GIS-based decision support system
aimed at a sustainable energetic
exploitation of biomass at
regional level
Contract number: IEE/07/638/SI2.499702
Project duration: from 01/11/2008 to 31/10/2011
Project Summary
Objective:
BioEnerGIS aimed at enhancing the integrated planning of bioenergies, in order to meet EU target
for the development of renewables and reduction of GHG emissions and at increasing the
awareness of public and private actors about biomass potential and bio-business opportunities
How?
 Assessing biomass resources and heat demand in the four case study areas
 Developing a web GIS-based Decision Support System, BIOPOLE, combining biomass supply
and heat demand, regional legislation, technological options, social acceptability and economical
facts in order to identify the optimal localization of new biomass plants feeding district heating
systems
 Promoting the establishment, at regional level, of agreements between public and private keyactors with the aim of achieving major increases in sustainable bio-energy supply
Target groups:
Public decision makers (at national, regional and local level) and private key-actors involved in all
bio-energy chains
Where?
The overall approach and system have been tested in four regional case study areas: Lombardy
(Italy), Northern Ireland (UK), Slovenia and Wallonia (Belgium).
Background
European target on renewables requires to increase the energy use of biomass,
a rise of the energy use of biomass provides significant opportunities for Europe to reduce GHGs emissions and
to diversify and secure energy supply,
and it might help in promoting new economic perspective for rural regions
but
there is no sufficient knowledge about the potential energy use of biomass resources
Lombardy, Northern Ireland, Slovenia and Wallonia are far away from their RES targets and a strong rise in the
use of biomass is expected for each of them,
a not well assessment of the potential increase in bio-energy production could bear the risk of additional
environmental pressures on biodiversity and soil and water resources.
thus aimed at
helping a full acknowledgment of biomass potentials and to contribute to an overall view
integrating dedicated supply and demand-side data as well as technological and economic aspects and local
legislation
identifying the most suitable sites (thorugh an energy, environmental and economic approach) for the installation
of appropriate biomass conversion plants
involving local key-actors in regional networks and increasing the social acceptance of biomass power plants.
Objectives and main steps
Assessment of the exploitable
biomass potential (supply side)
Assessment of the heat
demand (demand-side)
Identification of plants configuration
with regard to available
biomass and heat demand
Support for
public and private partnership
in order to finalize
specific agreements
Development of a GIS-based decision
support system to define biomass plant
localization suitability
Project
management
Guideline
on DSS
Dissemination
of results
Handbook on
GIS-based tool
Metadata about repeatability/extension of
BioEnerGIS Project at EU level
Specific knowledge of
local case study areas
Common
dissemination
activities
Outputs and lessons learnt
Biomass and heat demand assessments
BioEnerGIS mapped in Lombardy (IT), Northern Ireland (UK), Slovenia, Wallonia (BE):
the biomass potentially exploitable for energy purpose and the heat demand potentially
fulfilled through district heating systems.
It is quite difficult to have a common specific methodology if aiming at detailed results,
but a good compromise between top-down and bottom-up approach can be found,
even if data are largely different for source type, geographical resolution and technical
details.
GIS-based Decision Support System
Combining the heat demand and biomass potential assessments with the
technological options, the regulatory framework and the sustainability criteria identified
during the interaction with the stakeholders, a web GIS-based DSS – BIOPOLE – was
developed to optimize the localization of biomass power plants.
The chance to personalize the processing solutions makes BIOPOLE suitable for
different regions and situations.
Outputs and lessons learnt
Plants characterization
BioEnerGIS also investigated technical and economical data of operating biomass
plants and explored on the one hand the possible finance or laws instruments in order to
encourage a shared action programme and on the other hand the non- technological
barriers.
The factsheets on existing plants showed in BIOPOLE help the stakeholders to have
“shining examples” of the feasible new biomass plants.
Strategic Agreements
Local agreements between public and private stakeholders were signed:
3 in Lombardy (municipalities and mountain communities)
1 in Northern Ireland (public sector)
2 in Slovenia (private biomass suppliers)
Way and schedule for involving the stakeholders strongly depend from the local
background and from the development of the action.
Dissemination
Workshops, seminars, newsletters disseminated the Project results at local and
European level.
Outputs of the Project are taken in consideration in planning activities and documents by
local public stakeholders.
The Project aroused a strong interest at local, regional and national level about
BIOPOLE, whose simple functioning and clear responses make it easy to replicate and to
update.
Partners & Contacts
Coordinator:
CESTEC S.p.A.
Via Restelli 5/A - 20124 Milano (Italy) - tel +39 02 6673753
www.cestec.it
Alessandro Chiesa - [email protected]
Partners:
Regione Lombardia (Italy)
Bioenergy 2020+ GmbH (Austria)
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore – Centro Ricerche per l’Ambiente e lo
Sviluppo sostenibile della Lombardia (Italy)
Slovenian Business & Research Association (Belgium)
Centre Wallon de Rechearches Agronomiques (Belgium)
Finlombarda S.p.A. (Italy)
South West College (United Kingdom)
www.bioenergis.eu