Anaerobic digestion as a key technology for biomass valorization: contribution to the energy balance of biofuel chains - The Biogas: Science, Production and Applications - page 164

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Anaerobic digestion as a key technology for
biomass valorization: contribution to the
energy balance of biofuel chains

CLAUDIA P. PABO ´ N PEREIRA,
Universidad Adolfo Iba´ n˜ ez, Chile,
MAJA SL INGERLAND , Wageningen University, The Netherlands,
JULES B. VAN LIER,
Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands and
RUDY RABB INGE , Wageningen University, The Netherlands

DOI: 10.1533/9780857097415.1.166

Abstract: This chapter discusses the role of anaerobic digestion (AD)
within biomass chains. It does so by firstly contextualizing the topic,
highlighting the main possibilities opening up for different chains given
the intrinsic advantages of AD. Next, a typology of AD cascades is set
out and the possibilities of each cascade outlined following cascade chain
theory. A methodology is then introduced for assessing the contributing
role of AD to the energy balance of biomass chains. Finally, the
framework is applied to three biofuel chains in Colombia. The
implications of different chain configurations are discussed.

Key words: biomass chains, resource cascading, biofuels, anaerobic
digestion, energy balance.

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7.1 Introduction

For an expanding population living on a single planet, improving resource-
use efficiency is a must. It was reported in 2008 that humanity's total
ecological footprint was 1.3 planet Earths (WWF 2008). Prospects are not
better today as the combined effect of population growth and consumption
trends means that more resources, i.e. energy, land, water and nutrients, are
demanded each day.