BeWhere at 1^st forebiom workshop

The European Union has set a 10% target for the share of biofuel in the transportation sector to be met by 2020. To reach this target, second generation biofuel is expected to replace 3 to 5% of the transport fossil fuel consumption. But the competition on the feedstock is an issue and makes the planning for the second generation biofuel plant a challenge. Moreover, no commercial second generation biofuel production plant is under operation, but if reaching commercial status, this type of production plants are expected to become very large. In order to minimize the transportation costs and to tackle the competition for the feedstock against the existing woody based industries, the geographical location of biofuel production plants becomes an issue. This study investigates the potential and the optimal technology for producing second generation biofuel economically feasible in Europe by 2020 in regards with the competition for the feedstock with the existing woody biomass based industries (CHP, pulp and paper mills, sawmills...).

To assess the biofuel potential in Europe, a techno-economic, geographically explicit model, BeWhere, is used. It determines the optimal locations of bio-energy production plants by minimizing the costs and CO₂ emissions of the entire supply chain. The existing woody based industries have to first meet their wood demand, and if the amount of wood that remains is sufficient, new bio-energy production plants if any can be set up. The model will determine the location, number and technology of the biofuel production plants.

Preliminary results show that CHP plants are preferably chosen over biofuel production plants. Strong biofuel policy support is needed in order to consequently increase the biofuel production in Europe. Methanol via gasification is the biofuel of choice when it comes to increase the biofuel production, whereas ethanol can be produced at different level of policy tools. Including pyrolysis in the system lower the logistic costs consequently and therefor is a promising technology.

Last edited: 12 April 2013