Feedstock choices for second generation biofuel production in Europe

Abstract

Second generation biofuels are expected to replace 3-5% of the transport fossil fuel consumption by 2020. Different feedstocks can be used to meet this target such as forest residuals, crop residuals, construction and demolition wood, or paper and cardboard. This study investigates the potential of second generation biofuel in Europe by 2020 for forest residuals and crop residuals, under varying biofuel support. A techno-economic, geographically explicit model is used to determine the optimal locations of new bio-energy production plants by minimizing the costs and CO2 emissions of the entire supply chain. Ethanol via hydrolysis and fermentation, and combined heat and power (CHP) are both considered to acknowledge feedstock competition. The results show that only 5% of the European transport fuel can be produced from crop residues, if no economic biofuel support is applied. For a biofuel support of 30 EUR/GJ, up to 20% of the European transport fuel can be produced within the EU, of which more than half would be provided from crop residues. Biofuel would be mainly produced from woody biomass in Scandinavia and France, and crop residuals in Central Europe, while South Europe would be more dependent on import of both feedstock and biofuel.