Setting up international biobased commodity trade chains : a guide and 5 examples in Ukraine

Setting up biobased production chains, from biomass feedstock to final biobased product (energy, chemicals, materials) is a complicated process in which a whole range of decisions have to be made. Choices include what feedstocks to use, arranging logistics and most important of all the locating facilities to compact and dewater and convert the biomass into intermediates and final products. Choices depend on the local conditions and factors such as the economy-of-scale of intermediate steps and are complicated by the fact that biomass is produced dispersed ( a low density per area) and is almost by definition bulky, low in energy density and generally contains considerable amounts of water. Also other aspects such as (local and international) market demands, regulations and competing applications for biomass feedstocks are relevant aspects. The objective of this study was to develop an overview of possibilities, choices and trade-offs for production and trading of biobased commodities (e.g. raw materials and biobased chemical “building blocks”) and fuels that may guide project developers and decision makers in the development of business cases.