Title:
Controlling the Competition Between Various Types of Biomass Use by Means of a Modified Cobweb Model
Author(s):
Batzias, D.F., Sidiras, D.K.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Biomass can be used as raw material for (i) energy¬content transformation/utilization (usually after a change of the initial phase, (ii) supporting the food chain mainly by introducing several kinds of fodder, and (iii) producing new materials enabling economic substitution of several old ones (e.g., as sorbents or packaging media). Since biomass is the common raw material, there is some kind of competition as regards the biomass quantities used for each one of these categories. The present work deals with controlling this competition by means of a modified Cobweb model. For this purpose, we have designed/developed a methodological framework under the form of a dynamic algorithmic procedure, including 17 activity stages and 5 decision nodes. Certain points proving the functionality of this procedure are subsequently presented, referring to spatial distribution of farms providing biomass to industrial units that belong to the three categories mentioned above. The shifting of biomass demand/supply equilibrium points, when the information granularity level available to consumers and producers increased, is also thoroughly discussed. Last, the determination of optimal intensification of biomass production (implying respective energy/materials consumption) is presented by maximizing the total benefit obtained when cultivating plants suitable for lignocellulosic exploitation.
Keywords:
biofuels, demand, model, resources, cobweb, supply
Topic:
Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability
Subtopic:
Competition between various types of biomass use
Event:
20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
5AV.3.29
Pages:
2399 - 2403
ISBN:
978-88-89407-54-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/20thEUBCE2012-5AV.3.29
Price:
FREE
