A Conceptual Framework for Forest Supply Chain Design Considering Integrated Conversion Facilities for Second-Generation Bioethanol Production.

MARIA ANALÍA RODRIGUEZ; FRANK PIEDRA JIMENEZ; JUAN MATIAS NOVAS

Buenos Aires

Conferencia; 2nd Latin American Sustainable Development of Energy Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES LA 2020); 2020

In this paper, an optimization model for the forest supply chain (FSC) design is proposed. It considers a potential improvement of the profit margins of the chemical pulp mills when including other forest industries, such as ethanol plant and paper mills, into integrated conversion facilities sites. The optimization problem is formulated within the generalized disjunctive programming (GDP) framework and reformulated as a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model in order to optimize the design of a given FSC. The model involves complex mathematical modeling tasks such as (i) location, sizes and technology selections of the involved facilities; (ii) decisions about feedstock amount at each forest site; as well as decisions concerning the (iii) transportation quantities for each transportation link. The model is implemented in GAMS 24.1 and its feasibility has been tested using data of a real case study from Argentina. As result, (i) the concept of integrated and/or co-location is addressed as a viable option for the transformation of the forest and P&P industry; (ii) the dynamic capacity strategy and economies of scale in facilities are tackled; and (iii) a piecewise linear transportation cost function is presented. Computational results show that the proposal serves as a decision-making tool, which allows the projection of FSC structure in the long term. Based on this work, future studies will be conducted to account for uncertainties, as well as to evaluate economic and environmental objectives trade-offs.