Bioenergy Plants Research Articles

Water availability for bioenergy in Kazakhstan: Review, preliminary results, and key points

In transitional countries with arid climates, water stress is rising as the demand for water rises with population, economic growth, and intensive development of agriculture and energy and change in climate environment. In this regard, transitional nations plan in national programmes and policies alternative energy sources, sustainable food development, and circular water resource usage. However, these nations frequently approach current water, energy, and food planning without taking interactions of these resources and their impact on each other into account. This paper intends to demonstrate the significance of the water, energy, and food nexus approach for Central Asian countries in transition. Kazakhstan is used as an example of a resource-rich, transitional economy in Central Asia. Kazakhstan has set a goal of reaching a 50% share of renewable and alternative energy sources in electricity generation by the year 2050 to reduce water and energy poverty, improve water and energy efficiency, achieve carbon neutrality, and rank among the top 30 developed nations. To meet the water and renewable energy goal, bioenergy plantation is anticipated to develop between 2030 and 2050. The findings of paper show that total withdrawals for bioenergy increase from the reported data of 15503.68 m3 in 2020 to 32182.16 m3 in 2050 under a bioenergy-intensive scenario. The average total increase, or 75.5%, would be 16678.48 m3. As such, policymakers and stakeholders in Central Asian region and Kazakhstan needs to carefully design its national energy goals given its future increase of water withdrawals, and shortage environment.

Modeling of heat exchange processes in a condenser of a pyrolysis bioenergy plant

The article presents the results of mathematical modeling of heat exchange processes in the condenser of a pyrolysis plant, in order to identify the optimal parameters for cooling the biomass pyrolysis steam. A mathematical model of the thermal balance of the condenser of a pyrolysis plant has been developed for the calculation, selection and thermal analysis of the working cycle of the condenser, which allows to obtain the values of the optimal parameters of the temperature regime. The technological scheme of a pyrolysis bioenergy plant with a recuperative heat exchanger, which simultaneously provides hot water, gaseous and liquid biofuels to the consumer, is presented. The analysis of the obtained results shows that the water temperature at the outlet of the condenser of the pyrolysis plant is on average in the range of 60-70°C and suitable for heat supply systems of an autonomous consumer.

Thermal mode of the condenser of a pyrolysis bioenergy plant with recuperation of secondary thermal energy

The article describes the technological scheme and the principle of operation of a pyrolysis bioenergy plant (PBEP) with a recuperative heat exchanger, which simultaneously provides hot water, gaseous and liquid biofuels to the consumer. The results of mathematical modeling of heat exchange processes in the condenser of a pyrolysis plant are presented in order to identify optimal thermal parameters for cooling the biomass pyrolysis steam. A mathematical model of the heat balance of a “mixing-displacement” type condenser (along the length of the coil) of a pyrolysis plant has been developed for calculating, selecting and thermotechnical analysis of the working cycle of the condenser, which allows to obtain the values of optimal parameters of the temperature regime. The simulation results show that the considered variants of pipes with diameters of 15 mm and 20 mm fully meet the technological requirements of condenser cooling.

Effect of improvement actions on the life-cycle environmental and economic performance of synthetic biofuels from date palm waste in Tunisia

Exploring the economic and environmental suitability of an enhanced bioenergy plant producing synthetic gasoline and diesel from date palm waste in Tunisia with PV-based supply of electricity and oxygen.

Merging Climate Action with Energy Security through CCS—A Multi-Disciplinary Framework for Assessment

