Cooperation in manure-based biogas production networks: An agent-based modeling approach

Biogas production from manure has been proposed as a partial solution to energy and environmental concerns. However, manure markets face distortions caused by considerable unbalance between supply and demand and environmental regulations imposed for soil and water protection. Such market distortions influence the cooperation between animal farmers, biogas producers and arable land owners causing fluctuations in manure prices paid (or incurred) by animal farmers. This paper adopts an agent-based modeling approach to investigate the interactions between manure suppliers, i.e., animal farmers, and biogas producers in an industrial symbiosis case example consisting of 19 municipalities in the Overijssel region (eastern Netherlands). To find the manure price for successful cooperation schemes, we measure the impact of manure discharge cost, dimension and dispersion of animal farms, incentives provided by the government for bioenergy production, and the investment costs of biogas plants for different scales on the economic returns for both actor types and favorable market conditions. Findings show that manure exchange prices may vary between −3.33 €/t manure (i.e., animal farmer pays to biogas producer) and 7.03 €/t manure (i.e., biogas producer pays to animal farmer) and thanks to cooperation, actors can create a total economic value added between 3.73 €/t manure and 39.37 €/t manure. Hence, there are cases in which animal farmers can profitably be paid, but the presence of a supply surplus not met by demand provides an advantage to arable land owners and biogas producers in the price contracting phase in the current situation in the Netherlands

Network design and technology management for waste to energy production:An integrated optimization framework under the principles of circular economy

The design of waste to bioenergy supply chains (W-BESC) is critically important for meeting the circular economy (CE) goals, whilst also ensuring environmental sustainability in the planning and operation of energy systems. This study develops a novel optimization methodology to aid sustainable design and planning of W-BESC that comprise multiple technologies as well as multiple product and feedstock types. The methodology identifies the optimum supply chain configuration and plans the logistics operations in a given region to meet the energy demand of specified nodes. A scenario based fuzzy multi objective modelling approach is proposed and utilized to capture the economic and environmental sustainability aspects in the same framework. We test the proposed model using the entire West Midlands (WM) region from the United Kingdom (UK) as a case study. In this scope, a comprehensive regional supply chain is designed to meet the energy and biofertilizer demand of specific nodes considering available waste and crop type biomass in the region. Further analysis is conducted to reveal the impacts of main economic and technological parameters on the supply chain performance indicators

Sustainability assessment of biomass-based energy supply chain using multi-objective optimization model

In recent years, population growth and lifestyle changes have led to an increase in energy consumption worldwide. Providing energy from fossil fuels has negative consequences, such as energy supply constraints and overall greenhouse gas emissions. As the world continues to evolve, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and finding alternative energy sources becomes increasingly urgent. Renewable energy sources are the best way for all countries to reduce reliance on fossil fuels while reducing pollution. Biomass as a renewable energy source is an alternative energy source that can meet energy needs and contribute to global warming and climate change reduction. Among the many renewable energy options, biomass energy has found a wide range of application areas due to its resource diversity and easy availability from various sources all year round. The supply assurance of such energy sources is based on a sustainable and effective supply chain. Simultaneous improvement of the biomass-based supply chain's economic, environmental and social performance is a key factor for optimum network design. This study has suggested a multi-objective goal programming (MOGP) model to optimize a multi-stage biomass-based sustainable renewable energy supply chain network design. The proposed MOGP model represents decisions regarding the optimal number, locations, size of processing facilities and warehouses, and amounts of biomass and final products transported between the locations. The proposed model has been applied to a real-world case study in Istanbul. In addition, sensitivity analysis has been conducted to analyze the effects of biomass availability, processing capacity, storage capacity, electricity generation capacity, and the weight of the goals on the solutions. To realize sensitivity analysis related to the importance of goals, for the first time in the literature, this study employed a spherical fuzzy set-based analytic hierarchy method to determine the weights of goals

