1. BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING STUDIES
Update and expand the scope of Biosystems Engineering programs of studies placing emphasis in the areas of bio-fuels, bio-materials and quality of products 2nd ERABEE Workshop October 2008, Dublin, Ireland
EXPANSION OF
BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING STUDIES
WITH COURSES OF BIOFUELS AND BIOMATERIALS IN LITHUANIA
Kestutis Navickas
Lithuanian University of Agriculture

2. Current situation of the Biosystems Engineering discipline in Lithuania
Agricultural Engineers in Lithuania are qualified as Bachelors and Masters at the faculty of Agricultural Engineering of the Lithuanian University of Agriculture.
Graduates of the faculty receives qualifications in Mechanical Engineering or Energetics with specializations:
Agricultural Machinery,
Management of Agricultural Engineering,
Engineering of Agricultural Technologies,
Engineering of Agricultural Post Harvesting Technologies
Agricultural Energetics

3. Current situation of the Biosystems Engineering discipline in Lithuania
Number of students registered for studies of Agricultural Engineering on October 1 of 2008
Study year
Bachelor studies (full time)
Bachelor studies
(part time)
Master studies
PhD studies
1st year
232
197 85 5
2nd year
157
168 37 4
3rd year
163
138 - 3
4th year
174
152 2
5th year
127
Total
726
782
122 14

4. Module of Biomass Engineering
The new module of Biomass Engineering has been developed and introduced during 2006 – 2008
Module contains four courses:
Renewable Energy Technologies;
Biomass Engineering;
Liquid Biofuels and Biolubricants;
Solid Biofuels and Biogas.

5. The students’ enrolment
This module is offered for Master students
The start of studies - spring semester of the study year 2008/2009
We are willing for students from all study programmes of Agricultural Engineering
This module might be suggested for long life learning students - graduates of Agricultural Engineering or other institutions, interested to improve knowledge in this topic

6. Infrastructure for Module of Biomass Engineering
The new module of Biomass Engineering has been developed as a result of two EU/National projects:
Development of studies and research in biomass resources management and conversion technologies
Modernisation of infrastructure for studies and research of biomass resources management and conversion technologies

7. Infrastructure for Module of Biomass Engineering
Aim of the projects is to create and develop specialisation in Biomass Engineering for the study programmes of Agricultural Engineering
Outcomes of the projects:
prepared programmes for 4 study courses
issued 9 text books and manuals
training of students, teachers and young scientists
modernisation of 5 laboratories

8. Text books for Module of Biomass Engineering
Forest Machinery and Energetics
Renewable Energy
Engineering of Solid and Gaseous Biofuels
Renewable Agrarian Resources and Biowastes

9. Research activity in the area of Biomaterials and Biofuels
There is a big research interest of Lithuanian research institutions in different areas of Bioenergy:
Assessment of national biomass resources and potential for non-food use
Cultivation of energy plants for solid, liquid and gaseous biofuels
Agro-waste treatment and use for energy and fertilisers
Technologies of production and quality of solid, liquid and gaseous biofuels
Implementation and developments of Bioenergy and Biomaterials market
During a new research centre of Biosystems Engineering and Bioenergy will be founded

11. Research projects in the area of Biomaterials and Biofuels
Research projects related with Biomaterials and Biofuels:
Biofuels and Bioenergy Resources in Lithuania
Non-food programme for National strategy of Agriculture
Plant biomass energy value enhancement by biotechnology methods
Manure Treatment Strategies for Sustainable Agriculture
Optimisation of Bio-fertilizer Production
Anaerobic digestion of wastes from bioethanol production
Anaerobic treatment of animal by products
Students of Master and PhD level are involved in this research. At present 5 PhD projects at the University are related with with Non-food Biomass, Biomaterials and Biofuels.

12. Implementation of Renewable Energy in Lithuania
The use of renewable energy sources is one of the main objectives of the Lithuanian energy policy set out in the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Energy and the National Energy Strategy approved by Resolution of the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania aiming at a 12% share of renewable energy sources in the total energy consumption by 2010.
The promotion of the production and use of biofuel is foreseen in the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Biofuel, Biofuels for Transport and Bio-oils providing for the competence of institutions. The Law obligates to prepare measures to ensure that by 31 December 2010 the share of biofuels for transport shall amount to at least 5.75 % of the total energy content of all petrol and diesel for transport purposes placed on the national market. The production of biofuel is attributed to new, environment-friendly technologies.

13. Implementation of Renewable Energy in Lithuania
Energy sources
Energy production, TWh
2005
2010
2020
Wood
8.24
9.50
9.80
Straw
0.03
0.50
1.50
Liquid biofuel
0.04
0.72
2.25
Municipal waste
0.00
0.46
Biogas
0.02
0.14
0.28
Landfill gas
Geothermal
0.017
0.11
Hydro
0.45
0.58
Solar
Wind
0.29
0.85
Total
8.80
11.7
14.3

14. Labour market in Biofuels Engineering
In case that biomass resources and biofuels market is fast growing there is big interest from companies to have educated graduates in Biofuels
Graduates of specialisation Biomass Engineering can apply job positions on consultancy, biomass logistics and processing, biofuels production and application, biowaste treatment and bioenergy industries.
Also there is a wide space for bioproducts delivery and sale market.
There is a growing interest for our graduates from the research institutions working on National and International projects related with Biomass Assessments, Bioconversion, Biofuel technologies etc

15. THANK YOU
FOR ATTENTION