms are analysed, biomass fuel certification and sustainable development criteria are determined.

 

 

In 2008 the Laboratory implemented science and technologies promoting project Think about Energy in Different Way, the objective of which was to promote scientific ideas and the society to be interested in sciences, to perform scientific activity by organizing different science promoting events, to promote science representatives to actively participate in informing the society on the issues of science promotion. The project was funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Lithuania. When implementing the project the following events were organized:

 

• seminars for teachers of natural sciences, students, pupils and other interested persons, on the topics of efficient

energy use and renewable energy;

• excursion to objects of biomass fuel preparation and use;

• computer animation and graphics creative works competition for Lithuanian pupils, which integrates pupils’ plentiful information technologies capabilities with knowledge and new ideas on efficient energy use and renewable energy;

• poster competition for Lithuanian teachers during which works were created as possible methodological means for the presentation of the project’s topics to the schoolchildren;

• educative quiz What do You Know About Energy for Kaunas district pupils;

• final project conference.

 

 

Promoting the project and science, publications Renewable Energy Sources, Climate Change: Reasons and Consequences were prepared and issued, methodological material was prepared by researchers from higher education institutions.

 

In 2008 researchers of the Laboratory published 5 articles in scientific journals and 9 in other reviewed science publications, 2 science promotion articles in popular publications. Researchers of the Laboratory participated in 5 international and in 5 Lithuanian science conferences.