Abstract
Fossil fuels release large quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, with bioenergy offering a moresustainable alternative to fossil fuels. However, the shortage of biomass feedstocks limits the ability to producebioenergy on a large scale. Short Rotation Coppice willow (SRCw) is recognised as a potential biomass feedstock,with the potential to accelerate their cultivation utilising aeroponic technology. In this study, a DynamicBiomass-embedded Computable General equilibrium (DBGE) model is proposed to simulate the long-term potentialimpacts arising from the enhanced biomass supply achieved through aeroponic technology in the UKsocio-economic system. Various scenarios related to technology, market, biomass application and policy are alsodiscussed. The results show that the use of aeroponic technology to cultivate SRCw can bring significant socio-economic benefits, such as GDP, renewable energy sector output, employment, and resident welfare. Among the three cultivation environments, i.e., polytunnel, greenhouse, and field multiplication bed, polytunnel cultivation technology brings greater benefits. Based on conservative estimates (narrower technology application scope, lower SRCw planting density, and lower expected biomass yield), by 2050, aeroponic technology under polytunnel can bring a cumulative 10.7% positive impact on GDP. Our study suggests that the wide application of aeroponic technology in cultivating SRCw could contribute to the mitigation of biomass feedstock shortage and promote development of the bioenergy sector and socio-economic benefits in the UK.
NETL
NSTL
Elsevier