Embracing the Circular Bioeconomy in the EU
The EU is encouraging circular bioeconomy research and innovation because it’s a promising way to use available renewable biological resources to help us achieve a low-carbon economy1, specifically by 51% reduction in total of GHG emissions by 2030 and complete climate neutrality by 20502. Hence, understanding the distribution and quantity of biomass, as well as its potential availability, is crucial for managing our natural resources in a sustainable manner. Having accurate and up-to-date biomass maps enables scientists, policymakers, and industry to make smart decisions that benefit both the environment and society.
InformBio and Biomass mapping
InformBio is a DAFM-funded project that has tackled the challenging task of quantifying and mapping the regional distribution of available biomasses in Ireland. We had to consider not only the availability of these materials but also how they are currently being used, along with economic constraints. To get a comprehensive view of these factors, we used a Bioresource Modelling Tool, that collects information of natural renewable sources like organic wastes and naturally formed or formable raw materials in Ireland, helping us understand the data and piece together a clear picture of what’s happening in the region.
The tool includes a series of data sheets that capture information about biological raw materials, including price, usage, bioresource content for each material, and freight costs. If you’re interested in learning more about this tool, just click on this link. We’ve also summarized the main outputs in this post!
Biomass availability in Ireland
We have estimated the biomass arisings from four main sectors: agriculture (pulses, tillage, grasses, horticulture, energy and other crops, livestock manure), forestry (forest stock arisings, harvesting and processing arisings, naturally generated arisings), industry and urban wastes (meat and dairy industry; brewing, distilling, and cider-making industries; urban wastes), and the marine sector (aquaculture, landings, and seaweed harvesting sector).
Three major types of biomasses were identified. The first type is primary feedstocks from agriculture, which are the main outputs like milk, meat, beer, grains, vegetables, etc. The second type includes by-products, co-products, or secondary feedstocks from the main product, such as slaughterhouse biomasses, straw from crops, barley spent grain, etc. The third type consists of wastes generated from them, like rotten or damaged meat and crops affected by pests/diseases.
For forestry, biomass was categorized into two main types. The first type is harvesting and processing biomass, collected from forests by thinning or felling, including both timber production and secondary feedstocks from the wood industry. The second type is forest biomass generated naturally in trees, not necessarily resulting from wood-industry processing, such as needles/leaves, branches, bark, stumps, roots, cones, etc., except for bark.
Although this study was exhaustive, it did not include all possible biomass sources available in Ireland. Researchers identified a total of 358 biomass arisings across crops, industry, forestry, and marine sectors, comprising 125 primary feedstocks, 189 secondary feedstocks, and 53 waste sources. Additionally, grass production and slurry production in Ireland were also estimated. See Figure 1 for more details.
Figure 1. Primary, secondary feedstocks and wastes identified in the sectors studied.
Further down, you will find details on the estimated the quantities of the secondary feedstocks we have identified from each sector.
If you’re interested in learning more about this tool, just click here >>
Agricultural Sector
The agricultural sector in Ireland is a major contributor to biomass production. It generates substantial amounts of primary feedstocks, primarily from arable crops, horticulture, and pulses.
The InformBio researchers were able to estimate the total secondary feedstocks from the main Irish crops, such as tillage, horticulture, pulses, energy crops and other crops. It was estimated that approximately 3 million tonnes of secondary feedstocks are produced in Ireland. This includes residues such as straw, husks, and other crop residues that can be repurposed for various uses, including bioenergy production and as raw materials in other industries.
Additionally, within this study, the potential surplus of grass in Ireland has been estimated for different cattle types. It is worth highlighting that an accurate representation of the potential surplus of grass in Ireland is difficult to assess, since several variables need to be considered to have an accurate image of the grass generation, such as soil fertility, management systems, stocking rate and grazing management practices. However, it was estimated that about 31% of pasture grass and 27% of silage grass could be grown in surplus for all cattle types.
Additionally, according to CSO, approximately 100,000 farms in Ireland possess livestock. Our study delved into the production of slurry, manure and litter from cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry livestock. Our estimations suggest that in total, a generate an estimated production of approximately 35.27 million tonnes of manure/slurry/litter per year, with cattle, pigs, sheep and chickens accounting for most of this production.
Forestry Sector
The forestry sector in Ireland is predominantly composed of coniferous species, which significantly contribute to biomass production. This sector can be studied by looking at the biomass that comes from the wood industry, which is basically the harvesting and processing of wood through thinning or felling. However, in this study, we also looked at biomass that comes from the forests naturally, which doesn’t necessarily result from processing wood. This includes things like needles/leaves, branches and bark.
The InformBio project estimated that processing of coniferous and broadleaf trees results in about 1,200,000 tonnes of secondary feedstocks annually. These feedstocks include bark, sawdust, and woodchips. Additionally, naturally generated biomass from needles, leaves, and branches adds approximately 1,400,000 tonnes. The forestry sector thus plays a crucial role in providing raw materials for bioenergy and other industrial applications.
Industrial and Urban Waste Sectors
The industrial and urban waste sectors also contribute significantly to biomass resources. As mentioned above, we include in this sector meat and dairy industry; brewing, distilling, and cider-making industries; and urban wastes.
The meat and dairy industries are major contributors, with the meat industry alone generating about 1.8 million tonnes of biomass from animal slaughter. Of this, 60% is edible primary feedstock, while the remaining 40% consists of secondary feedstocks (20%, ca. 360kt) and wastes (20%, ca. 350kt).
The dairy sector contributes around 830,000 tonnes of secondary feedstocks annually. Similarly, wastes estimations the dairy sector would be in ca. 490kt of rotten dairy products and milk losses.
The brewing and distilling industries also generate large quantities of biomass, with the brewing sector producing approximately 140,000 tonnes of barley spent grain and the distilling sector generating substantial volumes of spent lees, spent wash, and draff.
Urban waste management is a critical aspect of Ireland’s national waste policy, aiming to recycle more and reduce landfill use. In 2020, Ireland generated 753,000 tonnes of food waste across the food value chain. In 2021, Ireland produced 448,500 tonnes of wood waste, 814,000 tonnes of paper and cardboard waste, and 238,000 tonnes of textile waste. Additionally, about 415,000 tonnes of common sludges were generated, mainly from municipal sewerage and food processing industries.
Marine Sector
The marine sector, including aquaculture and seaweed harvesting, is another important source of biomass. The finfish processing industry produces around 21,677 tonnes of secondary feedstocks, while the shellfish aquaculture sector generates approximately 4,900 tonnes of mussel shells. Crustacean landings contribute about 3,500 tonnes of shells from crabs and prawns/shrimps. These marine biomass resources have potential applications in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and bioenergy.
Conclusion
Ireland possesses a diverse and substantial biomass resource base across the agriculture, forestry, industrial, urban waste, and marine sectors. The comprehensive mapping and quantification of these resources highlight the country’s potential to advance a circular bioeconomy. By effectively managing and utilizing these biomass resources, Ireland can significantly contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. The integration of accurate and up-to-date biomass data into policy and industry practices is crucial for sustainable natural resource management, offering both environmental and societal benefits.
