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IntroductionBy using bioenergy we unlock the potential of our local natural resources, provide jobs and stimulate our local economies, improve fuel security and reduce CO2 emissions.

The BioPAD project is promoting the wider use of bioenergy and developing tools for the whole supply chain from raw material to producing energy.

BioPAD is helping the development of bioenergy and improving our understanding of the links between supply and demand by looking at supply chains for a variety of bioenergy fuels, and different ways of converting these fuels into sustainable energy. Understanding the way in which bioenergy moves from fuel sources to energy provision will help to establish robust and efficient supply services which match local demand.

If you would like to contribute to the BioPAD project or if you would like to learn more about best practice policy for bioenergy please visit http://www.biopad.eu/.

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Northern Periphery Programme Regions

Take the BISCUIT!

BioPAD’s supply chain tool, BISCUIT (BioPAD Supply Chain Unique Integrated Tool), is now available. Please test it out and send us any comments!

To promote the wider use and production of bioenergy across Europe’s Northern Periphery, the BioPAD project set out to improve everyone’s understanding of bioenergy fuels and their supply chains.

The BISCUIT is a tool that offers easy access to expert information, outlining the steps required to take natural raw materials and turn them into valuable energy sources.

BISCUIT focuses on different bioenergy raw materials including wood, energy crops and other biomass types. It guides you through a series of choices to create a unique report tailored to your interests.

BISCUIT is a great resource for anyone keen to learn more about bioenergy, whether you are a supplier of raw materials, an individual or company interested in starting a business producing bioenergy products, or those who just want to use bioenergy as a fuel source in a business or home.

The BISCUIT will allow you, the user, to identify suitable raw materials, understand what these materials can be used for and guide you through the processes of harvesting, transport, storage, and finally, the conversion of a truly remarkable fuel source into energy.

This eZine highlights the different features of BISCUIT and how you can use it. You can also watch the BISCUIT video on the BioPAD homepage. The BISCUIT is available at www.biopad.eu\biscuit or as an app that can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

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BISCUIT provides information on supply chains for three different fuel types: Wood, Energy Crops and Other Biomass. There is more information on each of these supply chains later in this eZine. Each of the three BISCUIT supply chains is divided into 3 stages:

Raw material Procurement Combustion/conversion

Within each of these you follow a series of steps showing you how the supply chain works and allowing you to select more information on the areas of interest to you.

You select the fuel type you want and then as you move through each step in BISCUIT, you can choose the fuel types or sections you would like more information on.

Your choices are then compiled in a personalised, detailed report, containing information on the steps you selected.

When you register you receive a unique ID for using BISCUIT. You can use this to amend chosen steps or generate another report.To start using BISCUIT go to www.biopad.eu\biscuit or download the App.

Using BISCUIT

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Wood

In the Wood supply chain in BISCUIT you will receive information about the different sources of wood biomass as a raw material, the procurement process for wood and finally, how it can be turned into energy.

The raw material section is divided into five topics: Source of Wood biomass; Type of Wood biomass; Potential estimation and Need of Wood Biomass in your bioenergy system; Quality of Wood Biomass; Policy and Market for Wood Biomass.

BISCUIT provides an overview of wood biomass procurement and the steps from raw material source to the end-use facility.

The main supply chain steps for woody biomass consist of wood harvesting or collecting, wood forwarding or hauling, comminution, wood transport, wood storage and wood refining (if needed) before combustion or conversion. The BISCUIT presents the supply in its simplest way but the generated report includes a more detailed description of each supply chain.

The final section will provide more information on combustion and conversion, including: what you should consider when choosing an installation for wood bioenergy, what will affect the quality of the process, and which market and policies relate to your bioenergy production.

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Wood

In the Wood supply chain in BISCUIT you will receive information about the different sources of wood biomass as a raw material, the procurement process for wood and finally, how it can be turned into energy.

The raw material section is divided into five topics: Source of Wood biomass; Type of Wood biomass; Potential estimation and Need of Wood Biomass in your bioenergy system; Quality of Wood Biomass; Policy and Market for Wood Biomass.

