Cost, energy requirement and CO2 balance of the major paths travelled by forest wood and manure for energy

The Swiss Energy Strategy 2050 aims to increase the share of renewables. Within the SCCER BIOSWEET, WSL investigates the energy potential of domestic biomass to support the ongoing energy transition. Forest wood and manure demonstrate the largest additional sustainable potential and their contribution to the Swiss energy mix could be increased. However, biomass is subject to complex logistics chains before transformation into usable energy. The unavoidable transport of the resource represents a significant step in this process. Therefore, the aim of this project is to explore the transport chains of forest wood and manure for energy in Switzerland and assess their economic and ecological impacts.

Qualitative interview that follow a mental map approach will make available expert knowledge from the branches. Costs, energy inputs, and CO2 balances are calculated for the major paths travelled by the resources. The definition of maximal transport distances following economic and ecological criteria can serve as a basis for optimal biomass allocation. Particularly relevant for CO2 emissions mitigation, it supports a more strategic use of these bio-resources. This inter- and transdisciplinary approach is highly innovative in this context. Moreover, it will serve as preliminary project to prepare further investigations concerning the GHG emissions of entire process chains of bioenergy.