LAPSE:2023.30228
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.30228
Viability and Sustainability Assessment of Bioenergy Value Chains on Underutilised Lands in the EU and Ukraine
April 14, 2023
Abstract
Bioenergy represents the highest share of renewable energies consumed in the European Union and is still expected to grow. This could be possible by exploring bioenergy production on Marginal, Underutilised, and Contaminated lands (MUC) that are not used for agricultural purposes and therefore, present no competition with food/feed production. In this paper, the viability and sustainability of bioenergy value chains on these lands is investigated and measures for market uptake were developed. Using three case study areas in Italy, Ukraine, and Germany, a screening of MUC lands was conducted, then an agronomic assessment was performed to determine the most promising crops. Then, techno-economic assessments followed by sustainability assessments were performed on selected value chains. This concept was then automated and expanded through the development of a webGIS tool. The tool is an online platform that allows users to locate MUC lands in Europe, to define a value chain through the selection of bioenergy crops and pathways, and to conduct sustainability assessments measuring a set of environmental, social, and economic sustainability indicators. The findings showed positive results in terms of profitability and greenhouse gas emissions for bioethanol production from willow in Ukraine, heat and power production from miscanthus, and biogas and chemicals production from grass in Germany. The webGIS tool is considered an important decision-making tool for stakeholders, which gives first insights on the viability and sustainability of bioenergy value chains.
Bioenergy represents the highest share of renewable energies consumed in the European Union and is still expected to grow. This could be possible by exploring bioenergy production on Marginal, Underutilised, and Contaminated lands (MUC) that are not used for agricultural purposes and therefore, present no competition with food/feed production. In this paper, the viability and sustainability of bioenergy value chains on these lands is investigated and measures for market uptake were developed. Using three case study areas in Italy, Ukraine, and Germany, a screening of MUC lands was conducted, then an agronomic assessment was performed to determine the most promising crops. Then, techno-economic assessments followed by sustainability assessments were performed on selected value chains. This concept was then automated and expanded through the development of a webGIS tool. The tool is an online platform that allows users to locate MUC lands in Europe, to define a value chain through the selection of bioenergy crops and pathways, and to conduct sustainability assessments measuring a set of environmental, social, and economic sustainability indicators. The findings showed positive results in terms of profitability and greenhouse gas emissions for bioethanol production from willow in Ukraine, heat and power production from miscanthus, and biogas and chemicals production from grass in Germany. The webGIS tool is considered an important decision-making tool for stakeholders, which gives first insights on the viability and sustainability of bioenergy value chains.
Record ID
Keywords
bioenergy, bioenergy value chains, mapping, marginal, market barriers, sustainability assessment, techno-economic assessment, underutilised and contaminated lands
Subject
Suggested Citation
Khawaja C, Janssen R, Mergner R, Rutz D, Colangeli M, Traverso L, Morese MM, Hirschmugl M, Sobe C, Calera A, Cifuentes D, Fabiani S, Pulighe G, Pirelli T, Bonati G, Tryboi O, Haidai O, Köhler R, Knoche D, Schlepphorst R, Gyuris P. Viability and Sustainability Assessment of Bioenergy Value Chains on Underutilised Lands in the EU and Ukraine. (2023). LAPSE:2023.30228
Author Affiliations
Khawaja C: WIP Renewable Energies, 81369 Munich, Germany [ORCID]
Janssen R: WIP Renewable Energies, 81369 Munich, Germany
Mergner R: WIP Renewable Energies, 81369 Munich, Germany
Rutz D: WIP Renewable Energies, 81369 Munich, Germany
Colangeli M: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, 00153 Rome, Italy
Traverso L: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, 00153 Rome, Italy [ORCID]
Morese MM: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, 00153 Rome, Italy
Hirschmugl M: Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, 8010 Graz, Austria [ORCID]
Sobe C: Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, 8010 Graz, Austria
Calera A: Institute for Regional Development, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain [ORCID]
Cifuentes D: Institute for Regional Development, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
Fabiani S: CREA Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, 00198 Rome, Italy [ORCID]
Pulighe G: CREA Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, 00198 Rome, Italy [ORCID]
Pirelli T: CREA Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, 00198 Rome, Italy [ORCID]
Bonati G: CREA Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, 00198 Rome, Italy
Tryboi O: Scientific Engineering Centre Biomass Ltd., 03127 Kyiv, Ukraine
Haidai O: Scientific Engineering Centre Biomass Ltd., 03127 Kyiv, Ukraine
Köhler R: Research Institute for Post-Mining Landscapes, 03238 Finsterwalde, Germany
Knoche D: Research Institute for Post-Mining Landscapes, 03238 Finsterwalde, Germany
Schlepphorst R: Research Institute for Post-Mining Landscapes, 03238 Finsterwalde, Germany
Gyuris P: Geonardo Environmental Technologies Ltd., 1031 Budapest, Hungary
Janssen R: WIP Renewable Energies, 81369 Munich, Germany
Mergner R: WIP Renewable Energies, 81369 Munich, Germany
Rutz D: WIP Renewable Energies, 81369 Munich, Germany
Colangeli M: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, 00153 Rome, Italy
Traverso L: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, 00153 Rome, Italy [ORCID]
Morese MM: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, 00153 Rome, Italy
Hirschmugl M: Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, 8010 Graz, Austria [ORCID]
Sobe C: Joanneum Research Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, 8010 Graz, Austria
Calera A: Institute for Regional Development, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain [ORCID]
Cifuentes D: Institute for Regional Development, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
Fabiani S: CREA Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, 00198 Rome, Italy [ORCID]
Pulighe G: CREA Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, 00198 Rome, Italy [ORCID]
Pirelli T: CREA Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, 00198 Rome, Italy [ORCID]
Bonati G: CREA Research Centre for Agricultural Policies and Bioeconomy, 00198 Rome, Italy
Tryboi O: Scientific Engineering Centre Biomass Ltd., 03127 Kyiv, Ukraine
Haidai O: Scientific Engineering Centre Biomass Ltd., 03127 Kyiv, Ukraine
Köhler R: Research Institute for Post-Mining Landscapes, 03238 Finsterwalde, Germany
Knoche D: Research Institute for Post-Mining Landscapes, 03238 Finsterwalde, Germany
Schlepphorst R: Research Institute for Post-Mining Landscapes, 03238 Finsterwalde, Germany
Gyuris P: Geonardo Environmental Technologies Ltd., 1031 Budapest, Hungary
Journal Name
Energies
Volume
14
Issue
6
First Page
1566
Year
2021
Publication Date
2021-03-12
ISSN
1996-1073
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Original Submission
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PII: en14061566, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.30228
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https://doi.org/10.3390/en14061566
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Apr 14, 2023
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