Biorenewable value chain optimisation with multi-layered value chains and advanced analytics

A crucial element of the quest of curbing carbon dioxide emissions is deemed to rely on a biobased economy, which will rely on the development of economically and environmentally sustainable biorefining systems enabling a full exploitation of lignocellulosic biomass (and its macrocomponents such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin) for the co-production of biofuels and bioderived platform chemicals. The thesis aims to develop comprehensive modelling frameworks to provide, through optimisation techniques, holistic decision-making regarding the strategic design and systematic planning of advanced biorefining supply chain networks. Therefore, the modelling of the entire value chain behaviour, involving both upstream and downstream aspects within a temporal and geographical context, is of great importance in this study. A deterministic, spatially explicit, multi-echelon and multi-period Mixed Integer Linear Programming prototype modelling framework is developed for the identification of profitably optimal strategic and operating decisions regarding a full supply chain system, integrated with a technology superstructure of multiple biomass feedstocks, bioproducts and processing portfolios. The potential dimensionality reduction of the resulting large-scale optimisation problem is explored by utilising a bilevel decomposition algorithm. The financial sustainability of such biobased supply chains is further analysed through two-stage stochastic optimisation and risk management models, incorporating biomass cultivation yield uncertainties and expected downside risk, respectively. Finally, greenhouse gas emission factors are added to the prototype modelling approach through a multi-objective optimisation scheme to steer decision-making on biorefining supply chain systems under both economic and environmental criteria, comparing two different solution procedures. The developed models are applied to a Hungarian case study of lignocellulosic biorefining production systems. An additional case study in a Southeastern Romanian region and Marseille, regarding a first-generation biorefining supply chain for the production of castor oil, is undertaken to further examine the compatibility and efficiency of the generic deterministic model.Open Acces