Economic and ecological assessment of biorefineries – Findings of the German biorefinery roadmap process

Biorefineries are assumed to become important material and energy users of biomass. Greenhouse gas mitigation, resource efficient and sustainable biomass utilization as well as positive economic effects along the value chains are drivers for biorefinery concepts but these potential benefits have to be achieved and proven. In doing so, economic and ecological assessments play an important role. Biorefineries are a heterogeneous research and development field. Initiated by the German Federal Ministries for Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection as well as Education and Research (BMELV) and organized by the German Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR) members from politics, industry and research elaborated the German biorefinery roadmap. This roadmap aims at systematically determining the state of development of biorefineries in Germany and at analyzing strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities and threats (SWOT) of promising future biorefinery concepts in order to identify a strategy of research and policy measures for decision makers. Within this roadmap process a subgroup dealt with the issues of economic and ecological analyses and assessments. This paper summarizes the key findings of this subgroup. General aspects for analysis and assessment of biorefineries are sketched. Challenges with regard to data and methodologies are identified and conclusions are drawn.