Production and Prospects of Using Biological Fuel in Vinnytsia Region

The article analyzes the use of biological fuel in agriculture and outlines the prospects of using biological resources of Vinnytsia Region in ensuring the energy security of the area. The conditions of production of fuel & energy resources in Ukraine are analyzed. The practically achievable energy potential of Vinnytsia and the energy production of major agricultural crops are assessed. The cost price of bioethanol production has been calculated on an estimation basis. The dynamics of cultivated areas for major energy-yielding crops in Vinnytsia Region has been studied. The potential output of solid biological fuel by perennial energy-yielding crops in Vinnytsia Region has been calculated and the cost of heat energy of natural gas against that of fuel pellets has been compared. It is found that the production of bioethanol from molasses and sugar syrup appears to be the most profitable. In this case, the bioethanol cost price rate allows gaining profits from the wholesales of that stuff. The potential output of solid biological fuel from perennial energy-yielding crops given the use of only 5% of farmlands of Vinnitsia Region may account for 2.37 mln. tons of ready solid fuel pellets.