Why Biomass
Graduate Category: Engineering and Technology Degree Level: Doctorate Abstract ID# 376
Mapping Urban Biomass Production for Food and Fuel Mithun Saha1, Lauren Martin2, Jane Amidon3, Matthias Ruth2 and Matthew Eckelman1 1Civil & Environmental Engineering, 2School of Public policy & Urban Affairs, 3School of Architecture, Email: [email protected]
Research Question
Background This study describes the geospatial cataloging and mapping of existing and potential locations and schemes for urban biomass for bioenergy production in Boston. Apparently, there is an increasing interest in producing bioenergy in the Northeast US because it is one of the few promising local renewable source of fuels that can be used both for heat and power.
Willow
Switch grass
Miscanthus
Poplar
• • • • •
Carbon neutral fuel Reduce GHG emission Reduce environmental impacts Cheap compared to other pollutant sources Widely available around the globe
Total Available land area in Boston = 12500 ha Box values indicate percentages of total available land areas for bioenergy crop production within the city limit.
20%
Spatial Analysis Urban land
ArcGIS Model Builder
Marginal Land
Slope (15%) and Soil Quality
Urban land
Shadow Analysis
Slope Analysis
Roof Sites
Why Biomass ? 50% of US renewable energy sources
Can Boston be self sufficient in food and fuel ?
Biomass Resources in Boston
ArcGIS 10.2 was used to perform the spatial analysis.
Energy crop Species
Yield (T/acre)
Switch grass
4
coppiced willow chips
4.7
MA forest wood chips, net of saw logs
1.1
Poplar
4-5
Miscanthus
5-15
Biomass Sources
Existing
Potential
10%
Existing Resources
Potential Resources
2%
30%
387ha 1146 ha
Public and private vacant lots
Potential rooftop sites
Biomass Sources
Biomass cycle
4804 ha Potential marginal lands
171 ha Community gardens
Methods Here we performed a manual analysis of high-resolution aerial images using Google Earth Pro and ArcGIS data layers to identify and analyze suitable parcels that include existing public and private vacant spaces, ground level as well as roof top community gardens, potential marginal lands with favorable soil quality and ground slopes and waste wood generation (C&D and yard trimmings).
Conclusion
Bioenergy Yield The resulting spatial datasets demonstrate that urban biomass production is an extensive land use type with wide variations in the distribution of sites across the city. The study results suggest opportunities for scaling up existing food production networks as well as identifying possible locations for biomass cogeneration within the city limits. 120
Bioenergy
Biomass = A ×Y
Crop Yield, Y
Moderate to high yield
45
GHG Emissions (KgCO2e/GJ)
Marginal Land, A
40 Yield (MT/ha)
Land
Spatial Analysis
50
35 30 25 20 15 10 5
Biomass products reduce GHG emission
100 80 60 40
Pallet Consumption Pellet Stove Biomass mapping shows ‘Boston’ as a promising city for Bioenergy production. Possible bioenergy sites will be identified. Bioenergy productions within the city can reduce transportation related direct or indirect emission.
References Taylor JR, Lovell ST. Mapping public and private spaces of urban agriculture in Chicago through the analysis of high-resolution aerial images in Google Earth. Landsc Urban Plan. 2012 Oct;108:57–70. Wilson TO, McNeal FM, Spatari S, G. Abler D, Adler PR. Densified Biomass Can Cost-Effectively Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Address Energy Security in Thermal Applications. Environ Sci Technol. 2012 Jan 17;46(2):1270–7.
Acknowledgement
20 0
0 Switchgrass
Poplar
Willow
Energy Crops
Miscanthus
Heating Oil
Natural Gas
Pellets
Briquettes
Cubes
Office of the Provost
Mapping Urban Biomass Production for Food and Fuel Mithun Saha1, Lauren Martin2, Jane Amidon3, Matthias Ruth2 and Matthew Eckelman1 1Civil & Environmental Engineering, 2School of Public policy & Urban Affairs, 3School of Architecture, Email: [email protected]
Research Question
Background This study describes the geospatial cataloging and mapping of existing and potential locations and schemes for urban biomass for bioenergy production in Boston. Apparently, there is an increasing interest in producing bioenergy in the Northeast US because it is one of the few promising local renewable source of fuels that can be used both for heat and power.
Willow
Switch grass
Miscanthus
Poplar
• • • • •
Carbon neutral fuel Reduce GHG emission Reduce environmental impacts Cheap compared to other pollutant sources Widely available around the globe
Total Available land area in Boston = 12500 ha Box values indicate percentages of total available land areas for bioenergy crop production within the city limit.
20%
Spatial Analysis Urban land
ArcGIS Model Builder
Marginal Land
Slope (15%) and Soil Quality
Urban land
Shadow Analysis
Slope Analysis
Roof Sites
Why Biomass ? 50% of US renewable energy sources
Can Boston be self sufficient in food and fuel ?
Biomass Resources in Boston
ArcGIS 10.2 was used to perform the spatial analysis.
Energy crop Species
Yield (T/acre)
Switch grass
4
coppiced willow chips
4.7
MA forest wood chips, net of saw logs
1.1
Poplar
4-5
Miscanthus
5-15
Biomass Sources
Existing
Potential
10%
Existing Resources
Potential Resources
2%
30%
387ha 1146 ha
Public and private vacant lots
Potential rooftop sites
Biomass Sources
Biomass cycle
4804 ha Potential marginal lands
171 ha Community gardens
Methods Here we performed a manual analysis of high-resolution aerial images using Google Earth Pro and ArcGIS data layers to identify and analyze suitable parcels that include existing public and private vacant spaces, ground level as well as roof top community gardens, potential marginal lands with favorable soil quality and ground slopes and waste wood generation (C&D and yard trimmings).
Conclusion
Bioenergy Yield The resulting spatial datasets demonstrate that urban biomass production is an extensive land use type with wide variations in the distribution of sites across the city. The study results suggest opportunities for scaling up existing food production networks as well as identifying possible locations for biomass cogeneration within the city limits. 120
Bioenergy
Biomass = A ×Y
Crop Yield, Y
Moderate to high yield
45
GHG Emissions (KgCO2e/GJ)
Marginal Land, A
40 Yield (MT/ha)
Land
Spatial Analysis
50
35 30 25 20 15 10 5
Biomass products reduce GHG emission
100 80 60 40
Pallet Consumption Pellet Stove Biomass mapping shows ‘Boston’ as a promising city for Bioenergy production. Possible bioenergy sites will be identified. Bioenergy productions within the city can reduce transportation related direct or indirect emission.
References Taylor JR, Lovell ST. Mapping public and private spaces of urban agriculture in Chicago through the analysis of high-resolution aerial images in Google Earth. Landsc Urban Plan. 2012 Oct;108:57–70. Wilson TO, McNeal FM, Spatari S, G. Abler D, Adler PR. Densified Biomass Can Cost-Effectively Mitigate Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Address Energy Security in Thermal Applications. Environ Sci Technol. 2012 Jan 17;46(2):1270–7.
Acknowledgement
20 0
0 Switchgrass
Poplar
Willow
Energy Crops
Miscanthus
Heating Oil
Natural Gas
Pellets
Briquettes
Cubes
Office of the Provost
