Methodology for Assessing Bioenergy Feasibility

Researchers from the Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Science, Queen's University, Queen's Institute for Energy and Environmental Policy, Canada have recently proposed a method of assessing the feasibility of bioenergy resources with considerations for spatial/geographic location. Since bioenergy resources are spatially distributed and their potential to contribute to societal energy supplies is dependent on local geographic nuances, it is imperative to include the geographic location to help assess biofuel feasibility. By incorporating geographic information about a target area for biofuel production, fundamental bioenergy measurement problems such as distinguishing actual from potential feedstock, quantifying multiple biomass supply options, and assessing the overwhelming scope of bioenergy conversion platforms and technological configurations from which useable forms of energy are made available, are being alleviated.

In their paper, the researchers first presented the computation of the theoretical energy availability (i.e. the total energy content per unit area from a given energy source option at any moment in time) for the three major sources of bioenergy, which are forest fuels, agricultural fuels, and bio-wastes. They enumerated spatial, ecological, economic, and harvesting restrictions that would limit the theoretical available energy to the exploitable energy available. Restrictions pertaining to the inefficiencies involved in the conversion of the energy into useful energy were taken into account, thus obtaining the net-yield bioenergy availability, a parameter which can be used as a basis for candidate site selection of bioenergy facilities. Finally, the researchers discussed the credibility of the assumptions and models used in the bioenergy assessment of a particular site.

This method of bioenergy feasibility assessment, according to the researchers, will serve as baseline information to enable bioenergy to be taken seriously in energy investment decisions.

The full paper is published in the journal, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (URL above).