Combining biomass-fired power generation with CO2 capture and storage leads to so-called negative CO2 emissions. Negative CO2 emissions can already be obtained when coal is co-fired with biomass in a power plant with CCS technology. The need for bioenergy with CO2 capture and storage has been identified as one of the key technologies to keep global warming below 2 °C, as this is one of the large-scale technologies that can remove CO2 from the atmosphere. According to the definition of bioenergy with CO2 capture and storage, capturing and storing the CO2 originating from biomass, along with the biomass binding with carbon from the atmosphere as it grows, will result in net removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. Another technology option for CO2 removal from the atmosphere is direct air capture. The idea of a net carbon balance for different systems (including bioenergy with CO2 capture and storage, and direct air capture) has been presented in the literature. This paper gives a background on carbon dioxide removal solutions—with a focus on ecology, economy, and policy-relevant distinctions in technology. As presented in this paper, the bioenergy with CO2 capture and storage is superior to direct air capture for countries like Poland in terms of ecological impact. This is mainly due to the electricity generation mix structure (highly dependent on fossil fuels), which shifts the CO2 emissions to upstream processes, and relatively the low environmental burden for biomass acquisition. Nevertheless, the depletion of non-renewable natural resources for newly built bioenergy power plant with CO2 capture and storage, and direct air capture with surplus wind energy, has a similar impact below 0.5 GJ3x/t of negative CO2 emissions. When the economic factors are a concern, the use of bioenergy with CO2 capture and storage provides an economic justification at current CO2 emission allowance prices of around 90 EUR/t CO2. Conversely, for direct air capture to be viable, the cost would need to be from 3 to 4.5 times higher.

Comparisons of biomass, water use efficiency and water use strategies across five genomic groups ofPopulusand its hybrids

AbstractGenetic improvement and hybridization in thePopulusgenus have led to the development of genotypes exhibiting fast growth, high rooting ability and disease resistance. However, while large biomass production is important for bioenergy crops, efficient use of resources including water is also important in sites lacking irrigation and for maintaining ecosystem water availability. In addition, comparison of water use strategies across a range of growth rates and genetic variability can elucidate whether certain strategies are shared among the fastest growing and/or most water use efficient genotypes. We estimated tree water use throughout the second growing season via sapflow sensors of 48 genotypes from fivePopulustaxa;P. deltoidesW. Bartram ex Marshall × P. deltoides(D × D),P. deltoides × P. maximowicziiA. Henry (D × M),P. deltoides × P. nigraL. (D × N),P. deltoides × P. trichocarpaTorr. & Gray (D × T) andP. trichocarpa × P. deltoides(T × D) and calculated average canopy stomatal conductance (GS). We regressedGSand atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD) wherein the slope of the relationship represents stomatal sensitivity to VPD. At the end of the second growing season, trees were harvested, and their dry woody biomass was used to calculate whole tree water use efficiency (WUET). We found that D × D and D × M genotypes exhibited differing water use strategies with D × D genotypes exhibiting high stomatal sensitivity while retaining leaves while D × M genotypes lost leaf area throughout the growing season but exhibited low stomatal sensitivity. Across measured taxa, biomass growth was positively correlated with WUET, and genotypes representing each measured taxa except D × N and T × D had high 2‐year dry biomass of above 6 kg/tree. Overall, these data can be used to selectPopulusgenotypes that combine high biomass growth with stomatal sensitivity and WUETto limit the negative impacts of bioenergy plantations on ecosystem water resources.

Maize monoculture causes niacin deficiency in free-living European brown hares and impairs local population development

Maize (Zea mays) is the most produced crop worldwide and the second most important bio-energy plant. Huge maize monoculture is considered a threat to biodiversity in agricultural landscapes and may also contribute to the decline of European brown hares (Lepus europaeus, Pallas 1778). Indeed, the intensification of agriculture has been identified as one of the main factors responsible for the decline of brown hare populations. A reason why large maize cultures can be particularly detrimental to animals consuming this plant is its poor nutritional value with respect to niacin. In this study, we investigated the effects of the proportion of area under maize crops on liver concentrations of niacin in free-living hares, on the reproductive output of does (females), and on the development of local populations, at nine study sites in Lower Austria. Hare numbers were estimated from spotlight counts in spring and autumn. Liver samples and uteri were obtained from hares shot in the same areas during regular autumn hunts. Number of offspring born to an individual female during the preceding reproductive period was determined by counting placental scars. Our results show a significant negative effect of the area under maize crops on liver concentrations of niacin of does and on their reproductive output. Further, we found a significant negative effect of the area under maize on the development of a population. Altogether, our findings indicate that high proportions of the area under maize crops contribute to the decline of brown hares by reduced fecundity of does and impaired development of local populations.

