H2020 BIOPLAT-EU Project: Promoting the sustainable use of underutilized land for bioenergy production through a web-based platform for Europe

The initial tasks focused on mapping MUC lands in the EU and Ukraine. This was achieved by compiling a geospatial database of MUC lands that offer potential for bioenergy feedstock production, which is necessary for the webGIS tool and its functionalities.

Two types of maps were produced: first, a European map of MUC lands (TIER-1 map) and, second, regional maps for twelve case study areas (TIER-2 maps) in Germany, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Spain, and Ukraine. In parallel with the mapping, a review and harmonization of the methodologies and tools used for bioenergy sustainability analyses in the EU was carried out. This work laid the groundwork for the conceptual design of the webGIS platform and its Sustainability Assessment Tool (STEN) and enabled the development of its structure. The webGIS tool was formed by integrating and combining the GIS maps and the TEN tool.

Its development was carried out in three phases. In the first phase, the conceptual design was defined. This included identifying user requirements, user profiles, and use cases. The main variables and algorithms for calculating the set of sustainability indicators were identified. During the second phase, the prototype was developed. It was based on analyzing user requirements, building a mockup to facilitate user interaction, gathering information and developing basic layers for the data model, and developing the TEN tool. In the third phase, the webGIS prototype integrated all the GIS layers and data necessary for full operation. An instruction manual was developed. The tool was tested internally in 12 selected case study areas with defined value chains in the six case study countries and then externally with other stakeholders and optimized accordingly. A series of events were held in the case study regions with the aim of mobilizing stakeholders, informing them about opportunities for biomass production on MUC lands, and supporting them in implementing such projects.

In addition, the webGIS tool was tested live, and stakeholders, in turn, provided feedback on its adjustments. Communication was also conducted with judicial authorities regarding legal barriers to bioenergy deployment. Support for financial structuring was a key focus during the second project period. Twelve feasibility studies and business modeling studies were conducted in the selected value chains in the case study regions. The results showed that in some cases the projects were feasible, in some cases they required initial grants to be viable, and in others they were not. These results were highly dependent on local conditions.

The project offered technical support to stakeholders through the technical assistance function. One of the very interesting operational outcomes of the project was that a consulting firm conducted a study to explore the feasibility of reclaiming contaminated and underutilized land in Europe for sustainable biofuel production. Using the webGIS tool, they identified the most interesting land locations in Europe that could be used for bioenergy production. They managed to identify five countries with high potential and where bioenergy projects would be financially attractive and lead to savings in GHG emissions. From this, they moved to Stage 2, where they began planning the implementation phase and will continue using the webGIS tool. Thanks to the tool, Neste successfully conducted a pan-European assessment to explore MUC land suitable for oilseed crop production in Europe.

The results showed that the tool is technically applicable and easy to use for mapping potential value chains. The webGIS tool can identify potential MUC areas for oilseed crop production, allowing market participants to further assess them and begin developing more detailed bioenergy value chains. Combining the tool's information on MUC land and crop suitability reveals significant potential across Europe, with the greatest potential existing in eastern and southern Europe.

The evaluation determined that rapeseed oil and sunflower oil had the greatest potential. The project results were disseminated through various materials and dissemination channels. Due to the pandemic, the most efficient way to disseminate the results, and especially the webGIS tool, was through social media. The LinkedIn post announcing the tool had 1,523 views. The consortium published three peer-reviewed articles, and a fourth is in the pipeline with accepted status.