Evaluation of biomass utilization pathways – a methodological framework

Evaluation of biomass utilization pathways – a methodological framework | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Evaluation of biomass utilization pathways – a methodological framework Johanna Ruett, Ali Abdelshafy, Grit Walther This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7831805/v2 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 2 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Show more versions Abstract Biomass is a limited resource facing increasing cross-sectoral demand, creating the need to identify utilization pathways that deliver both financial returns and societal benefits. Existing assessments often emphasize economic performance and global warming potential while often overlooking broader environmental externalities and inconsistently accounting for avoided and removed CO₂-equivalent (CO₂eq) emissions. These gaps limit their ability to guide strategic biomass allocation and policy design. This study presents a novel framework that integrates techno-economic analysis, life cycle assessment, and monetization of environmental externalities to derive two central metrics: net private benefit (NPB) and net social benefit (NSB). Expressing results per unit of biomass input allows consistent comparison across heterogeneous pathways, such as heat, biochar, and carbon removal credits. The framework distinguishes among types of emissions and resource use, incorporates multiple environmental impact categories, and links private and societal perspectives to support investment and policy decisions. The framework’s application to miscanthus utilization in Germany compares bioenergy (BE) and biochar carbon removal (BCR). BE yields positive NPB and avoids emissions and resource use but does not achieve permanent CO₂eq emission removal. BCR removes CO₂eq emissions long-term but results in negative NPB. Both pathways, however, show positive NSB, highlighting synergies and conflicts between private incentives and societal value. Overall, this framework enables a holistic assessment of biomass utilization pathways. By integrating economic and environmental dimensions, standardizing emissions and resource use accounting, and harmonizing metrics, it provides a structured basis for prioritizing biomass uses according to their private and social benefits. Environmental Economics Environmental Engineering biomass assessment framework carbon removal bioenergy biochar miscanthus Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files SupplementaryMaterial1inventories.pdf SM1: Data inventories and assumptions applied in the life cycle and techno-economic assessments SupplementaryMaterial2resultsNPBNSBLCATEA.xlsx SM2: Detailed results for the net private and social benefit, techno-economic assessment, life cycle assessment, and associated damage costs. Includes results for all ReCiPe midpoint impact categories Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 2 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Show more versions Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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