Open AccessAn optimization model for energy crop supply
Author(s) -
Wang Shifeng,
Hastings Astley,
Smith Pete
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
gcb bioenergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.378
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1757-1707
pISSN - 1757-1693
DOI - 10.1111/j.1757-1707.2011.01112.x
Subject(s) - raw material , electricity , biomass (ecology) , energy crop , environmental science , agricultural engineering , economics , bioenergy , biofuel , waste management , engineering , chemistry , oceanography , organic chemistry , geology , electrical engineering
In this article we describe an optimization model, a mixed integer program, to determine the optimal locations and capacity sizes of biomass‐based facilities in energy crop supply chains, and demonstrate its use using data for G reat B ritain. We show the utility of the model for planning the optimal locations of biomass‐based facilities by investigating the supply of feedstock from M iscanthus for Combined Heat and Power ( CHP ) in G reat B ritain, based on data of current electricity demand. Results show that CHP cost directly influences its optimal location, and the price of bioelectricity from M iscanthus . At the coarse spatial resolution of the available energy demand data, the sale price of M iscanthus does not greatly influence the quantity of M iscanthus sold in G reat B ritain. Only when the hypothetical sale price of M iscanthus was closer to CHP cost, was the quantity of M iscanthus sold influenced by the variation in the sale price of M iscanthus . In future, we will apply the model using electricity and heat demand data at fine spatial scale currently being located, which will allow the implications of local production of M iscanthus for CHP to be explored.