According to various estimates, there are about 4 million hectares of low-yielding lands in Ukraine, on which traditional agriculture is not profitable. Most of these lands are best suited for growing energy crops *.
The cultivation of energy plants is actively developing in Europe, but in Ukraine this industry is just beginning to develop. Currently, about 6,000 hectares of marginal land have been planted with energy crops - energy willow, poplar and miscanthus plantations.
It should be noted that according to scientists, the potential of the industry is enormous - from 1 million hectares can be harvested 11.5 million tons of energy crops, which can replace 5.5 billion m3 of natural gas.
Thus, by harnessing the potential of low-yielding land for growing energy crops, it is potentially possible to replace about 20 billion m3 of natural gas, or two-thirds of the country's gas supply needs.
That is why the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine, based on the materials provided by the State Geocadastre, has created a Map of lands suitable for growing energy crops, which will be useful for farmers who want to start their own business of growing energy crops; for OTGs that need to replace traditional fuels with alternatives, because the use of biomass as fuel will allow a regular school with an area of 1,200 m2 to save on heating about 350 thousand UAH annually.
Growing energy crops is also an opportunity for the community to improve the state of the land and ecology of the region, as 1 hectare of energy willow plantation absorbs 200 tons of CO2 in 3 years, and in the process of growing it for 20 years improves soil quality due to humus formation.
Moreover, energy crops are a great "green" alternative to traditional road and rail protection lanes.
Watch the video via the link.
The map of lands suitable for growing energy crops has been created by the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine.
Instructions for finding land plots by COATUU, cadastral quarter, cadastral number.
In-depth:
* Energy crops are plants that are specially grown for use directly as fuel or for biomass production and subsequent energy production.