Local bio-heating systems from agrobiomass
Local bio-heating systems from agrobiomass
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Detail description
Across rural Romania, large quantities of agrobiomass — such as fruit-tree prunings, vine shoots, straw, corn stalks, and sawmill residues — remain unexploited or are openly burned, causing air pollution, CO₂ emissions, and soil nutrient loss.
Meanwhile, farmers, greenhouses, and local authorities struggle with rising heating costs and dependence on imported fuels.
There is a need for cost-effective local systems that convert these residues into renewable thermal energy for agricultural and community use.
Meanwhile, farmers, greenhouses, and local authorities struggle with rising heating costs and dependence on imported fuels.
There is a need for cost-effective local systems that convert these residues into renewable thermal energy for agricultural and community use.
In Ghelința (Covasna County), a pioneering bio-heating system was developed using locally available agrobiomass as the sole fuel source.
Five fully automated biomass boilers have been installed, that supply heat to the municipal hall, school, sports hall, and other community buildings.
The system operates on the principle of short supply chains and local resource use:
Collection: Farmers and households gather woody and herbaceous residues (branches, corn stalks, straw).
Processing: Material is chipped mechanically (2–5 cm) and stored in covered depots (≈30 m³ each) for natural drying.
Combustion: Automated 150 kW boilers use the chipped biomass to produce heat for buildings and farms.
Circularity: Ash is reused as a natural fertilizer, returning minerals to the soil.
Farmers have replicated the model for heating greenhouses and livestock facilities, proving that agrobiomass is a reliable, carbon-neutral and affordable alternative to conventional fuels.
Five fully automated biomass boilers have been installed, that supply heat to the municipal hall, school, sports hall, and other community buildings.
The system operates on the principle of short supply chains and local resource use:
Collection: Farmers and households gather woody and herbaceous residues (branches, corn stalks, straw).
Processing: Material is chipped mechanically (2–5 cm) and stored in covered depots (≈30 m³ each) for natural drying.
Combustion: Automated 150 kW boilers use the chipped biomass to produce heat for buildings and farms.
Circularity: Ash is reused as a natural fertilizer, returning minerals to the soil.
Farmers have replicated the model for heating greenhouses and livestock facilities, proving that agrobiomass is a reliable, carbon-neutral and affordable alternative to conventional fuels.
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Contribution detail info
- Project
- Location
- Romania
- Authors
- Green Energy Biomass Cluster
- Purpose
- Apply ready-to-use practices
- File type
- document
- Created on
- Jun 30, 2026
- Origin language
- English
- Official project website
- thERBN
- License
- CC BY
- Keywords