Geo-Locations and System Data of Renewable Energy Installations in Germany

Information on geo-locations of renewable energy installations is very useful to investigate spatial, social or environmental questions on their impact at local and national level. However, existing data sets do not provide a sufficiently accurate representation of these installations in Germany over space and time. This work provides a valid approach on how a data set of wind power plants, photovoltaic field systems, bioenergy plants and hydropower plants can be created for Germany based on a data extract from the Core Energy Market Data Register (CEMDR) and publicly available data. Established methods were used (e.g., random forest, image recognition), but new techniques were also developed to fill data gaps or locate misplaced renewable energy installations. In this way, a substantial part of the CEMDR data could be corrected and processed in such a way that it can be freely used in a GIS software by any scientific and non-scientific discipline.

Framework for Optimized Analysis of Waste Bioenergy Projects

Over the years, cities have undergone transformations that, invariably, overload and even compromise the functioning of an energy matrix dependent on increasingly scarce resources. The high demand for energy has challenged stakeholders to invest in more sustainable alternatives, such as bioenergy, which, in addition, helps to reduce the pressure for finite resources, enable the energy recovery of waste and contribute to the mitigation of carbon emissions. For these improvements to be successful, stakeholders need specific technological strategies, requiring tools, methods and solutions that support the decision-making process. In this perspective, the current work aimed to develop a framework optimizing the evaluation of waste bioenergy projects through the application of algorithms. Therefore, a literature review was carried out to select the algorithms and identify the sectors/areas and stages in which they are applied. These algorithms were then grouped into two sequential phases. The first targeted the evaluation of region, based on the type and supply of biomass, while the second sought to optimize aspects related to infrastructure and logistics. Both phases were concluded with the application of multi-criteria methods, thus, identifying the areas/regions with the greatest potential for implementing bioenergy projects. In general, it was observed that there are different algorithms and multi-criteria analysis methods that can be suitable in bioenergy projects. They were used to identify and select the regions with the greatest potential for bioenergy plant implementation, focusing on the type, quantity and perpetuity of biomass supply, to assess the operational efficiency of machines, equipment, processes and to optimize the logistics chain, especially the collection and transport of biomass. Thus, the joint work between the use of algorithms and multi-criteria decision methods provides greater assertiveness in choices, helping to identify the most viable projects and mitigating risks and uncertainties for decision-makers.

Environmental and Plant-Derived Controls on the Seasonality and Partitioning of Soil Respiration in an American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) Bioenergy Plantation Grown at Different Planting Densities

