A techno-economic evaluation of the effects of centralized cellulosic ethanol and co-products refinery options with sugarcane mill clustering

This work compares the calculated techno-economic performance for thermochemical and biochemical conversion of sugarcane residues, considering future conversion plants adjacent to sugarcane mills in Brazil. Process models developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory were adapted to reflect the Brazilian feedstock composition and used to estimate the cost and performance of these two conversion technologies. Models assumed that surplus bagasse from the mill would be used as the feedstock for conversion, while cane trash collected from the field would be used as supplementary fuel at the mill. The integration of the conversion technology to the mill enabled an additional ethanol production of 0.033 m³ per tonne of cane for the biochemical process and 0.025 m³ t^?1 of cane plus 0.004 m³ t^?1 of cane of higher alcohols for the thermochemical process. For both cases, electricity is an important co-product for the biorefinery, but especially for biochemical conversion, with surpluses of about 50 kWh t^?1 of cane. The economic performance of the two technologies is quite similar in terms of the minimum ethanol selling price (MESP), at 318 $ m^?3 (United States 2007 dollars) for biochemical conversion and 329 $ m^?3 for thermochemical conversion.     

Biofuel production potentials in Europe: Sustainable use of cultivated land and pastures. Part I: Land productivity potentials

IIASA's agro-ecological zones modelling framework has been extended for biofuel productivity assessments distinguishing five main groups of feedstocks covering a wide range of agronomic conditions and energy production pathways, namely: woody lignocellulosic plants, herbaceous lignocellulosic plants, oil crops, starch crops and sugar crops. A uniform Pan-European land resources database was compiled at the spatial resolution of 1 km². Suitability and productivity assessments were carried out by matching climate characteristics with plant requirements, calculating annual biomass increments or yields including consideration of soil and terrain characteristics of each grid-cell.Potential biomass productivity and associated energy yields were calculated for each grid-cell. Spatial distributions of suitabilities of biofuel feedstocks in Europe were generated for each individual feedstock as well as for the five biofuel feedstock groups. Estimated agronomical attainable yields, both in terms of biomass (kg ha^?1) as well as biofuel energy equivalent (GJ ha^?1), were mapped and tabulated by agriculture and pasture land cover classes as derived from the CORINE land cover database. Results have been further aggregated by administrative units at NUTS 2 level.     

Biofuel consumption rates and patterns in Kenya

A questionnaire survey was conducted in rural and urban Kenya to establish biofuel consumption rates and patterns. The survey targeted households, commercial catering enterprises and public institutions such as schools and colleges. Firewood was the main biofuel used, mostly by rural households, who consumed the commodity at average consumption rates in the range 0.8–2.7 kg cap⁻¹ day⁻¹. Charcoal was mostly consumed by the urban households at weighted average rates in the range 0.18–0.69 kg cap⁻¹ day⁻¹. The consumption rates and patterns for these fuels by restaurants and academic institutions, and those for crop residues are also reported. The rates largely depended on the fuel availability but differed significantly among the three consumer groups and between rural and urban households. Other factors which may have influenced consumption rates are discussed. Although good fuelwood sufficiency was reported in the country in 1997, there were increasing difficulties in accessing these resources by most households, a situation having both short- and long-term implications for biofuel consumption rates and patterns.     

Engineering,nutrient removal,and feedstock conversion evaluations of four corn stover harvest scenarios

Crop residue has been identified as a near-term source of biomass for renewable fuel, heat, power, chemicals and other bio-materials. A prototype one-pass harvest system was used to collect residue samples from a corn (Zea mays L.) field near Ames, IA. Four harvest scenarios (low cut, high-cut top, high-cut bottom, and normal cut) were evaluated and are expressed as collected stover harvest indices (CSHI). High-cut top and high-cut bottom samples were obtained from the same plot in separate operations. Chemical composition, dilute acid pretreatment response, ethanol conversion yield and efficiency, and thermochemical conversion for each scenario were determined. Mean grain yield in this study (10.1 Mg ha⁻¹ dry weight) was representative of the average yield (10.0 Mg ha⁻¹) for the area (Story County, IA) and year (2005). The four harvest scenarios removed 6.7, 4.9, 1.7, and 5.1 Mg ha⁻¹ of dry matter, respectively, or 0.60 for low cut, 0.66 for normal cut, and 0.61 for the total high-cut (top+bottom) scenarios when expressed as CSHI values. The macro-nutrient replacement value for the normal harvest scenario was $57.36 ha⁻¹ or $11.27 Mg⁻¹. Harvesting stalk bottoms increased stover water content, risk of combine damage, estimated transportation costs, and left insufficient soil cover, while also producing a problematic feedstock. These preliminary results indicate harvesting stover (including the cobs) at a height of approximately 40 cm would be best for farmers and ethanol producers because of faster harvest speed and higher quality ethanol feedstock.     

