A possible role for vineyard prunings in the thermal energy supply of local communities based on the results of an investment economy study

Gonda, Cecília

Keywords: institutional heating, by-product utilisation, vine prunings

It is a good opportunity for the municipalities of Hungary where vine growing is present but the prunings are not utilised, the gas boilers of the local government institutions are outdated, and neither the replacement of the windows nor the insulation of the buildings is affordable, to utilise vine prunings for heating purposes. Gyöngyöstarján, where the natural gas needs of all the local government institutions is close to 64.000 m3 annually, which is an expenditure of nearly HUF 9 million per year, is such a settlement. The results of this study point out that for local governments which have similar characteristics to the investigated municipality it is worth using vine prunings for institutional heating purposes. According to my dynamic investment analysis calculations, the investment (the aim of which is to substitute natural gas) may pay off in only six years, and during its operation it can save up to HUF 86 million surplus to the return of alternative costs, by not having to pay for natural gas. The return on investment could be jeopardised if the currently unutilised raw materials will have to be paid for in the future. The implementation of a more expensive collection technology may also increase the risk of return. In case the annual increase in the price of natural gas is less than 8 per cent, the planned investment will not pay off in 15 years.

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