Decision Support For Biomass Value Chains For The Production Of Biochemicals Considering Uncertainties

Value chains of bio-based chemicals are very complex. Hence, a strategic decision support tool for bioeconomic site and logistics planning is developed. It includes an integrated model and three sub-models: optimization for the locations and capacities of pretreatment plants, technical for technical and economic evaluations, risk for the evaluation of uncertainties. As a result, the model suggests a nearly optimal location and the associated logistic network for the production of biochemicals. This work was published by Saint Philip Street Press pursuant to a Creative Commons license permitting commercial use. All rights not granted by the work's license are retained by the author or authors.

The delivery of essential goods to beneficiaries in the aftermath of a disaster is one of the main objectives of relief logistics. Thereby, the present work aims to improve relief logistics by improving the location selection of warehouses, distribution centers, and points of distribution. Consequently, it offers the potential to significantly improve the distribution of goods in the aftermath of future disasters and, thereby, increase disaster resilience.

Considering the increasing importance of natural disaster events it is inevitable to also focus on their impacts on supply chains as well as their performance impacts on them. The developed approach SCperformND (Supply Chain performance impact assessment of Natural Disasters) demonstrates a methodology to assess those impacts and gives implications for supply chain designs and procurement decisions.

In this work a process simulation model identifies the most profitable German biogas plant types and sizes. Small manure and large-scale biowaste plants are currently the most economically attractive installations whereas the valorization of energy crops turns out to be unprofitable. Future developments are assessed with the help of a regional optimization model under constraints. Capacity expansion concerns small-scale manure and biowaste installations rather than plants based on energy crops.

Companies can be valuable partners in delivering essential goods but must be appropriately motivated to participate in humanitarian crisis management. This work provides valuable insights into the status of humanitarian crisis management from the perspective of different stakeholders. It shows the potential of collaborative approaches, addressing the strengths and incentives of stakeholders accordingly.

Biomass to Biofuel Supply Chain Design and Planning under Uncertainty: Concepts and Quantitative Methods explores the design and optimization of biomass-to-biofuel supply chains for commercial-scale implementation of biofuel projects by considering the problems and challenges encountered in real supply chains. By offering a fresh approach and discussing a wide range of quantitative methods, the book enables researchers and practitioners to develop hybrid methods that integrate the advantages and features of two or more methods in one decision-making framework for the efficient optimization of biofuel supply chains, especially for complex supply chain models. Combining supply chain management and modeling techniques in a single volume, the book is beneficial for graduate students who no longer need to consult subject-specific books alongside mathematical modeling textbooks. The book consists of two main parts. The first part describes the key components of biofuel supply chains, including biomass production, harvesting, collection, storage, preprocessing, conversion, transportation, and distribution. It also provides a comprehensive review of the concepts, problems, and opportunities associated with biofuel supply chains, such as types and properties of the feedstocks and fuel products, decision-making levels, sustainability concepts, uncertainty analysis and risk management, as well as integration of biomass supply chain with other supply chains. The second part focuses on modeling and optimization of biomass-to-biofuel supply chains under uncertainty, using different quantitative methods to determine optimal design. Proposes a general multi-level framework for the optimal design and operation of biomass-to-biofuel supply chains through quantitative analysis and modeling, including different biomass and waste biomass feedstock, production pathways, technology options, transportation modes, and final products Explores how modeling and optimization tools can be utilized to address sustainability issues in biofuel supply chains by simultaneously assessing and identifying sustainable solutions Presents several case studies with different regional constraints to evaluate the practical applicability of different optimization methods and compares their performance in real-world situations Includes General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) codes for solving biomass supply chain optimization problems discussed in different chapters