3-06: The watershed-scale optimized & rearranged landscape design (WORLD) model and local biomass processing depots for biofuel production: a life cycle perspective

An array of feedstocks such as corn stover, switchgrass, miscanthus, native prairie grasses etc. are being evaluated as potential raw materials for cellulosic biofuel production. Moreover, management practices such as using marginal lands, double-cropping, riparian buffers, when incorporated in the feedstock module of the biofuels supply chain, may enhance overall system sustainability. However, thorough assessments are required in real landscape settings on regional levels before these feedstocks can be cultivated and sustainable practices can be implemented. For example, animal feed uses of existing crops such as corn grain and soy must be understood and managed so as not to create unsustainable practices and indirect land use change impacts due to displacement of nutrition. Likewise biofuel production should be maximized and negative environmental impacts should be minimized in growing these new feedstocks. The watershed-scale optimized & rearranged landscape design (WORLD) model is intended to provide land allocations for new cellulosic feedstocks within real regions of interest based on animal feed constraints and fuel production criteria. On the processing side, a potential solution to the logistical challenges of large biorefineries is provided by a network of distributed processing facilities called local biomass processing depots (LBPDs). LBPDs employ technologies based on landscape characteristics (as determined by the WORLD model) and produce pretreated biomass for biofuel production as well as valuable co-products. A life cycle assessment is conducted over the unified overall system of optimized feedstock production, processing and all associated transport (of feedstocks and products) to evaluate net energy yields and environmental impacts.