BioMatNet Item: AIR2-CT93-0985 - Models for the Economic Evaluation of Biomass Production as an Alternative Land Use in the EC

AIR2-CT93-0985
Models for the Economic Evaluation of Biomass Production as an Alternative Land Use in the EC

To find similar Items, click on a keyword below:
AIR Cluster I - Biomass Production : Biological Conversion : Fibre : Sugar : Thermochemical Conversion : Wood (Lignocellulose)

	Contract No	AIR2-CT93-0985
	Total Cost	459 000
	EC Contribution	392 000
	Start Date	01/01/1994
	Duration	30 months

OBJECTIVE :

The goal of the project is the development of an expert system for PC's, combining a number of appraisal models for the economic evaluation of selected biomass plantations (Poplar, Willow, Sweet Sorghum) as an alternative land use.

The economic evaluation of the production of biomass for energy, is carried out according to current international methodologies, in order to maintain format and compatibility with other work in the same area. The expert system operates under MS Windows and is easy to learn and use. It is mainly addressed to agricultural consultants, policy makers, planners etc. The system is especially useful in cases of alternative land use, i.e. cases where conventional food crops are considered to be replaced by biomass cultivations. In such situations the model computes and evaluates incremental costs and reports on the economic viability of the projects. The expert system is capable of evaluating a great variety of biomass projects, processes information in tabular form and covers a sufficiently large number of time periods.

This artificial intelligence package is known as Beaver, ( Biomass Economic Appraisal & Evaluation Expert).

Contacts

Coordinator

Spyros KYRITSIS / Agricultural University of Athens Agricultural Engineering Dept / GREECE

EC Scientific Officer

Valentine REILLY / European Commission DG XII E-2 SDME 8/27 / BELGIUM

Participant