CUDe —Carbon Utilization Degree as an Indicator for Sustainable Biomass Use

Anja Hansen, Jörn Budde, Yusuf Nadi Karatay and Annette Prochnow
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Anja Hansen: Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Max–Eyth–Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
Jörn Budde: Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Max–Eyth–Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
Yusuf Nadi Karatay: Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Max–Eyth–Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
Annette Prochnow: Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Max–Eyth–Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany

Sustainability, 2016, vol. 8, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: Carbon (C) is a central element in organic compounds and is an indispensable resource for life. It is also an essential production factor in bio-based economies, where biomass serves many purposes, including energy generation and material production. Biomass conversion is a common case of transformation between different carbon-containing compounds. At each transformation step, C might be lost. To optimize the C use, the C flows from raw materials to end products must be understood. The estimation of how much of the initial C in the feedstock remains in consumable products and delivers services provides an indication of the C use efficiency. We define this concept as Carbon Utilization Degree ( CUDe ) and apply it to two biomass uses: biogas production and hemp insulation. CUDe increases when conversion processes are optimized, i.e., residues are harnessed and/or losses are minimized. We propose CUDe as a complementary approach for policy design to assess C as an asset for bio-based production. This may lead to a paradigm shift to see C as a resource that requires sustainable exploitation. It could complement the existing methods that focus solely on the climate impact of carbon.

Keywords: bio-economy; bioenergy; biogas; biomass; carbon efficiency; climate change; natural fibers; policy decision support; productivity; transformation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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