Optimization of ethanol production from sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) juice using response surface methodology

Sweet sorghum juice was fermented into ethanol using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ATCC 24858). Factorial experimental design, regression analysis and response surface method were used to analyze the effects of the process parameters including juice solid concentration from 6.5 to 26% (by mass), yeast load from 0.5 g L⁻¹ to 2 g L⁻¹ and fermentation temperature from 30 °C to 40 °C on the ethanol yield, final ethanol concentration and fermentation kinetics. The fermentation temperature, which had no significant effect on the ethanol yield and final ethanol concentration, could be set at 35 °C to achieve the maximum fermentation rate. The yeast load, which had no significant effect on the final ethanol concentration and fermentation rate, could be set at 1 g L⁻¹ to achieve the maximum ethanol yield. The juice solid concentration had significant inverse effects on the ethanol yield and final ethanol concentration but a slight effect on the fermentation rate. The raw juice at a solid concentration of 13% (by mass) could be directly used during fermentation. At the fermentation temperature of 35 °C, yeast solid concentration of 1 g L⁻¹ and juice solid concentration of 13%, the predicted ethanol yield was 101.1% and the predicted final ethanol concentration was 49.48 g L⁻¹ after 72 h fermentation. Under this fermentation condition, the modified Gompertz's equation could be used to predict the fermentation kinetics. The predicted maximum ethanol generation rate was 2.37 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹.     

An economic analysis of hardwood fiber production on dryland irrigated sites in the US Southeast

Although there is renewed interest in intensively managed, short-rotation plantations as a source of hardwood for pulp mills, few have been established in the Southeast. Understanding all the costs associated with these plantations will help determine their feasibility. Using a model developed to summarize all the costs, a break-even analysis was completed to determine the delivered cost for plantations of eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr.) from a hypothetical fiber farm in 2003. Using current yield from an experimental fiber farm, short-rotation cottonwood plantations were not cost effective, as delivered cost to a pulp mill averaged 78$ t⁻¹. If yield can be increased by 40% through improvements in genetics and silvicultural practices, delivered cost is reduced to 60$ t⁻¹. Thus, finding this additional yield is key to the cost feasibility of intensively managed, short-rotation hardwood plantations.     

Environmental aspects of ethanol derived from no-tilled corn grain: nonrenewable energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions

Nonrenewable energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with ethanol (a liquid fuel) derived from corn grain produced in selected counties in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin are presented. Corn is cultivated under no-tillage practice (without plowing). The system boundaries include corn production, ethanol production, and the end use of ethanol as a fuel in a midsize passenger car. The environmental burdens in multi-output biorefinery processes (e.g., corn dry milling and wet milling) are allocated to the ethanol product and its various coproducts by the system expansion allocation approach.The nonrenewable energy requirement for producing 1 kg of ethanol is approximately 13.4–21.5 MJ (based on lower heating value), depending on corn milling technologies employed. Thus, the net energy value of ethanol is positive; the energy consumed in ethanol production is less than the energy content of the ethanol (26.8 MJ kg⁻¹).In the GHG emissions analysis, nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from soil and soil organic carbon levels under corn cultivation in each county are estimated by the DAYCENT model. Carbon sequestration rates range from 377 to 681 kg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and N₂O emissions from soil are 0.5–2.8 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ under no-till conditions. The GHG emissions assigned to 1 kg of ethanol are 260–922 g CO₂ eq. under no-tillage. Using ethanol (E85) fuel in a midsize passenger vehicle can reduce GHG emissions by 41–61% km⁻¹ driven, compared to gasoline-fueled vehicles. Using ethanol as a vehicle fuel, therefore, has the potential to reduce nonrenewable energy consumption and GHG emissions.     