Bioenergy is one of the most considered alternatives to fossil fuels. Short-rotation woody crops (SRWCs) as bioenergy sources are capable of alleviating energy constraints and sequestering atmospheric CO2. However, studies investigating soil carbon (C) dynamics at SWRC plantations are scarce. We studied American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) as a model tree species for SRWC at different planting densities ((1) 0.5 × 2.0 m (10,000 trees·ha−1 or tph), (2) 1.0 × 2.0 m (5000 tph), and (3) 2.0 × 2.0 m (2500 tph)) to examine seasonal variation in total soil respiration (Rtotal), partitioned into heterotrophic (Rh) and autotrophic (Ra) respiration, and we evaluated climatic and biological controls on soil respiration. Rtotal and Rh exhibited larger seasonal variation than Ra (p < 0.05). During the nongrowing seasons, the average Rtotal was 0.60 ± 0.21 g·C·m−2·day−1 in winter and 1.41 ± 0.73 g·C·m−2·day−1 in fall. During the growing season, Rtotal was 2–7 times higher in spring (3.49 ± 1.44 g·C·m−2·day−1) and summer (4.01 ± 1.17 g·C·m−2·day−1) than winter. Average Rtotal was 2.30 ± 0.63 g·C·m−2·day−1 in 2500 tph, 2.43 ± 0.64 g·C·m−2·day−1 in 5000 tph, and 2.41 ± 0.75 g·C·m−2·day−1 in 10,000 tph treatments. Average Rh was 1.72 ± 0.40 g·C·m−2·day−1 in 2500 tph, 1.57 ± 0.39 g·C·m−2·day−1 in 5000 tph, and 1.93 ± 0.64 g·C·m−2·day−1 in 10,000 tph, whereas Ra had the lowest rates, with 0.59 ± 0.53 g·C·m−2·day−1 in 2500 tph, 0.86 ± 0.51 g·C·m−2·d−1 in 5000 tph, and 0.48 ± 0.34 g·C·m−2·day−1 in 10,000 tph treatments. Rh had a greater contribution to Rtotal (63%–80%) compared to Ra (20%–37%). Soil temperature was highly correlated to Rtotal (R2 = 0.92) and Rh (R2 = 0.77), while the correlation to Ra was weak (R2 = 0.21). Rtotal, Rh, and Ra significantly declined with soil water content extremes (e.g., <20% or >50%). Total root biomass in winter (469 ± 127 g·C·m−2) was smaller than in summer (616 ± 161 g·C·m−2), and the relationship of total root biomass to Rtotal, Rh, and Ra was only significant during the growing seasons (R2 = 0.12 to 0.50). The litterfall in 5000 tph (121 ± 16 g DW·m−2) did not differ (p > 0.05) from the 2500 tph (108 ± 16 g DW·m−2) or 10,000 tph (132 ± 16 g DW·m−2) treatments. In no circumstances were Rtotal, Rh, and Ra significantly correlated with litterfall amount across planting densities and seasons (p > 0.05). Overall, our results show that Rtotal in American sycamore SRWC is dominated by the heterotrophic component (Rh), is strongly correlated to soil environmental conditions, and can be minimized by planting at a certain tree density (5000 tph).

Impact of deforestation and temporal land-use change on soil organic carbon storage, quality, and lability.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a key role in regulating soil quality functions and ecosystem services. The objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of deforestation and subsequent land-use change on the SOC and total nitrogen (TN) concentration, quality, and lability under otherwise similar soil and environmental conditions. Geo-referenced composite soils (0 to 30 cm depth at 7.5 cm interval) sampled from agriculture, bioenergy plantations (Miscanthus x giganteus), Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and wetland were analyzed for SOC, TN, active C (AC), humic- and fulvic acid (HA and FA), non-humic C (NH), E4: E6 ratio, humification indices (HI, HR, and DH), and carbon and nitrogen management indices (CPI, NPI, and CMI), compared to soils under protected forest as a control. Results showed that the CRP had the highest depth distribution and profile-wise stocks of SOC, TN, AC, and FA with respect to the lowest in agriculture upon conversion of forest. Moreover, the SOC and TN contents were significantly stratified in the CRP when compared to agriculture. While agriculture had the wider HA: FA ratios with highest HI and HR but lowest DH values, the CRP, in contrast, had the narrow HA: FA ratios with lowest HI but highest DH values, when compared to the forest. Spectral analyses have shown lower E4: E6 ratios under the forest when compared to both agriculture and the CRP; however, the later had significantly higher E4: E6 ratios than that of agriculture. The CPI, as measures of SOC accumulation or depletion, significantly decreased by 16% under agriculture but increased by 12% under the CRP. While the CMI, as measures of SOC accumulation or depletion and lability, with higher values under the CRP suggested a proportionally more labile SOC accumulation, in contrast, the smaller values under agriculture indicated a greater depletion of labile SOC over time. Moreover, the CRP may have favored a more labile SOC accumulation with higher proportions of aliphatic C compounds, whereas agriculture may have a SOC with high proportions of non-labile aromatic C compounds. Principal components analysis clearly separated and/or discriminated the land-use impacts on soil carbon pools and TN. Likewise, redundancy analysis of the relationship between measured soil parameters and land-use validated that the TOC, TN, FA, humin, and CPI were significantly impacted due to synergism among soil properties as positively influenced by the CRP upon conversion of agriculture.

