A decision support model for planning of spatial large extent biomass to bioenergy procurement network

Abstract

This study presents a strategic-tactical decision model with two main objectives: (i) identifying the spatial distribution and estimating the harvestable biomass potential of agricultural farms within a complex landscape; and (ii) optimizing the placement of bioenergy facilities to minimize total transportation costs. Remote sensing techniques combined with spatial analyses were utilized to discriminate agricultural lands from other land-cover types. Field-data measurements were then employed to estimate the quantity of available biomass. Subsequently, a bi-level optimization model was developed to determine optimal bioenergy facility locations and calculate transportation costs. The model was applied to a 20000 km² region in northeastern Iran. The results revealed an average annual biomass density of 4.20 Mg ha⁻¹ from agricultural lands, corresponding to 1867 Gg of biomass across the region. The optimal solution involved placing two bioenergy facilities within a 75 km radius to collect residues biomass, resulting in a delivery cost of $16 kWh⁻¹.