Optimising biomass-based energy supply chains for sustainable mobility

Abstract

Abstract The identification of alternative and sustainable energy sources has been one of the fundamental research goals of the last two decades and electric cars or biofuel fed vehicles may contribute to tackle this formidable issue. According to this perspective, a multi-echelon supply chain is here investigated considering biomass cultivation, transport, conversion into bioethanol or bioelectricity, distribution and final usage in alternative bifuel (ethanol and petrol) and electric vehicles. Multiperiod and spatially explicit features are introduced in a Mixed Integer Linear Programming modelling framework where economic and environmental objectives are simultaneously taken into account assessing multiple technologies. Results will show the efficacy of the methodology at providing stakeholders with a quantitative tool to optimise the economic and environmental performance of different supply chain configurations.