Dredged sediments as a plant-growing substrate: Estimation of health risk index

Dredging of sediments is conducted worldwide to maintain harbours and water bodies. As a result, large amounts of materials generated require proper management and could have useful applications in a circular economy context. The current use of peat as organic material in cultivating plants requires urgent replacement by more sustainable alternatives. In this context, using nutrient-rich sediments generated by dredging could be an attractive option. However, due to contaminants in dredged sediments, more investigations are required. The present study investigated the potential to employ dredged material as a plant-growing substrate to cultivate lettuce (Lactuca sativa). The study employed compost and dredged sediments from Malmfjärden Bay, Sweden, with low and high nutritional content (LN and HN, respectively), with and without polymer (PO) used for dewatering. The tests were carried out under controlled conditions in a greenhouse, and the studied substrates were (% vol): (1) 100 % sediment (100SHN); (2) 50 % sediment +50 % compost (50SLN-50C); (3) 70 % sediment +30 % compost (70SLN-30C); (4) 50 % polymer sediment +50 % compost (50SPO-50C); and (5) 100 % compost (100C). Fertilisers were added to 50SLN-50C and 70SLN-30C during the experiment. Lettuces with the highest weight were harvested from substrates 100C, 50SPO-50C and 50SLN-50C. However, the lettuces only reached a weight of 18.57 ± 4.67 g. The results showed that a main limitation of the growth was probably a lack of aeration of the sediments during sampling and development of the experiment. The low aeration possibly caused a lack of available forms of N in the substrates, hindering the growth. Lettuces harvested from substrates containing sediments presented Cd concentrations slightly overpassing the Swedish thresholds, and the health risk index was marginally exceeding 1. Hence, sediments need to be pre-treated before using them to cultivate edible crops, or they could be employed to cultivate ornamental or bioenergy plants.

Technological Process of Anaerobic Digestion of Cattle Manure in a Bioenergy Plant

Technological Process of Anaerobic Digestion of Cattle Manure in a Bioenergy Plant

Modeling and calculation of the thermal balance of a pyrolysis plant for the production of alternative fuels from biomass

In this article, in order to determine the consumption of thermal energy for biomass processing, modeling and calculation of the thermal balance of a pyrolysis plant are performed. Based on these equations, the calculation of parameters such as the thermal balance for a tubular (cylindrical shape) bioreactor, the heat used, the efficiency of the tubular bioreactor, the exergy of the source fuel, the exergetic efficiency of the bioreactor, the loss of exergy to the environment, the heat transfer coefficient, etc. The heat balance calculation software is developed using the Java programming language. In addition, the article provides a comparative analysis of the technical and energy characteristics of bioenergy plants, which shows that the energy intensity of biomass processing in existing plants reaches up to 50-60% in the total heat balance

Technology of Miscanthus giant growing for energy purposes in the conditions of drained peatlands of the Left Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

The paper highlights the peculiarities of growing miscanthus for energy purposes in the conditions of drained peat bogs at the Panfl Experimental Station of the NSC "Institute of Agriculture of the NAAS". The economic and ecological advantages of growing energy plantations on reclaimed organogenic soils in comparison with rainfed lands in the zone of the LeftBank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine are argued. The study substantiates the technology and the influence of its individual elements on the productivity of miscanthus giant growing for energy purposes on old-sown hayfelds of carbonate peatlands of the Forest-Steppe. The optimal biometric parameters of the planting material, as well as the planting density, the depth of the rhizomes embedding, the influence of the planting time on the growth and development indicators of the studied culture were determined. Developed and patented agrotechnical, together with a biological method of combating wireworms, which provides effective protection of miscanthus plants at the beginning of the establishment of energy plantations. An environmentally friendly weed control technology has been applied, which excludes the use of chemicals, the introduction of herbicides, which, in turn, does not allow contaminating soil and river waters with harmful elements. The peculiarities of the nutrient regime of the soil and its biological activity in the experimental plots of Miscanthus giant on the drained carbonate peatlands of the Left Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine have been investigated. The effect of potash fertilization, as a key element in plant nutrition on organogenic soils, on the productivity of bioenergetic plantations of Miscanthus is studied. The energy output of bioenergy plantations per unit area has been determined depending on the elements of the cultivation technology. Calculations of economic and energy efciency have been carried out. The developed technology for 3 years of miscanthus cultivation ensures the yield of dry biomass at the level of 23.7–26.1 t/ha or 403–444 GJ/ha of energy. The best economic indicators were obtained on the option with a planting scheme (0.7 X 1.4 m) 10 thousand/ha, where the level of proftability made – 56 %, the cost of dry biomass made 529.6 UAH/t and the conditional net proft – 13157 g/ha. Further directions of scientifc research on the creation of bioenergetic plantations from Miscanthus Giganteus on drained carbonate peatlands of the Left Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine have been substantiated. Key words: miscanthus, mass of rhizomes, planting density, fertilizers, productivity, proftability.

