D3.4 + D3.6: Annex 2 Results logistical case studies Aragon

In the S2Biom project the logistical case study in Burgundy was the first that wasperformed. The data were based on the results of the LogistEC project, which had already performed a thorough assessment of the case. Therefore, the S2Biom case study was especially used to develop the new tool LocaGIStics, and to illustrate the possibilities of such a new logistical tool in combination with an existing tool, the BeWhere model. So the results of the case study were not primarily intended to further assess the real life case or to advise an actual company for taking decisions on their biomass supply chain yet.The BeWhere model has been applied for the case study of Burgundy in order toidentify the optimal locations of bioenergy production plants. It should be emphasized that the locations of the plants were highly driven by the location and amount of the demand of heat over the transport collection of the feedstock at least for this particular case study. The collection points of the biomass are nevertheless very well concentrated around the production plants. Anyhow to validate those results, LocaGIStics is a valuable tool for the simulation of the feedstock collection from the plants determined from BeWhere. The quality check controls the feedstock collection, capacity and therefore the validity of the chosen location.The LocaGIStics model has especially been developed using the Burgundy casestudy. Several logistical concepts have been tested in the Burgundy case. These are:i) mixing different biomass types (straw as a biomass residue and Miscanthus as an energy crop), ii) applying pretreatment technology (pelletizing) to densify the material in order to lower the transportation costs and increase handling properties, iii) switching between different types of transport means (truck and walking floor vehicle)and iv) direct delivery to a power plant versus putting an intermediate collection point in the value chain. Due to the nature of this development case less value should be given to the exact results of the five variants that are described in this report. However, these variants are perfect examples of what effects can be achieved if the set-up of a lignocellulosic biomass value chain is changed, even if that change is only slightly. So the case was used successfully to build a first version of the locaGIStics tool. However, many improvements are still possible and could be achieved in future project cases

Marginal agricultural land low-input systems for biomass production

This study deals with approaches for a social-ecological friendly European bioeconomy based on biomass from industrial crops cultivated on marginal agricultural land. The selected crops to be investigated are: Biomass sorghum, camelina, cardoon, castor, crambe, Ethiopian mustard, giant reed, hemp, lupin, miscanthus, pennycress, poplar, reed canary grass, safflower, Siberian elm, switchgrass, tall wheatgrass, wild sugarcane, and willow. The research question focused on the overall crop growth suitability under low-input management. The study assessed: (i) How the growth suitability of industrial crops can be defined under the given natural constraints of European marginal agricultural lands; and (ii) which agricultural practices are required for marginal agricultural land low-input systems (MALLIS). For the growth-suitability analysis, available thresholds and growth requirements of the selected industrial crops were defined. The marginal agricultural land was categorized according to the agro-ecological zone (AEZ) concept in combination with the marginality constraints, so-called 'marginal agro-ecological zones' (M-AEZ). It was found that both large marginal agricultural areas and numerous agricultural practices are available for industrial crop cultivation on European marginal agricultural lands. These results help to further describe the suitability of industrial crops for the development of social-ecologically friendly MALLIS in Europe

Marginal Agricultural Land Low-Input Systems for Biomass Production

This study deals with approaches for a social-ecological friendly European bioeconomy based on biomass from industrial crops cultivated on marginal agricultural land. The selected crops to be investigated are: Biomass sorghum, camelina, cardoon, castor, crambe, Ethiopian mustard, giant reed, hemp, lupin, miscanthus, pennycress, poplar, reed canary grass, safflower, Siberian elm, switchgrass, tall wheatgrass, wild sugarcane, and willow. The research question focused on the overall crop growth suitability under low-input management. The study assessed: (i) How the growth suitability of industrial crops can be defined under the given natural constraints of European marginal agricultural lands; and (ii) which agricultural practices are required for marginal agricultural land low-input systems (MALLIS). For the growth-suitability analysis, available thresholds and growth requirements of the selected industrial crops were defined. The marginal agricultural land was categorized according to the agro-ecological zone (AEZ) concept in combination with the marginality constraints, so-called ‘marginal agro-ecological zones’ (M-AEZ). It was found that both large marginal agricultural areas and numerous agricultural practices are available for industrial crop cultivation on European marginal agricultural lands. These results help to further describe the suitability of industrial crops for the development of social-ecologically friendly MALLIS in Europe