BISCUIT provides an overview of wood biomass procurement and the steps from raw material source to the end-use facility.

The main supply chain steps for woody biomass consist of wood harvesting or collecting, wood forwarding or hauling, comminution, wood transport, wood storage and wood refining (if needed) before combustion or conversion. The BISCUIT presents the supply in its simplest way but the generated report includes a more detailed description of each supply chain.

The final section will provide more information on combustion and conversion, including: what you should consider when choosing an installation for wood bioenergy, what will affect the quality of the process, and which market and policies relate to your bioenergy production.

Willow, Miscanthus, Reed Canary Grass, Short Rotation Forestry and Rapeseed are all covered by the BISCUIT in the energy crop section.

Here you will learn more about these different sources of energy crops, energy crop fuel types, quality and policy.

You select those which are of interest to you for your report.

BISCUIT provides an overview of the steps from raw material source to the end-use facility.

There are three main types of conversion technologies used for the generation of bioenergy, Combustion, Combined Heat & Power (CHP) and Anaerobic Digestion (AD) In BISCUIT you will receive more information about these technologies, things you should consider when choosing the right conversion type, and factors that might affect quality.

Energy crops

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Matt Lavin, Flickr

Joshua Mayer, Flickr

Reed canary grass

Miscanthus

Rape seed

Other Biomass

BISCUIT also includes an ‘Other Biomass’ supply chain which provides information concerning different sources of other biomass including fuels which are used in anaerobic digestion (AD) like slurry and manure, grass and straw (which can also be combusted), and Oil Seed Rape which can be used to produce a liquid biofuel.

You start your journey through BISCUIT by clicking on the next step which will bring you to the establishment of the energy crop.

You will receive information about the different conversion technologies for biomass including biogas, combustion and combined heat and power (CHP).

You will also receive more information on these conversion technologies, for example things you should consider when choosing a boiler, estimating demand and need, heating networks, factors that might affect quality, and using anaerobic digestion.

The main supply chains for other biomass fuel types consist of crop establishment, crop harvesting, biomass forwarding or handling, biomass transportation and biomass storage before combustion or conversion.

BISCUIT presents the supply chain in its simplest form but the generated report includes more detailed descriptions of each supply chain.

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Jerry Pank, Flickr

Jerry Pank, Flickr

BISCUIT is easily accessible from the BioPAD website (www.biopad.eu\biscuit) and has been developed using HTML5 so that it responds to whatever device you are using and gives you the best and clearest experience. However, for the added convenience of mobile and tablet users who wish to use BISCUIT wherever they are an App has been developed.

The App gives users the full BISCUIT experience on mobile devices and has been specially developed for android and iOS.

The BioPAD Biscuit App is available from Google play and the App store.

Download the App and let us know what you think!

The App

Android Application Screenshots

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And finally.....Testing the BISCUITFor the next month the BISCUIT is in a testing and review period. We’d welcome your feedback on what you like, what you don’t like, what works and what doesn’t. Please send an email with any comments to info@biopad.eu and Helen or Pauline will get back to you.

BioPAD is led by the Western Development Commission

It is funded under the European Regional Development

Fund (ERDF) Interreg IVB Northern Periphery

Programme (NPP) . Northern

Periphery Programme Statement: “Innovatively investing

in Europe’s Northern Periphery for a sustainable and

prosperous future”.

BioPAD has partners in Scotland (Environmental

Research Institute, (ERI, ), Northern

Ireland (Action Renewables

and Finland (Finnish Forest Research Institute, Metla

www.facebook.com\BioPAD

@BioPAD_NPP

Search ‘BioPAD’

www.northernperiphery.eu

www.wdc.ie

http://www.metla.fi/

http://www.eri.ac.uk/http://www.actionrenewables.org

For more information on the BioPAD project, and for details on how you can get involved please see:

Official Website: http://www.BioPAD.eu/

Blog: www.biopadbioenergyblog.wordpress.com

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