Strategic network planning in biomass-based supply chains

Fossil resources are limited and will run short. Moreover, the extensive usage of fossil resources is discussed as a key driver for climate change which means that a changeover in basic economic and ecological thinking is necessary. Especially for energy production, there has to be a movement away from the usage of fossil resources and towards renewable resources like wind, water, sun, or biomass. Within the first part of this work a structured review of recent literature on the long-term, strategic planning of biomass-based supply chains is provided. Therefore, in the first step, the overall research field bioeconomy by means of the various utilization pathways of biomass is structured and the demand-oriented view of supply chain management models and the supply-oriented view of bioeconomy are combined. In the second step, a literature review of operations research models and methods for strategic supply chain planning in biomass-based industries are provided. Thirdly, trends are identified and conclusions about research gaps are drawn. One of the identified research gaps is to make biomass-based supply chains profitable on their own, i.e., without governmental subsidies. Therefore, new optimization models are necessary, which should be as close to reality as possible, by for example considering risks and actual surrounding constraints concerning the legal framework. Within the second part of this work, an approach for strategic optimization of biogas plants considering increased flexibility is developed. Biogas plants can produce their energy flexibly and on-demand if their design is adjusted adequately. In order to achieve a flexibly schedulable biogas plant, the design of this plant has to be adapted to decouple the biogas and electricity production. Therefore, biogas storage possibilities and additional electrical capacity are necessary. The investment decision about the size of the biogas storage and the additional electrical capacity depends on the fluctuation of energy market prices and the availability of governmental subsidies. This work presents an approach supporting investment decisions to increase the flexibility of a biogas plant by installing gas storages and additional electrical capacities under consideration of revenues out of direct marketing at the day-ahead market. In order to support the strategic, long-term investment decisions, an operative plant schedule for the future, considering different plant designs given as investment strategies, using a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model in an uncertain environment is optimized. The different designs can be evaluated by calculating the net present value (NPV). Moreover, an analysis concerning current dynamics and uncertainties within spot market prices is executed. Furthermore, the influences concerning the variation of spot market prices compared to the influence of governmental subsidies, in particular, the flexibility premium, are revealed by computational results. Besides, the robustness of the determined solution is analyzed concerning uncertainties. The focus of the third part of the work is to consider variable substrate feeding in the mentioned optimization approach because it is expected that variable substrate feeding and thus a demand-oriented biogas production can influence the optimized plant design. In order to support this extension, an operative plant schedule for the future, considering (non-) linear technical characteristics of the biogas plant and the legal framework is optimized. Therefore, mixed-integer linear programming models with integrated approximation approaches of non-linear parts, representing the biogas production rates, are constructed. Furthermore, the influences of fluctuating spot market prices, governmental subsidies, and biomass feedstock prices on the decisions are analyzed for a fictional case example, which is based on a biogas plant in southern Germany. These numerical experiments show that variable substrate feeding can play a decisive role during the optimization of a biogas plant schedule as part of a long-term design optimization. However, the size of the strategic optimization problem makes the use of a heuristic solution algorithm necessary.Fossile Ressourcen sind begrenzt und werden zur Neige gehen. Darüber hinaus wird über die extensive Nutzung fossiler Ressourcen als wesentlicher Treiber des Klimawandels diskutiert, so dass ein Umdenken in der ökonomischen und ökologischen Grundhaltung notwendig ist. Insbesondere bei der Energieerzeugung muss eine Abkehr von der Nutzung fossiler Ressourcen und eine Ausrichtung auf erneuerbare Ressourcen wie Wind, Wasser, Sonne oder Biomasse erfolgen. Im ersten Teil dieser Arbeit wird ein strukturierter Überblick über die aktuelle Fachliteratur zur langfristigen, strategischen Planung von biomassebasierten Supply Chains gegeben. Dazu wird in einem ersten Schritt das gesamte Forschungsfeld "Bioökonomie" anhand der verschiedenen Nutzungspfade von Biomasse strukturiert und die nachfrageorientierte Sichtweise von Supply Chain Management Modellen und die angebotsorientierte Sichtweise der Bioökonomie zusammengeführt. Im zweiten Schritt wird ein Literaturüberblick über Operations-Research-Modelle und Methoden zur strategischen Supply-Chain-Planung in biomassebasierten Branchen gegeben. Im dritten Schritt werden Trends identifiziert und Schlussfolgerungen über Forschungslücken gezogen. Eine der identifizierten Forschungslücken besteht darin, biomassebasierte Supply Chains selbständig, d.h. ohne staatliche Subventionen, profitabel zu machen. Hierfür sind neue Optimierungsmodelle notwendig, die möglichst realitätsnah sein sollten, indem sie z.B. Risiken und tatsächliche Rahmenbedingungen bezüglich der rechtlichen Vorgaben berücksichtigen. Im zweiten Teil dieser Arbeit wird ein Ansatz zur strategischen Optimierung von Biogasanlagen unter Berücksichtigung einer Flexibilitätserhöhung entwickelt. Biogasanlagen können bei geeigneter Auslegung ihre Energie flexibel und bedarfsgerecht produzieren. Um eine Biogasanlage flexibel planbar zu betreiben, muss das Design dieser Anlage so angepasst werden, dass die Biogas- und Stromproduktion entkoppelt werden. Dazu sind Biogasspeichermöglichkeiten und zusätzliche elektrische Kapazität notwendig. Die Investitionsentscheidung über die Größe des Biogasspeichers und der zusätzlichen elektrischen Kapazität hängt von der Schwankung der Energiemarktpreise und der Verfügbarkeit staatlicher Fördermittel ab. Diese Arbeit stellt einen Ansatz zur Unterstützung von Investitionsentscheidungen zur Erhöhung der Flexibilität einer Biogasanlage durch die Installation von Gasspeichern und zusätzlichen elektrischen Kapazitäten unter Berücksichtigung von Erlösen aus der Direktvermarktung am Day-Ahead-Markt vor. Um die strategischen, langfristigen Investitionsentscheidungen zu unterstützen, wird ein operativer Anlagenfahrplan für die Zukunft unter Berücksichtigung verschiedener Anlagendesigns, die als Investitionsstrategien vorgegeben sind, mit Hilfe eines gemischt-ganzzahligen linearen Optimierungsmodells (MILP), unter Berücksichtigung von Unsicherheit, optimiert. Die verschiedenen Designs können durch die Berechnung des Kapitalwerts (NPV) bewertet werden. Darüber hinaus wird eine Analyse der aktuellen Dynamik und der Unsicherheiten der Spotmarktpreise durchgeführt. Darüber hinaus werden die Einflüsse der Varianz der Spotmarktpreise im Vergleich zum Einfluss staatlicher Subventionen, insbesondere der Flexibilitätsprämie, durch Berechnungsergebnisse aufgezeigt. Außerdem wird die Robustheit der ermittelten Lösung hinsichtlich der Unsicherheiten analysiert. Der Fokus des dritten Teils der Arbeit liegt auf der Berücksichtigung eines variablen Substratmanagements in dem entwickelten Optimierungsansatz, da erwartet wird, dass eine variable Substrateinspeisung und damit eine bedarfsgerechte Biogasproduktion das optimierte Anlagendesign beeinflussen kann. Um diese Erweiterung umzusetzen, wird ein operativer Anlagenfahrplan für die Zukunft unter Berücksichtigung (nicht-) linearer technischer Eigenschaften der Biogasanlage und der gesetzlichen Rahmenbedingungen optimiert. Dazu werden gemischt-ganzzahlige lineare Optimierungsmodelle mit integrierten Approximationsansätzen der nichtlinearen Anteile, welche die Biogasproduktionsraten repräsentieren, konstruiert. Des Weiteren werden die Einflüsse von schwankenden Spotmarktpreisen, staatlichen Förderungen und Biomasse-Rohstoffpreisen auf die Entscheidungen für ein fiktives Fallbeispiel, das auf einer Biogasanlage aus Süddeutschland basiert, analysiert. Die numerischen Experimente zeigen, dass die variable Substrateinspeisung bei der Optimierung des Fahrplans einer Biogasanlage im Rahmen einer langfristigen Anlagenoptimierung eine entscheidende Rolle spielen kann. Die Größe des strategischen Optimierungsproblems macht jedoch den Einsatz eines heuristischen Lösungsalgorithmus notwendig

