Bioenergy systems—A wholistic approach

Abstract

While reductionism has helped drive scientific and technological progress with focused attention to parts of the whole, a wholistic systems approach is imperative for effectively addressing the global trilemma of food, energy, and environment in a sustainable manner. An overview of the role of bioheat, biopower, and liquid transportation biofuel in reducing our carbon footprint and resulting global warming is provided in this chapter. The policy and logistics considerations related to land use, feedstock supply chain management, location of biorefineries, feedstock transportation and storage, and bioproducts in concert with social, environmental, and economic considerations are also advanced. Some internet resources for simulating various scenarios to appraise the consequences of possible policy decisions are also provided for interested readers.