Will energy crop yields meet expectations?

Searle, Stephanie; Malins, Christopher J.

doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2014.01.001

Cited by 132 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…In contrast, bioenergy crops in the LUMs are represented by dedicated lignocellulosic energy grasses. Reported yields of dedicated bioenergy crops under present-day conditions show large variability (miscanthus × giganteus: 5-44 t dry mass ha −1 yr −1 ; switchgrass: 1-35 t ha −1 yr −1 ; woody species: 0-51 t ha −1 yr −1 ), depending on location, plot size, and management (Searle and Malins, 2014). By the end of the century, the LUMs report average bioenergy yields of ∼ 15.0 t ha −1 yr −1 (IMAGE) and ∼ 20.3 t ha −1 yr −1 (MAgPIE), but how bioenergy yields will evolve in reality when averaged across regions (including more marginal land) is highly uncertain (Creutzig, 2016;Searle and Malins, 2014;Slade et al, 2014).…”

Section: Role Of Model Assumptions On Carbon Uptake Via Land-based MImentioning

confidence: 99%

Global consequences of afforestation and bioenergy cultivation on ecosystem service indicators

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Land management for carbon storage is discussed as being indispensable for climate change mitigation because of its large potential to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and to avoid further emissions from deforestation. However, the acceptance and feasibility of land-based mitigation projects depends on potential side effects on other important ecosystem functions and their services. Here, we use projections of future land use and land cover for different land-based mitigation options from two land-use models (IMAGE and MAgPIE) and evaluate their effects with a global dynamic vegetation model (LPJ-GUESS). In the landuse models, carbon removal was achieved either via growth of bioenergy crops combined with carbon capture and storage, via avoided deforestation and afforestation, or via a combination of both. We compare these scenarios to a reference scenario without land-based mitigation and analyse the LPJ-GUESS simulations with the aim of assessing synergies and trade-offs across a range of ecosystem service indicators: carbon storage, surface albedo, evapotranspiration, water runoff, crop production, nitrogen loss, and emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds.In our mitigation simulations cumulative carbon storage by year 2099 ranged between 55 and 89 GtC. Other ecosystem service indicators were influenced heterogeneously both positively and negatively, with large variability across regions and land-use scenarios. Avoided deforestation and afforestation led to an increase in evapotranspiration and enhanced emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds, and to a decrease in albedo, runoff, and nitrogen loss. Crop production could also decrease in the afforestation scenarios as a result of reduced crop area, especially for MAgPIE land-use patterns, if assumed increases in crop yields cannot be realized. Bioenergy-based climate change mitigation was projected to affect less area globally than in the forest expansion scenarios, and resulted in less pronounced changes in most ecosystem service indicators than forest-based mitigation, but included a possible decrease in nitrogen loss, crop production, and biogenic volatile organic compounds emissions.

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Section: Role Of Model Assumptions On Carbon Uptake Via Land-based MImentioning

confidence: 99%

Global consequences of afforestation and bioenergy cultivation on ecosystem service indicators

et al. 2017

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“…To date, this subsidy is only granted for plantations of the genus Eucalyptus (CONAF, 2011). Searle and Malins (2014) argue that the yields are reduced if they are produced at a semi-commercial scale and if the crops are planted in sub-optimal lands. In their revision, these authors recorded yields of 14-51 and 0-17 t .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioethanol Potential From High Density Short Rotation Woody Crops on Marginal Lands in Central Chile

