Biofuels and Bioenergy

Biography

Biography: Goetz M Richter

Abstract

Multiple and increasing demands for renewable resources affect the bio-economy as a whole but escalate in particular around bioenergy and biofuel. For many reasons, perennial crops, like short-rotation coppice (SRC), Miscanthus [1, 2] and grassland are attractive choices. The purpose of this talk is to illustrate in three examples the use of advanced mathematical optimization tools to increase the production and performance of whole systems exploiting synergies and calculating trade-offs. Methodology: (1) A process-based model (PBM) for simulating trait and environmental effects on plant growth is to optimize G x E solutions for low-input SRC [3]. (2) Up-scaled PBMs using scenario simulations for different crop systems were used [4] to estimate available biomass resources and the yield gap resulting from fertilizer and livestock reduction. (3) A whole systems optimization framework, the Bioenergy Value Chain Model (BVCM) [5] is presented that allows evaluating the biomass flow through the value chain under market and ecosystem constraints. Findings: The PBM for SRC-willow identified a limited number of robust trait-related parameters that can be used to accelerate the selection and breeding process. An environmental (pedo-climatic) scenario analysis enabled us to ascertain the best variety for droughty environments with the highest water use efficiency and least impact on water resources. For UK grassland system we estimated a yield gap of 6 to 20 million tons of exploitable biomass when recommended N-fertilizer would be applied. Extending these results to the BVCM additional biogas from grassland biomass trade-offs from increased nitrous oxide emissions are calculated. Conclusion: PBM for plant growth will be extended to optimize SRC traits for the industrial scale land reclamation of heavy metal contamination. Recommendations for best combinations of genotype x environment x management can be derived from these simulations and scaled up to optimize land use between bioenergy, food and other ecosystem services.

Fig: Modelling tool cascade.

Recent Publications:

1. Agostini F, Gregory AS and Richter GM, (2015). Carbon Sequestration by Perennial Energy Crops: Is the Jury Still Out? Bioenergy Research 8(3):1057-80.
2. McCalmont J, Hastings A, McNamara N, Richter G, Robson P, Donnison I, et al., (2016). Environmental costs and benefits of growing Miscanthus for bioenergy in the UK. Global Change Biology-Bioenergy online.
3. Cerasuolo M, Richter GM, Richard B, Cunniff J, Girbau S, Shield I, et al., (2016). Development of a sink-source interaction model for the growth of short-rotation coppice willow and in silico exploration of genotype x environment effects. J of Exp. Botany 67(3):961-77.
4. Qi A, Murray P and Richter GM, (2017) Modelling productivity and resource use efficiency for grassland ecosystems in the UK. Eur J Agronomy (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2017.05.002).
5. Guo M, Richter GM, Holland RA, Eigenbrod F, Taylor G and Shah N, (2016). Implementing land-use and ecosystem service effects into an integrated bioenergy value chain optimisation framework. Computers & Chemical Engineering 91:392-406.