Optimal Allocation of Lignocellulosic Biomass Feedstocks for Biofuel Production: A Case Study of California

Abstract

The economic potential of producing ethanol from biowaste resources in California is 1 explored in this paper through an optimization model based decision support system. A portfolio 2 of biowastes is considered and a multilayer biofuel supply chain system is developed. Through 3 smart modeling the entire supply chain system as a whole, the biowaste resources can produce up 4 to 900 million gallons of ethanol per year with a low delivered ethanol cost at $1-1.1 per gallon 5 based on the mid-term (2015-2025) conversion technology performance. Adoption of near-term 6 (2010-2015) technology results in higher cost at $1.85 per gallon, as identified in sensitivity 7 analyses. It is also found that the system layout and efficiency are sensitive to the changes in 8 demands and transportation costs. 9 10