Long-term Strategy for the use of Agricultural and Non-agricultural Crops for Industrial Purposes

The objective of the Long-term Strategy for the use of agricultural and non-agricultural crop-plants for industrial purposes is to, based on the current developments in Slovakia, make an inventory of current knowledge about potentials of individual biomass types to be used as renewable energy sources (RES), outline options for their use, propose targets at least to 2015 as well as measures to achieve them. The Strategy describes the Slovak Republics suitability for the cultivation of energy crops, the potentials for using biomass for energy, including heating, as well as biofuel and biomass production possibilities. It also makes a prognosis for the use of agricultural and non-agricultural crops for energy purposes (biofuels, biogas, dendromass), and sets targets for their use. Measures are also outlined for the realisation of the Strategy and its goals. These include, among others, creation of a market for biomass, legislative changes to allow for the growing of specific cannabis for industrial use, as well as amendments to the existing Law on Renewable Energy, following an analysis of its impact on increasing the share of biomass in the Slovak Republics energy mix. Measures also cover applied research and deployment of technology for biomass use. Criteria and specific requirements for monoculture of fast growing wood species for energy use, as well as energy crop plantations, will be required. In addition, methodologies and regulations to allow for non-native (introduced) plant species for cultivation on agricultural land will also be required.