Title: Design of forest biofuel supply chains

Authors: Damiana Chinese, Antonella Meneghetti

Addresses: DiEM – Dipartimento di Energetica e Macchine, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 208, 33100 Udine, Italy. ' DiEM – Dipartimento di Energetica e Macchine, University of Udine, Via delle Scienze 208, 33100 Udine, Italy

Abstract: Designing and building new biofuel supply chains is an emerging theme in the present world energy situation. This paper considers a real-life problem of supplying a bioenergy plant with forest fuel. A mixed-integer linear programming model is proposed to determine the optimal configuration of that supply chain. The model proves helpful in resolving trade-offs between decentralised early treatment of biofuel, resulting in lower transportation costs, and centralised final treatment, allowing to reap economies of scale. It is therefore advisable to apply integrated supply chain planning concepts to design biofuel logistics systems and to support policy making in the energy field.

Keywords: logistic systems modelling; bioenergy supply; biofuel logistics; MILP; mixed integer linear programming; network flow models; biofuels; supply chain management; SCM; forest fuels; transportation costs; economies of scale; supply chain planning; supply chain integration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2009.024251

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2009 Vol.5 No.5, pp.525 - 550

Published online: 30 Mar 2009 *

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