82464 - Bioenergy And Biorefinery

Learning outcomes

Knowledge gain on challenges, constrains and benefits from developing bioenergy and biorefinery agro-systems at national and international levels. Examples of projects and applications of bioenergy and biorefineries with particular focus on biomass crops and environmental impacts.

Course contents

Frontal lessons (40 h): Introduction, definitions and perspectives of bioenergy and biorefinery (from RED I to RED II, iLUC concept etc..) with particular focus on agro-energy systems. Food and bioenergy/biorefinery: integration rather than competition. Biofuels, biogas, CHP and feedstocks for emerging bio-based industries. Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment – LCA and energy balance to assess the environmental impacts of agro-energy systems and biorefineries.

Knowledge gain: Innovation, challenges and opportunities from developing bioenergy and biorefinery value chains. Biomass and oil crops. Life Cycle Assessment for the evaluation of environmental assessment tools.

Practical activities (20 h): Exercises on sustainability assessment of bioenergy and biorefinery systems. Visits at bioenergy and biorefinery plants and to the experimental farm of UNIBO to see some biomass crops. Exercises for the assessment of environmental impacts through common LCA tools.

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes and slides provided by the teacher

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons, team learning, field visits, workshops and exercises

Assessment methods

written exam (2/3 open questions). 30 min duration. 

Teaching tools

TEAMS, ZOOM, IOL, EOL

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Monti