Development of modular smallscale integrated biorefineries to produce an optimal range of bioproducts from a variety of rural agricultural and groindustrial resudues / wastes with a minimum consumption of fossile energy The aim of this project is to study technical economic and environmental viability of small scale integrated biorefinery units capable of processing different kinds of biomass produced in short radius catchments rural and small urban areas, both in Europe and in CELAC. Two different biorefinery platforms will be simulated under a wide range of dry and wet feedstocks: Lignocellulosic biorefinery for ethanol, sugars and lignin for further biological/chemical conversion and wet biomass for biogas through anaerobic digestion. The synergies of combining both platforms will be evaluated. The project shall develop appropriate general tools and methods to properly assess and optimize the technoeconomic viability (IRR, NPV and production costs) in a sustainable environmental assessment (LCA) including the social impacts (improvement in living conditions, job creation and new opportunities for rural development identification) for any smallscale integrated biorefinery. These economical and sustainability impacts will be validated for different real business case studies both in EU and LAC regions. SMIBIO is a three-year research project funded by the first ERANet-LAC Joint call.
The aim of the project is to study the techno-economic and environmental viability of small scale integrated biorefinery units capable of processing different kinds of biomass produced in short radius catchments of rural and small urban areas, both in Europe and in LAC countries. The project focuses on modelling five case studies under proper and real conditions, considering optimal processing of local biomass in each selected region (two in Europe and two in LA). Biorefinery concepts to be developed are highly integrated energy efficient complexes, incorporating individual processes that synergistically convert different biomass feedstocks (dry and wet) into power, biofuels and value added chemicals and biomaterials by the integration of various technologies for the efficient production of a portfolio of bio-based products. This deliverable describes the four biorefinery concepts, agreed upon by the whole consortium that will be analyzed under proper and real conditions. Furthermore, as it was decided at the kickoff meeting, an additional case study based on residues generated in the Colombian coffee industry will be analyzed. The selection of base case areas was made considering different biomass availability in Europe and Latin America and market needs for bioproducts selection. The Case Studies are based on real available biomass in the radius of maximum 50 km from the particular place in the given country. Each biorefinery concept involves both Lignocellulosic Biomass (LC) and Anaerobic Digestion (AD) platforms. The techno-economic and environmental assessments of the five biorefinery concepts will be developed using available modelling tools such as ASPEN software and will be based on material and energy flow balances obtained by modelling the whole value chain from biomass supply to bioproducts production.