Opportunities and Challenges in the Design and Analysis of Biomass Supply Chains

Abstract

The biomass supply chain is one of the most critical elements of large-scale bioenergy production and in many cases a key barrier for procuring initial funding for new developments on specific energy crops. Most productions rely on complex transforming chains linked to feed and food markets. The term 'supply chain' covers various aspects from cultivation and harvesting of the biomass, to treatment, transportation, and storage. After energy conversion, the product must be delivered to final consumption, whether it is in the form of electricity, heat, or more tangible products, such as pellets and biofuels. Effective supply chains are of utmost importance for bioenergy production, as biomass tends to possess challenging seasonal production cycles and low mass, energy and bulk densities. Additionally, the demand for final products is often also dispersed, further complicating the supply chain. The goal of this paper is to introduce key components of biomass supply chains, examples of related modeling applications, and if/how they address aspects related to environmental metrics and management. The paper will introduce a concept of integrated supply systems for sustainable biomass trade and the factors influencing the bioenergy supply chain landscape, including models that can be used to investigate the factors. The paper will also cover various aspects of transportation logistics, ranging from alternative modal and multi-modal alternatives to introduction of support tools for transportation analysis. Finally gaps and challenges in supply chain research are identified and used to outline research recommendations for the future direction in this area of study.

Diverse lignocellulosic feedstocks can achieve high field‐scale ethanol yields while providing flexibility for the biorefinery and landscape‐level environmental benefits

“…Perennials can also be strategically added to sensitive or low-productivity regions within the landscape, such as marginal field sites, riparian buffers, and in-field erosion strips (Bonner, Muth, Koch, & Karlen, 2014;Gopalakrishnan, Cristina Negri, & Salas, 2012;Ha & Wu, 2015;Ssegane, Negri, Quinn, & Urgun-Demirtas, 2015). This incorporation of perennials into the landscape would avoid competition with food production while maintaining economic productivity and providing most of the ecosystem services that would be gained by completely replacing annual crops with perennials (Asbjornsen et al, 2014;Lautala et al, 2015). Feedstock diversity can also improve harvest logistics and reduce overall labor and equipment requirements using the same equipment to harvest multiple feedstocks at different times during the growing season.…”

Annotated Bibliography of the Global Literature on the Secondary Transportation of Raw and Comminuted Forest Products (2000–2015)

“…Lautala et al [114] USA 3 Reviewed opportunities and challenges in designing BSC. Important challenges were availability of data; lack of a mutual agenda; and less integrated analysis.…”

Improving performance and energy efficiency of biomass supply through machine alteration and organisational redesign

“…Correspondingly, Busenius et al (2015) showed the reduction of CO2 emissions when using increasing payloads in log transportation. Lautala et al (2015) conclude in their study that "energy consumption, GHG emissions, and overall environmental impacts should be evaluated in unison with logistics costs, as they vary greatly according to transport and logistical decisions made." The authors recommend focussing future research on establishing a common framework allowing the comparison of potential implementations or their impact, improved integration of the supply chain and related analysis, the use of new technologies in transportation logistics and a robust biomass trading market.…”