Renewable Energy and Mountain Sustainable Environment Management
A.Y. 2023/2024
Learning objectives
To analyze the role of agriculture and forests for energy production by renewable sources in mountainous areas, taking into account problems and solutions aimed to improve technical, economic and environmental sustainability of energy supply chains and to promore the ecological transition.
Expected learning outcomes
The course provides bases and skills to classify renewable energy supply chains in mountainous areas, promoting the sustainable management of production processes in rural area and addressing measures for climate change mitigation.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
GENERAL ISSUES - Thermal, mechanical, electrical energy. Energy system efficiency. Drying of agricultural products by natural or waste heat. Role of forests: climate change mitigation, storage and carbon neutrality, cascading use of the wood resource.
WOOD-TO-ENERGY CHAIN - Characteristics and offer of the energy source (wood). Forestry mechanization collection systems: choice and optimization criteria. Study Cases: technical characteristics of the supply chain, general design and operative parameters of thermochemical conversion plants (combustion, gasification).
LIVESTOCK WASTE-TO-ENERGY CHAIN - Characteristics and offer of the energy source (animal waste). Collection systems and plants: choice and optimization criteria. Study Cases: technical characteristics of the supply chain, general design and operative parameters of the biochemical conversion plants (Anaerobic Digestion for biogas or biomethane production).
SUN-TO-ENERGY CHAIN - Characteristics and offer of the energy source (solar light. Study Cases: technical characteristics of the supply chain, general design and operative parameters of the solar plants (thermal and photovoltaic).
WATER-TO-ENERGY CHAIN - Characteristics and offer of the energy source (salti idrici). Study Cases: technical characteristics of the supply chain, general design and operative parameters of the hydropower plants (micro e mini hydro plants).
CHAINS SUSTAINABILITY Economic sustainability of renewable energy plants. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and Carbon Footprint: methodological basic elements.
WOOD-TO-ENERGY CHAIN - Characteristics and offer of the energy source (wood). Forestry mechanization collection systems: choice and optimization criteria. Study Cases: technical characteristics of the supply chain, general design and operative parameters of thermochemical conversion plants (combustion, gasification).
LIVESTOCK WASTE-TO-ENERGY CHAIN - Characteristics and offer of the energy source (animal waste). Collection systems and plants: choice and optimization criteria. Study Cases: technical characteristics of the supply chain, general design and operative parameters of the biochemical conversion plants (Anaerobic Digestion for biogas or biomethane production).
SUN-TO-ENERGY CHAIN - Characteristics and offer of the energy source (solar light. Study Cases: technical characteristics of the supply chain, general design and operative parameters of the solar plants (thermal and photovoltaic).
WATER-TO-ENERGY CHAIN - Characteristics and offer of the energy source (salti idrici). Study Cases: technical characteristics of the supply chain, general design and operative parameters of the hydropower plants (micro e mini hydro plants).
CHAINS SUSTAINABILITY Economic sustainability of renewable energy plants. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and Carbon Footprint: methodological basic elements.
Prerequisites for admission
Knowledge about energy, agro-forestry mechanization and farm energy plants are useful for students interested to the course.
Teaching methods
The course lasts 56 hours and follows the timetable established by the Didactic Secretariat for the Degree Course. The total 6 ECTS are composed of 5 ECTS of Frontal Lessons and 1 ECTS of Classroom Exercises. Teaching is provided through slides projection.
Teaching Resources
The material used during the course (lectures, classroom exercises) as well as presentations for the deepening of some topics, Tables and tecnical documents is available in .pdf format on the University teaching application.
Referral texts (not mandatory and available in the library):
- "Energia da biomasse agricole", di M. Fiala, Maggioli Editore, ISBN: 978-88-387-7090-6
Referral texts (not mandatory and available in the library):
- "Energia da biomasse agricole", di M. Fiala, Maggioli Editore, ISBN: 978-88-387-7090-6
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exams are oral, including calculation aspects.
During the course exercises are carried out aimed at solving technical problems that can be found in the operational practice and the passing of the exam.
The evaluation criteria aim to verify - through a series of questions on the different topics and the resolution of specific exercises - the degree of overall knowledge acquired by the student. The evaluation, related to the entire course, is carried out in thirtieths.
For students affected by Specific Learning Disorders (DSA) the rules laid down by the University are followed (https://www.divas.unimi.it/extfiles/unimidire/256101/attachment/linee-guida-studenti-dsa.pdf).
During the course exercises are carried out aimed at solving technical problems that can be found in the operational practice and the passing of the exam.
The evaluation criteria aim to verify - through a series of questions on the different topics and the resolution of specific exercises - the degree of overall knowledge acquired by the student. The evaluation, related to the entire course, is carried out in thirtieths.
For students affected by Specific Learning Disorders (DSA) the rules laid down by the University are followed (https://www.divas.unimi.it/extfiles/unimidire/256101/attachment/linee-guida-studenti-dsa.pdf).
AGR/09 - AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY AND MECHANIZATION - University credits: 6
Practicals: 16 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Fiala Marco
Professor(s)
Reception:
Monday, h. 14.00-15.30 (by appointment)
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Production, Landscape, Agroenerggy