Biomass yield,nitrogen response,and nutrient uptake of perennial bioenergy grasses in North Carolina

Although perennial grasses show considerable potential as candidates for lignocellulosic bioenergy production, these crops exhibit considerable variation in regional adaptability and yield. Giant miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus Greef & Deuter), Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. ‘Gracillimus’ and MH2006, plume grass (Saccharum arundinaceum Retz.), ravenna grass (Saccharum ravennae (L.) L.), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L. ‘Alamo’), and giant reed (Arundo donax L.) field plots were established in 2008, treated with four nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates (0, 34, 67, 134 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹), and harvested annually in winter from 2008 to 2011. Giant reed, ‘Gracillimus’, switchgrass, MH2006, giant miscanthus and ravenna grass at the Mountain site produced mean dry matter yields of 22.8, 21.3, 20.9, 19.3, 18.4, and 10.0 Mg ha⁻¹ y−¹, respectively (averaged over the last two years). Dry matter yields at the Coastal site for giant reed, giant miscanthus, switchgrass, ravenna grass, and ‘Gracillimus’ were 27.4, 20.8, 20.1, 14.3, and 9.4 Mg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹, respectively (averaged over the last two years). Increasing N rates up to 134 kg N ha⁻¹ did not have a consistent significant effect on biomass production. High yields coupled with high mortality for plume grass at both sites indicates its potential as a bioenergy crop and need for continued improvement. Overall, the perennial grasses in this study had low nutrient removal, although giant reed and plume grass often removed significantly more N, P, K and S compared with Miscanthus spp. and switchgrass. Our results indicate that giant reed, giant miscanthus, and switchgrass are productive bioenergy crops across geographic regions of North Carolina.     

Options of biofuel trade from Central and Eastern to Western European countries

Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) have a substantial biomass production and export potential. The objective of this study is to assess whether the market for biofuels and trade can be profitable enough to realize a supply of biofuels from the CEEC to the European market and to estimate the cost performance of the energy carriers delivered. Five NUTS-2 (Nomenclature d'Unités Territoriales Statistiques) regions with high biomass production potentials in Poland, Romania, Hungary and the Czech Republic were analysed for biofuel export options. From these regions pellets from willow can be provided to destination areas in Western European countries (WEC) at costs of 105.2–219.8 € t^?1. Ethanol can be provided at 11.95–20.89 € per GJ if the biomass conversion is performed at the destination areas in the WEC or at 14.84–17.83 € GJ^?1J if the biomass to ethanol conversion takes place (at small scale) at the CEEC region where the biomass is produced. Short sea shipping shows most cost advantages for longer distance international transport compared to inland waterway shipping and railway. Another reason for lower biofuel supply costs are shorter distances between the regions of biomass production and the destination areas. Therefore the Szczecin region in Poland, closely located to the Baltic Sea, shows a better economic performance for long distance trade of biomass production than the selected region in Hungary (‘land-locked’). It is concluded that in future key CEEC regions can supply (pre-treated) biomass and biofuels to the European market at cost levels, which are sound and attractive to current and expected diesel and gasoline prices.     

Implementation of an UASB anaerobic digester at bagasse-based pulp and paper industry

Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor was installed to replace the conventional anaerobic lagoon treating bagasse wash wastewater from agro-based pulp and paper mill, to generate bio-energy and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plant was designed to treat 12 ML d⁻¹ of wastewater having two 5 ML capacity reactors, 5.75 kg COD m⁻³ d⁻¹ organic loading rate and 20 h hydraulic retention time. In the plant 80–85% COD reduction was achieved with biogas production factor of 520 L kg⁻¹ COD reduced. In 11 months 4.4 million m³ of biogas was generated from bagasse wash wastewater utilizing UASB process. Utilization of the biogas in the Lime Kiln saved 2.14 ML of furnace oil in 9 months. Besides significant economic benefits, furnace oil saving reduced 6.4 Gg CO₂ emission from fossil fuel and conversion of the anaerobic lagoon into anaerobic reactor reduced 2.1 Gg methane emission which is equal to 43.8 Gg of CO₂.     