Sustainable development in China: Valuation of bioenergy potential and CO2 reduction from crop straw

Bioenergy is recognized as a promising alternative for future energy demand and decarbonization development. Crop straw, especially wheat, rice, and maize straw, is one of the significant feedstocks for bioenergy production. However, the production potential of different types of bioenergy from crop straw, and its potential to reduce CO2 emissions are poorly understood. Thus, we collected crop straw utilization data at the provincial level via face-to-face field surveys to estimate straw quantity until 2030, dividing the 31 provincial regions in mainland China into four regions each for wheat (W-I, II, III, IV), rice (R-I, II, III, IV), and maize (M-I, II, III, IV), respectively, based on their quantity and distribution. The results show that if all three types of straw are used for bioenergy production, the bioenergy production potential is 75.1 Mtce for electricity, 151.5 Mtce for bioethanol, 182.1 Mtce for biomethane, and 329.1 Mtce for briquette fuel in 2030. Substituting electricity, bioethanol, biomethane, and briquette fuel for fossil fuels could reduce CO2 emissions by 562.9, 362.4, 220.4, and 1654.2 Mt, respectively. Our study indicates that wheat straw should be used for bioethanol and electricity production, maize straw for electricity and briquette fuel, and rice straw for biomethane. This research provides a good reference for local and national governments for policy formulation regarding straw utilization, and it will also help bioenergy plants select the best plant locations, bioenergy types, and feedstock types to obtain a high quantity of bioenergy and realize decarbonization development.

Comparative Analysis of Transcriptomes of Diploid and Tetraploid Miscanthus lutarioriparius under Drought Stress.

Miscanthus lutarioriparius is a species of bioenergy crop unique to China. It is widely distributed in the south of China with high resistance to drought and salt stress. To date, the molecular mechanism of the adaption to drought stress in M. lutarioriparius is little known. In this study, RNA-seq technology was employed to analyze the transcriptome changes of diploid and tetraploid M. lutarioriparius after drought treatment. It was found that the number of differentially expressed genes in diploid M. lutarioriparius was much higher than tetraploid, whereas the tetraploid M. lutarioriparius may require fewer transcriptional changes. While the transcriptional changes in drought-tolerant tetraploid M. lutarioriparius are less than that of diploid, more known drought-tolerant pathways were significantly enriched than drought-sensitive diploid M. lutarioriparius. In addition, many drought-tolerance-related genes were constitutively and highly expressed in tetraploid under either normal condition or drought stress. These results together demonstrated that drought-tolerant tetraploid M. lutarioriparius, on the one hand, may preadapt to drought by constitutively overexpressing a series of drought-tolerant genes and, on the other hand, may adapt to drought by actively inducing other drought-tolerant-related pathways. Overall, this study could deepen our understanding of the molecular mechanism of drought-tolerance in bioenergy plants.