Acuña

Cancino

Rubilar

et al. 2017

CERNE

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Cellulosic ethanol is one of the most important biotechnological products to mitigate the consumption of fossil fuels and to increase the use of renewable resources for fuels and chemicals. Short rotation woody crops (SRWC) have been proposed as the most promising raw material for cellulosic ethanol production, as a result of its several advantages over traditional crops. In order to analyze the potential as crops for lignocellulosic bioethanol production in Chile, SRWC were established with the following species: Acacia melanoxylon, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus nitens. These crops were established in two contrasting environments and in three plantation densities. The average theoretical ethanol yield at 48 months reached 395.9 L . t -1 for A. melanoxylon, 348.7 L . t -1 for E. camaldulensis, and 363.9 L t -1 for E. nitens. It can be concluded that there are significant differences in polysaccharides yield between species and time. On the other hand, significant differences were found between environments.In conclusion, this study has shown that the choice of SRWC species used as a source of polysaccharides must take into account the percentage content in biomass and, crucially, the species, planting density, harvest cycle and site must be carefully selected to ensure a high biomass yield per unit area. POTENCIAL DE BIOETANOL DE CULTURAS LENHOSAS CONDUZIDAS EM ALTA DENSIDADE E CURTA ROTAÇÃO EM TERRAS MARGINAIS NO CHILE CENTRALRESUMO: Etanol celulósico é um dos mais importantes produtos biotecnológicos para reduzir o consumo de combustíveis fósseis e a aumentar a utilização de recursos renováveis para combustíveis e produtos químicos. Culturas lenhosas de curta rotação (CLCR) têm sido propostas como a mais promissora matéria prima para produção de etanol celulósico, devido às suas várias vantagens sobre culturas tradicionais. Para analisar o potencial de culturas para produção de bioetanol lignocelulósicos no Chile, CLCR foram estabelecidos com as seguintes espécies: Acacia melanoxylon, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus globulus e Eucalyptus nitens. Estas culturas foram estabelecidas em dois ambientes contrastantes e em três densidades de plantio. O rendimento teórico médio de etanol em 48 meses atingiu 395,9 L . t -1 para A. melanoxylon, 348,7 L . t -1 para E. camaldulensis e 363,9 L . t -1 para E. nitens. Foi concluído que existem diferenças significativas no rendimento de polissacarídeos entre as espécies e o tempo. Por outro lado, foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre ambientes. Em conclusão, este estudo mostrou que a escolha da espécie usada na CLCR como fonte de polissacarídeos deve levar em conta sua percentagem na biomassa e, crucialmente, a espécie, densidade de plantio, ciclo de colheita e sítio devem ser cuidadosamente selecionados para garantir um rendimento elevado de biomassa por unidade de área.

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“…Intense management of a highproductivity crop must be done in a way that maintains ecosystem services of managed forests. Operational plantings across feedstocks show much less yield than plot trials predict [70]; this discrepancy between modeled and actual supply could harm food and bioenergy markets and threaten plans for renewable fuel [71]. Identifying and addressing the benefits and challenges of forest-based biomass feedstock systems will help ensure renewable fuel supply for our future.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Production of Bioenergy Feedstock from the Industrial Forest: Potential and Challenges of Operational Scale Implementation

Nettles

Birks

Sucre

et al. 2015

Curr Sustainable Renewable Energy Rep

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There is increasing interest in energy from woody biomass as fossil fuel replacement, yet environmental and economic limitations have reduced feedstock available for bioenergy. Supply could likely be substantially increased with intensive forest management for productivity and utilization as well as forest-based dedicated energy crops. This paper discusses the role of industrial forests in sustainable bioenergy feedstock production and the lessons learned in an operational scale project. Catchlight Energy, LLC, a Chevron|Weyerhaeuser joint venture, evaluated intercropping switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in loblolly pine plantations for liquid transportation fuel, with the goal of full-scale production. Within Weyerhaeuser, sustainability and operational research were conducted simultaneously. While the environmental research is non-proprietary and being published as it is completed, operational trials were internal. To understand lessons learned, staff responsible for management, planning, logistics, and field operations were interviewed, and perceived and actual barriers to production described. Ongoing environmental research is showing that carefully planned field operations can be conducted sustainably, but energy crop production fell below levels needed for economic feasibility.

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Will energy crop yields meet expectations?

Cited by 132 publications

References 69 publications

Global consequences of afforestation and bioenergy cultivation on ecosystem service indicators

Global consequences of afforestation and bioenergy cultivation on ecosystem service indicators

Bioethanol Potential From High Density Short Rotation Woody Crops on Marginal Lands in Central Chile

Sustainable Production of Bioenergy Feedstock from the Industrial Forest: Potential and Challenges of Operational Scale Implementation

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