Yield and composition of herbaceous biomass harvested from naturalized grassland in southern Iowa

Much of the land area in southern Iowa is used for perennial pastures that are dominated by cool-season grass species. These species are well adapted to the soils and climate and have become naturalized within the region. Biomass produced from these pastures might potentially be used as a feedstock for cofiring with coal to supplement supplies of dedicated energy crops such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). While much is known about the use of these pasture species for forage production, relatively little information is available on their use as a bioenergy feedstock. This research was conducted to assess the potential of harvesting cool-season pastures for cofiring with coal. Ten representative sites located in south central Iowa were evaluated. Across all sites, 26 plant species were identified, with individual sites having between 5 and 14 species. Biomass yield was determined at several sampling locations within each site. Yields ranged from 0.75 to 8.24 t ha⁻¹ over all sites. Mean yield across all sites was 4.20 t ha⁻¹. Fuel characteristics of the cool-season species were evaluated for burning qualities. Concentrations of ash, chlorine and sulfur are important for determining suitability in a biofuel. Ash content ranged from 58.5–118.1 g kg⁻¹ DM across all sites. Chlorine ranged from 0.8–7.6 g kg⁻¹ DM and sulfur content ranged from 0.7–3.4 g kg⁻¹ DM. Highest heating value (HHV) ranged from 17.69–19.46 MJ kg⁻¹. These results indicate that cool-season grassland in southern Iowa can produce biomass of sufficient yield and quality to supplement other sources for cofiring with coal to generate electricity.     

Mercury adsorption from fuel ethanol onto phosphonated silica gel prepared by heterogenous method

Ethanol is one of the most important renewable biofuels contributing to the reduction of negative environmental impacts generated by the worldwide utilization of fossil fuels, and the presence of metal ions in fuel ethanol has significant effect on the performance and the quality of fuel. In the present work, silica gel functionalized by poly(triethylenetetraminomethylenephosphonic acid) SG-Cl-T-P was successfully developed by heterogenous synthesis method, and the adsorption capacity of Hg(II) from fuel ethanol via SG-Cl-T-P was examined. The adsorption isotherms were fitted by the Langmuir model, the Freundlich model and the Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) model. Furthermore, the adsorption study was analyzed kinetically. The thermodynamic parameters, including the Gibbs free energy change (ΔG), enthalpy change (ΔH) and entropy change (ΔS) were calculated, they were −3.24 kJ mol⁻¹ (35 °C) , 29.25 kJ mol⁻¹, and 106.20 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively.     

Economics of willow growing in Northern Ireland

This paper reviews the e economics of short rotation coppice willow as an energy crop in Northern Ireland. Gross margins are presented for willow production and compared with, in the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland, equivalent outputs from grain production, lowland sheep and suckler cow production. The model used indicated a gross margin of £45 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for a 12 tDM ha⁻¹ annual coppice crop without subsidies where the crop value was placed at £40 t⁻¹. This was equivalent to a 7 t winter wheat crop at £70 t⁻¹ and compared favourably with both lowland sheep and suckler cows.Currently the industry in Northern Ireland is at a very early stage of development and this imposes cost penalties on the pioneer growers. This situation is compared with the situation in Sweden where there is an established industry of 15,000 ha, where costs are significantly lower. Gross margin for the pioneer grower in Northern Ireland is about £100 ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ less than for Swedish willow growers.     

Life cycle assessment of a Brassica carinata bioenergy cropping system in southern Europe

The energetic and environmental performance of production and distribution of the Brassica carinata biomass crop in Soria (Spain) is analysed using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology in order to demonstrate the major potential that the crop has in southern Europe as a lignocellulosic fuel for use as a renewable energy source.The Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) including midpoint impact analysis that was performed shows that the use of fertilizers is the action with the highest impact in six of the 10 environmental categories considered, representing between 51% and 68% of the impact in these categories.The second most important impact is produced when the diesel is used in tractors and transport vehicles which represents between 48% and 77%. The contribution of the B. carinata cropping system to the global warming category is 12.7 g CO₂ eq. MJ⁻¹ biomass produced. Assuming a preliminary estimation of the B. carinata capacity of translocated CO₂ (631 kg CO₂ ha⁻¹) from below-ground biomass into the soil, the emissions are reduced by up to 5.2 g CO₂ eq. MJ⁻¹.The production and transport are as far as a thermoelectric plant of the B. carinata biomass used as a solid fuel consumes 0.12 MJ of primary energy per 1 MJ of biomass energy stored. In comparison with other fossil fuels such as natural gas, it reduces primary energy consumption by 33.2% and greenhouse gas emission from 33.1% to 71.2% depending on whether the capacity of translocated CO₂ is considered or not.The results of the analysis support the assertion that B. carinata crops are viable from an energy balance and environmental perspective for producing lignocellulosic solid fuel destined for the production of energy in southern Europe. Furthermore, the performance of the crop could be improved, thus increasing the energy and environmental benefits.     

