PEAT AS AN ENERGY RESOURCE: TYPOLOGY OF TECHNOLOGICAL USE

Abstract

The study presents a comprehensive analysis of modern approaches to the energy use of peat from the perspective of technological transformation of the resource. Based on an extensive review of scientific publications, patent solutions, and technical regulations, a classification is proposed that is structured according to the principle of increasing technological complexity from the direct use of peat to advanced processing methods. The paper identifies five key directions: direct combustion, composite fuels, thermochemical conversion, biotechnological methods, and the functional application of peat in the form of specialized materials. It is demonstrated that peat, owing to its wide variability in physicochemical properties, can be adapted to different energy systems, acting both as a final energy carrier and as an intermediate feedstock for producing solid, liquid, and gaseous products. The advantages and limitations of each direction are analyzed, including the low energy efficiency of direct combustion, the potential for increasing the calorific value of composite fuels, the broad capabilities of thermochemical processes for obtaining synthesis gas and liquid fuels, as well as the prospects of anaerobic digestion and fermentation methods for biogas production. The proposed classification ensures a coherent systematization of modern technologies and is suitable for practical integration into energy projects, standardization of fuel materials, and use in educational and scientific contexts. The scientific novelty of the work lies in shifting from traditional approaches to a technologically oriented model for analyzing the energy potential of peat.