Factors Affecting the Supply of Agricultural Residues for Bioenergy Production (Case Study: Boroujerd City)

Due to the problems and limitations of using fossil energy sources, the use of biofuels in order to achieve the goals of sustainable development, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, regional development, and security of energy supply, has received more attention. Therefore, considering the importance of the issue, in the present study, while determining the effective factors on the tendency of farmers to accept the supply of crop residues of wheat and barley products for bioenergy production, the economic value of residues of selected products in biogas and bioethanol energy production is estimated. Accordingly, using a survey approach and by completing a questionnaire by farmers in Boroujerd in 1399, data collection and research hypotheses were tested using the logit regression model. The results of the study indicate that the variables of collection cost (with a final effect of -0.097 and elasticity of -7.39%), non-agricultural income (with a final effect of -0.028 and elasticity of -6.37%), and use from residues (with a final effect of -0.014 and a tensile strength of -11.6%) have a negative effect on the supply of agricultural residues for bioenergy production. Meanwhile, education (with a final effect of 0.09 and elasticity of 4.4%) and farmer experience (with a final effect of 0.022 and elasticity of 17.32%) have a positive effect on the supply of agricultural residues for bioenergy production. According to the results of traction, farmers' experience and farmers' use of agricultural residues have the greatest effect on the supply of agricultural residues in bioenergy production. The results also show that the annual production potential of bioethanol from wheat and barley residues is equal to 63.96 million liters. So that if the same residues are used in biogas production, the annual biogas production potential is equal to 88.98 million cubic meters. Accordingly, the economic value of bioethanol and biogas energy production from wheat and barley residues in the study area has been calculated equal to 15349 and 430 billion rials, respectively. Therefore, based on the results, by planning for the principled management of agricultural residues and investing in the use of biomass as clean sources for bioenergy production, effective measures can be taken to reduce the dependence of the country's economy on fossil energy and provide the energy needs of people in remote areas.