Cellulase production using biomass feed stock and its application in lignocellulose saccharification for bio-ethanol production

A major constraint in the enzymatic saccharification of biomass for ethanol production is the cost of cellulase enzymes. Production cost of cellulases may be brought down by multifaceted approaches which include the use of cheap lignocellulosic substrates for fermentation production of the enzyme, and the use of cost efficient fermentation strategies like solid state fermentation (SSF). In the present study, cellulolytic enzymes for biomass hydrolysis were produced using solid state fermentation on wheat bran as substrate. Crude cellulase and a relatively glucose tolerant BGL were produced using fungi Trichoderma reesei RUT C30 and Aspergillus niger MTCC 7956, respectively. Saccharification of three different feed stock, i.e. sugar cane bagasse, rice straw and water hyacinth biomass was studied using the enzymes. Saccharification was performed with 50 FPU of cellulase and 10 U of β-glucosidase per gram of pretreated biomass. Highest yield of reducing sugars (26.3 g/L) was obtained from rice straw followed by sugar cane bagasse (17.79 g/L). The enzymatic hydrolysate of rice straw was used as substrate for ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The yield of ethanol was 0.093 g per gram of pretreated rice straw.     

Developments in international solid biofuel trade—An analysis of volumes,policies, and market factors

This paper presents and analyses international solid biofuel trade and concludes upon interactions with bioenergy policies and market factors. It shows that trade has grown from about 56 to 300 PJ between 2000 and 2010. Wood pellets grew strongest, i.e. from 8.5 to 120 PJ. Other relevant streams by 2010 included wood waste (77 PJ), fuelwood (76 PJ), wood chips (17 PJ), residues (9 PJ), and roundwood (2.4 PJ). Intra-EU trade covered two thirds of global trade by 2010. Underlying markets are highly heterogeneous; generally though trade evolved whenever supply side market factors coincided with existing/emerging demand patterns. Market factors and policies both defined trade volumes; though policy changes did not have as prominent effects on trade developments as in the liquid biofuel sector. Economic viability is the key limiting factor. Main exporting countries have low feedstock costs and already existing wood processing industries. Trade-relevant aspects are the commodity's monetary value; determined by its homogeneity, heating value, and bulk density. Consumer markets are diverse: in residential heating, demand/trade patterns have been influenced by local biofuel availability and short-term price signals, i.e. mainly price competitiveness and investment support for boilers/stoves. Commodities are mainly sourced regionally, but price differences have triggered a growing trade. The industrial segment is greatly influenced by policy frameworks but more mature (e.g. established routes). Trade is strictly linked to margins (defined mainly by policies) and combustion technologies. Uncertainties in the analysis are due to data gaps across and within databases regarding import/export declarations. To estimate bioenergy related trade, anecdotal data was indispensable. We believe datasets should be streamlined across international institutions to eventually enable reporting of global trade beyond digit-6-level. Research is needed to provide further insights into informal markets. Interrelations between trade factors are particularly relevant when mapping future trade streams under different policy/trade regime scenarios.     

