A spatial approach to bioeconomy: Quantifying the residual biomass potential in the EU-27. (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hamelin, Lorie; Borzęcka, Magdalena; Kozak, Małgorzata; Pudełko, Rafał
• Is Part Of: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews. Volume 100(2019)
• Page Start: 127
• Page End: 142
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: AIW Agri-Industrial Food Process waste -- BioMW Biodegradable Municipal Waste -- CLC Corine Land Cover -- EU European Union -- Eurostat Statistical Office of the European Union -- GIS Geographical Information System -- LHV Lower Heating Value -- NPP Net Primary Production -- NUTS Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics -- RPR residues-to-product-ratio -- WDC-RSAT World Data Centre for Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere -- ww wet weight; GIS -- Crop residues -- Circular economy -- Manure -- Food waste -- Straw -- Residual grass; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2018.10.017
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-0321

Abstract

Abstract: Bioeconomy is seen as a key strategic innovation pillar in the European Union, and this involves, among other things, mobilizing biomass resources. This study presents a geo-localized methodology in order to quantify the overall (theoretical) residual biomass potential for each NUTS-3 region of the EU-27 + Switzerland (NUTS-3 is the smallest regional division in Eurostat's Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics). Estimates were made for biomass residues stemming from 4 main activities: i) agriculture (straw, manure, residues from pruning permanent plantations); ii) forestry (forestry residues); iii) urban greenery management (residues from managing urban green areas and roadside vegetation); and iv) food waste (agri-industrial food process waste and municipal biodegradable waste). A review of earlier assessments using a variety of spatial coverages is also presented. Our results reveal the importance of residual biomass as a key feedstock for the European bioeconomy: we found that 8500 PJ y −1 are available for these streams (theoretical potential), which corresponds to the whole annual (2015) primary energy consumption of Italy and Belgium combined. Straw (3800 PJ y −1 ) and forestry residues (3200 PJ y −1 ) were shown as the top-two contributors. Our geo-localized approach uncovered outliers in terms of regional trends, revealing very specific opportunities for these regions. This includes the NUTS-3 region of Paris (France) where the highest biomass density was found with ca. 25 TJ km −2 (essentially food waste), and the NUTS-3 of Jaen (Spain), the main region of olive oil in the world, with great opportunities stemming from the olive oil industry. Highlights: A methodology is presented to geo-quantify the residual biomass potential of EU-27. At maximum, 8500 PJ/y is available; way above the 2015 energy consumption of Italy. Straw (3800 PJ/y) & forestry residues (3200 PJ/y) are the top-two contributors.