Pesquisa operacional como método para gerenciamento da cadeia de suprimentos: uma revisão sistemática da literatura

A gestão da cadeia de suprimentos envolve a integração e a coordenação de todos os seus membros, o que a torna uma tarefa complexa, e a pesquisa operacional pode ser capaz de trazer soluções para boa parte das dificuldades encontradas nestes processos. Este artigo possui como objetivo analisar como as ferramentas da Pesquisa Operacional são utilizadas para solucionar diferentes problemas de gestão da cadeia de suprimentos. Para isso, foi feita uma revisão sistemática da literatura e, a partir desta, a análise do conteúdo obtido. Importante destacar o aumento do número de publicações nesta área nos últimos 5 anos. Como resultados, o estudo associa quais métodos de Pesquisa Operacional podem ser utilizados para a solução de diferentes problemas da gestão da cadeia de suprimentos, como por exemplo problemas de produção e distribuição

Techno-economic, uncertainty, and optimization analysis of commodity product production from biomass fast pyrolysis and bio-oil upgrading

Advanced biofuel is a promising replacement to fossil fuels for the purpose of protecting the environment and securing national energy supply, but the high cost of producing advanced biofuels makes it not as competitive as petroleum-based fuels. Recent technology developments in biomass fast pyrolysis and bio-oil upgrading introduced several innovative pathways to convert bio-oil into other commodity products, such as bio-asphalt, bio-cement, dextrose and benzene, toluene, xylene (BTX). Before commercializing these products, a comprehensive techno-economic analysis should be employed to examine the economic feasibility of producing them. This thesis compared the economic performance of biofuels, biochemicals, and hydrocarbon chemicals portfolios and optimized the product selection of an integrated bio-refinery. Based on a fast pyrolysis and bio-oil fractionation system, three product portfolios were proposed: biofuels (gasoline and diesel), biochemicals (bio-asphalt, cement and dextrose) and hydrocarbon chemicals (BTX and olefins). The production process, operating costs and capital costs were simulated based on the model data, experimental data, and literature data. Minimum product selling price (MPSP), maximum investment cost (MIC) and net present value (NPV) were used to evaluate and compare the economic performance of three portfolios with a 10% internal rate of return (IRR). A bio-refinery concept integrating all products was proposed to improve the flexibility to respond to changes in the market prices of the proposed products. The ratio of bio-oil upgrading to different product groups was manipulated to maximize the NPV under different price situations. Several major conclusions were drawn from this study. Due to high capital costs and operating costs associated with biofuels production, hydrocarbon chemical and biochemical products can be attractive bio-refinery products. However, there has been limited development of the hydrocarbon chemical and biochemical product technologies. This study attempts to address this risk by evaluating the uncertainty in the NPV and MIC. In particular, the biochemicals scenario has the highest MIC, which indicates that it has the greatest potential for remaining profitable with increased capital investment. The hydrocarbon chemicals production yields relatively high revenues and is more robust to fluctuations in market prices based on historical data. Biofuels production is economically attractive only when the price of transportation fuels is at historically high values