Economic analysis of small-scale agricultural digesters in the United States

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is an economically viable manure treatment option for large dairies (>500 cows) in the U.S. However, roughly 90% of U.S. dairies have less than 200 cows, making this technology economically inaccessible to the vast majority of U.S. dairies. While there have been case studies of individual small dairies with anaerobic digesters, there are no comparative studies using cost data from these systems. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the economic viability of small-scale U.S. digesters using cost data from nine existing 100 to 250-cow dairies and seven theoretical systems and (2) reevaluate the minimum size dairy farm needed for economically feasible AD in the U.S. Cash flow analysis results showed that total capital costs, capital costs per cow, and net costs per cow generally decreased with increasing herd size in existing systems. Among existing revenue streams, use of digested solids for bedding generated the highest revenue ($100 cow⁻¹ year⁻¹), followed by biogas use for heating and/or electrical generation ($47 to $70 cow⁻¹ year⁻¹) and CO₂ credits ($7 cow⁻¹ year⁻¹). No system had a positive cash flow under the assumed conditions (8% discount rate, 20-year term). However, six of the 16 systems had positive cash flows when 50% cost sharing was included in the analysis. Our results suggest that, with cost sharing, economically viable AD systems are possible on 250-cow dairies. Additional revenue streams, such as tipping fees for food waste, may reduce the minimum size to 100-cow dairies.     

Reporting harvested wood products in national greenhouse gas inventories: Implications for Ireland

During recent years harvested wood products (HWP) have received growing attention because they may be included in national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories and possibly Kyoto Protocol (KP) accounting procedures in future commitment periods, with practical and economic consequences for both reporting and timber markets.The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has identified three approaches to estimating and reporting carbon (C) stock in HWP; the stock-change approach, the production approach, and the atmospheric-flow approach. Should countries choose to report C stocks in HWP, one approach needs to be universally agreed for consistency. Using a model, the C stock both in use and in solid waste disposal sites (SWDS) at a national scale in Ireland was estimated and compared for the period 1961–2003 with uncertainty in the estimates generated using a Monte Carlo analysis. In 2003, the stock-change approach yielded the highest C sink, relative to the IPCC default approach of 375 Gg C yr⁻¹±40% with the production approach and atmospheric-flow approach estimating the stock change at 271 Gg C yr⁻¹±48% and 149 Gg C yr⁻¹±31%, respectively. On the basis of the model results, the implications of selecting one approach over another and the contribution HWP may have in the future to help Ireland reach its reduction target under the KP are discussed.     

The impact of feedstock cost on technology selection and optimum size

Development of biomass projects at optimum size and technology enhances the role that biomass can make in mitigating greenhouse gas. Optimum sized plants can be built when biomass resources are sufficient to meet feedstock demand; examples include wood and forest harvest residues from extensive forests, and grain straw and corn stover from large agricultural regions. The impact of feedstock cost on technology selection is evaluated by comparing the cost of power from the gasification and direct combustion of boreal forest wood chips. Optimum size is a function of plant cost and the distance variable cost (DVC, $ dry tonne⁻¹ km⁻¹) of the biomass fuel; distance fixed costs (DFC, $ dry tonne⁻¹) such as acquisition, harvesting, loading and unloading do not impact optimum size. At low values of DVC and DFC, as occur with wood chips sourced from the boreal forest, direct combustion has a lower power cost than gasification. At higher values of DVC and DFC, gasification has a lower power cost than direct combustion. This crossover in most economic technology will always arise when a more efficient technology with a higher capital cost per unit of output is compared to a less efficient technology with a lower capital cost per unit of output. In such cases technology selection cannot be separated from an analysis of feedstock cost.     

Supply curves of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) in Västerbotten County,northern Sweden,under different EU subsidy schemes

A partial equilibrium model with a break-even price approach was used to create supply curves for the energy crop reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) (RCG) in Västerbotten County in northern Sweden. The impact of the European Union's (EU) Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on the supply curves was studied by comparison of three different scenarios. Supply curves were created including agricultural subsidies under the current subsidy scheme, the Commission's proposal for a new subsidy scheme for implementation in 2004, and without subsidies. The geographical distribution of the potential supply was determined by the use of GIS tools. Under the current subsidy scheme, the lowest RCG farmgate fuel price would be 56 SEK MWh⁻¹. A RCG production equalling 360 GWh could be available at that fuel price level. Under the proposed subsidy scheme of 2004, a farmgate fuel price of 99 SEK MWh⁻¹ is required for RCG production amounting to 910 GWh. In the scenario where no subsidies are disbursed, the lowest break-even price would be 115 SEK MWh⁻¹. In all scenarios, a biofuel feedstock production from RCG equivalent to 1.3 TWh could be available at a farmgate fuel price of 116 SEK MWh⁻¹. The RCG supply would be concentrated in the coastal area of the county, which has the most developed infrastructure and the highest population density, thus providing a nearby market for the fuel.