Title: Economic assessment of regional bioenergy systems in Australia: a flow analysis application

Authors: Napat Jakrawatana, Stephen Moore, Iain MacGill

Addresses: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Australia. ' School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Australia. ' School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications, Centre for Energy and Environmental Markets, University of New South Wales, Australia

Abstract: This paper describes a modelling tool that integrates Material Flow Analysis, energy production and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions accounting for biomass flows at a regional scale. This tool allows comprehensive analysis of alternative systems for management of biomass waste and bioenergy production in regional areas. Different possible options for processing a range of biomass waste streams can be evaluated against multiple criteria including various environmental impacts and cost-effectiveness. The objective is to support the design of integrated biomass waste and bioenergy systems that maximise synergies and optimise tradeoffs between bioenergy production, GHG emissions, recycling of valuable soil nutrients and control of harmful contaminants. This analytical tool is applied to a major agricultural region in Australia, the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area. A scenario demonstrates how the construction of different types of bioenergy plant can offer valuable benefits with regard to renewable energy production, GHG emission reductions, increasing phosphorus cycling back to soils and reduced cadmium contamination.

Keywords: MFA; material flow analysis; bioenergy; biomass waste; phosphorus; cadmium; GHG emissions; energy production; greenhouse gas; anaerobic digestion; gasification; composting; renewable energy; modelling; recycling; soil nutrients; soil contamination; Australia; energy crops.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2009.027143

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2009 Vol.39 No.1/2, pp.61 - 73

Published online: 16 Jul 2009 *

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