Sustainable utilization of biomass resources for decentralized energy generation and climate change mitigation: A regional case study in India

Clean energy transition via utilizing biomass resources has been projected as an important climate change mitigation strategy. A vital characteristic of biomass is its localized nature; therefore, bioenergy utilization should follow decentralized planning. Agrarian countries like India can take benefit of its large agricultural biomass waste pool to produce clean renewable energy. However, prior knowledge of spatio-temporal distribution, competing uses, and biomass characteristics are necessary for successful bioenergy planning. This paper assesses biomass resource and its power generation potential at different agro-climatic zone levels in the state of Rajasthan, India considering crop residue biomass (25 different crop residues from 14 crops) and livestock manure (from cattle, buffalo, and poultry). Uncertainties associated with the availability of biomass and the power generation potential are assessed for each agro-climatic zone under different scenarios. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions from biomass-based power generations are also estimated and compared with biomass-equivalent coal power plants. It is observed that the annual biomass power potential of Rajasthan is 3056 MW (2496 MW from crop residues and 560 MW from livestock manure). Scenario analysis suggests that the potential varies from 2445 to 6045 MW under different biomass availability and power plant operating conditions. Annual GHGs emissions due to biomass power generation is 5053 kt CO2eq. Replacing coal-based power with biomass power would result in annual GHGs savings of 11412 kt CO2eq. The paper also discusses various carriers and barriers viz. logistics, institutional, financial and technical in setting up decentralized bioenergy plants. Outcomes of the present study are expected to assist renewable energy planners in India.

Industrial Development and Economic Impacts of Forest Biomass for Bioenergy: A Data-Driven Holistic Analysis Framework

A data-driven holistic analysis framework was developed to aid the industrial development of forest biomass for bioenergy to promote the regional bioeconomy. Leveraging the existing but fragmented multi-source data, four components of industrial bioenergy development were integrated into the framework including spatial statistical analysis of biomass feedstock and bioenergy production, machine learning-based suitability assessment, bioenergy plant sites identification and ranking, and socio-economic impacts assessment. A case study was conducted for forest biomass to pellet fuel in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region. Our results indicate that the great potential of forest biomass with high variation at the county level is primarily clustered in western Pennsylvania and eastern North Carolina. Integrating the datasets of biomass feedstock, road conditions, employment status, income status, population, and current bioenergy production, the machine-learning model demonstrates good performance for bioenergy industry suitability assessment, with the high-suitable areas accounting for 19.76%, medium-suitable areas for 34.74%, and low-suitable areas for 54.49% in the region. Forest biomass availability and distance to major roads are the two top factors affecting bioenergy industry development. We identified 65 industrial sites within the suitable areas and their rankings were derived as a reference of the bioenergy development priority. The socio-economic impacts assessment indicates that the one-year construction of a medium-size pellet fuel facility (75,000 dry tons/year) could create 127 jobs, $8.78 million of labor income, while the operation could create 202 jobs, $10.52 million of labor income, $14.66 million of value-added, and $33.61 million of output in total per year for the state-level economy.

The closed-open truck and loader routing problem for biomass transportation from satellite storage locations to a bioenergy plant

• We formulate the truck and loader routing problem for biomass transportation. • The model considers the closed routing of trucks and the open routing of loaders. • A numerical study demonstrates application to a region in Southwestern Ontario. • The developed heuristics-based solution method outperforms commercial solvers. The complex daily operation and movement of costly machines transporting biomass to bioenergy plants can significantly affect the economic viability of the system. In particular, while a truck should have a closed route from/to the bioenergy plant, a mobile loader may have different departing and returning locations. This study formulated the closed-open routing of mobile machines as a mixed-integer linear programming model considering challenging modeling factors such as multi-trips, multi-visits, and synchronized loading operations. The formulated problem prescribes daily schedules for trucks and mobile loaders to minimize the total cost of transporting biomass from satellite storage locations to a bioenergy plant. A novel constructive heuristics-based method is developed in this research to solve the problem effectively for practical use. The numerical studies showed that the model correctly made operating schedules for real-life examples. The developed solution method outperformed the commercial solvers by reducing the total costs and finding feasible solutions in difficult cases, which the commercial solvers could not do. Further analysis at the branch-and-bound root node showed the effectiveness of the developed heuristics to strengthen the branch-and-bound procedure compared to the CPLEX heuristics-and-cuts.