Section 4

Purpose

Over time, the role of agriculture in relation to energy has evolved and the company - with respect to this fundamental factor of production - is moving from being a user to being a producer. From this, the analyzes and the studies that have had as object the rationalization of the uses of the resources are moving towards themes of production of the same starting from matrix of agricultural-forestall and agro-industrial origin. The objectives of the AIIA IV Section also evolved along this directive. Born with the intent to start studies and actions to help farms in the process of electrification and optimization of energy consumption, the Section has changed its approach over time, accompanying, with research themes, the evolution of agricultural production of agro-energies and establishing a strong link between the agricultural world and cutting-edge technology. Currently the IV Section of the AIIA deals with issues in the energy sector ranging from the evaluation of the energy resources of the territory, to their production, to the evaluation of the characteristics of the matrices used and to the techniques for their exploitation.

Topics of interest

The skills necessary for the development of research conducted by Section Members and the corresponding areas of activity are increasingly transversal given the numerous aspects involved in the studies. Proceeding with a bottom up vision, we cite: Characterization of materials: the skills and chemical knowledge are very important, to deepen the characteristics of the materials and, if possible, to arrive at standard features that are often ill-suited to the complex heterogeneity of agricultural products. Study of energy transformations and related plants: plants and transformations concern the treatment and conversion of biomasses into thermal energy, electricity and bio-fuels for traction. Activities of interest range from motor engineering topics, to thermo-technique, to microbiological transformations. Study of energy production and transformation chains: analysis and analysis activities concern topics ranging from the production of raw materials (aspects related to classic mechanics and agricultural mechanization) to the management of residual materials, to control the emissions produced during the combustion process). Technical and economic analysis is considered with a system approach. LCA of energy products: studies are needed to objectively assess the energy-environmental sustainability of the supply chains. Study of the inclusion of supply chains in the territory: the territory is analyzed in terms of both the definition of energy density and management and organizational analysis. The topics dealt with are highly topical and the results are immediately applicable in the production world, where they contribute to the improvement of transformations and product quality. Furthermore, the activities carried out contribute to spreading and improving the energy culture in the agricultural sector.