Energy Use Efficiency in Biomass Production Systems

Abstract

Fossil energy use efficiency is higher in low-input crop production systems than in high-input systems. This is caused by the fact that in low-input systems, a relatively large amount of the used nitrogen originates from non-fossil resources. In energy crop production systems, solar energy is converted into plant material (with the aid of fossil energy). The net (output-input) energy yield of high-input systems is much higher than the net yield from the low-input systems. The choice of a particular production system will thus have significant consequences for the energy yields that can be obtained.