Supply chains for the UK to 2050A. Bauen (*), R. Slade, S. Jablonski and C. Panoutsou

The context

The aim of this work is to explore the potential for deployment of biomass energy chains in the UK to 2050 based on technical, economic and environmental criteria. Biomass chains will include options for the heat, electricity and transport sectors, and will also take into account the future biorefinery possibilities. The selected chains are used as images of the bioenergy future in the UK.

“Biomass supply chains include all the

stages from the production/ harvesting of the raw material to the pre- treatment ,

storage, transportation and conversion to an

energy carrier”

Imperial Centre for Energy Policy and Technology, Imperial College, Mechanical Engineering building 3rd floor, Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2AZ; www.imperial.ac.uk/icept; (*) email: a.bauen@imperial.ac.uk.

Supply chains modelled

UK policy identifies bioenergy as an important means of meeting the Government’s energy and environment objectives, including energy security and the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It highlights its role in rural diversification and development and indicates that bioenergy could be a major contributor to the future renewable energy mix. Since there are multiple ways in which biomass resources could be utilised for energy and products, it is essential to consider the implications of alternative options and strategies through a comparative framework of analysis that allows to capture the technical, economic, environmental and social specificities of each option and analyse them in the perspective timeframes that policy targets set.

The analysis of the biomass supply chains for the UK covers:• A variety of feedstocks including both indigenous resources (residual forms and energy crops) and imported material.•The interface steps from harvesting, pre-treatment, storage and transport•Different conversion processes to energy carriers for the heat, electricity and transport sectors.

Main parameters for modelling

Evaluation framework

Introduction

Information Flows

The major pathways for bioenergy use in this study are identified as:

(a) small to medium heat and power plants, fuelled by locally grown biomass from energy crops or a range of agricultural and forestry residues;

(b) large-scale power generation plants, either burning dedicated biomass or co-firing with fossil fuels; and

(c) the transport sector, initially as biodiesel and bioethanol blended with conventional fuels, and possibly as new fuels, such as synthetic

diesel, or hydrogen, in the future.

The selection and evaluation of biomass supply chains is based on a set of criteria concerning:•Technology maturity and efficiency•Economics• Sustainability•Social impacts

Methodological approach

Heat

Electricity

Biofuels

Storage

Pre- processing

Harvest

Resources

Options Parameters for modelling Input Output Feedstock Woodchips, Wood wastes

Fellings, Arboricultural cleaning & thinings Other wastes (e.g. oils and fats) Energy crops (e.g. oil crops, starch crops, sugar crops, SRC, Miscanthus, etc.) Dry agricultural residues (e.g. straw) Wet food & beverage industry residues

Opportunity costs Purchase costs(international trade) Feedstock quality Energy- fuels used Manhours

Production costs

Logistics Pre-treatment Transport Storage

Separating/ sorting Mixing/ blending Drying Physical state alteration and/ or densifying Biochemical/ chemical treatment Truck Ship Rail Outdoors Indoors

Equipment capacity Capital costs O& M costs Energy consumption (fuel, energy) Distance Capacity (volume, weight) Fuel consumption Time per trip Volume per feedstock type (bales, pellets, etc.)

Cost per pre- treatment category Fuel & energy inputs/ outputs Costs per tonne Emissions Optimal transport method Storage space, location, etc.

Conversion Heat (Combustion, Gasification, bio- oil) Electricity (Combustion, Gasification, CHP, Co-firing) Biodiesel (vegetable oils, used oils, fats) Bioethanol (sugar, starch, lignocellulosic)

Conversion efficiency Capacity range Capital costs O& M costs Load factor

Cost per energy carrier Efficiency

End use Heat CHP Electricity Transport fuels

Load factor Delivered energy costs

•Compare recent policy reports (e.g. Carbon trust, RCEP, Biomass Task Force) that analyse the possible development of the bioenergy sector in the UK. Focus on assumptions made with respect to economics and technology, the importance of environmental sustainability, the role of governmental policy, and the social setting.

• Identify promising bioenergy chains for the UK to be assessed in the timescale of 2010 to 2050.

• Conduct quantitative analysis for each bioenergy chain to define key technical, economic and environmental parameters. Data will be used as inputs to models to provide techno-economic analysis of the selected chains and sensitivity analysis for the specific parameters affecting their economic viability and future deployment.

• Assess the potential biomass deployment for the heat, electricity and transport sectors.

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