The handbook "Growing and Use of Energetic Plants" is produced within the project "Baltic Biomass Network" of the European Community initiative INTERREG III B programme.

The issue has appeared in time when Latvia as well as other European Union countries options of reducing the dependence on fossil energy are sought for, when usage of renewable energy resources is becoming important constituent of the policy.

Growing and usage of energetic plants for energy production –biofuel, electric power or heat –is not widespread in Latvia at the moment. Still considerable areas of agricultural land, where energetic plants could be grown, are left unprocessed.

The handbook is produced to provide opportunity for farmers, potential energy producers and to all interested persons, who are looking for information on renewable energy resources, to assess profitability of growing energetic plants in Latvia, also to motivate them to decide on growing and using them for energy production.

The issue comprises information on plants, that can be used for energy production, and on their growing preferences in agricultural lands in Latvian climate conditions. The book contains information on the targets of EU and Latvia in the field of renewable energy resources, cultivation and use of energetic plants, and types of energy production. Overview of types of support for growing of energetic plants and development of energy production is given as well.

The handbook "Growing and Use of Energetic Plants" is prepared by a group of authors representing following institutions: Institutes of Agrobiotechnology, Agricultural Energetics and Mechanics of the Latvian University of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava", Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology of the University of Latvia, Latvian State Institute of Agrarian Economics, Faculty of Material Science and Applied Chemistry of Riga Technical University, and the company "EDO Consult".

The handbook can be received in the bureau of "Vides projekti" Ltd., Pils Street 17, Riga, calling beforehand on phone 67213122 (Anita Lauzuma, Project Administrator).

Additional information:
Ilze Neimane, Project Director, "Vides projekti" Ltd , Project Manager of "Baltic Biomass Network", phone 67215051, e-mail: Ilze.Neimane@videsprojekti.lv.