A biorefinery is a structure that integrates the production processes of fuels and chemical products from biomass. Above mentioned allows the efficient use of raw materials and processes will generate a new environmental and economically sustainable value chain and bio products.
The concept of forest biorefinery is analogous to that of oil refineries, which produce multiple fuels and products from oil. Considering the biorefinery implantation from lignocellulosic biomass through biological conversion could be obtained several bioproducts, biomaterials, chemicals, plastics, energy, bioethanol, biogas, coal, and other fuels. The main purpose of this study is to find optimal areas for the installation of Biomass Plants in order to produce bioethanol.
To achieve this goal, a methodology based on Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) and implemented by a Geographic Information System (GIS) has been developed.
The methodology output includes maps of greater aptitude areas for resource use (forest biomass available), as well as suitable locations for the placement of forest biomass facilities. Both cartographic products have been related by means network analysis. It generates location-allocation models which allows locating forest biomass facilities according with an optimization of the supply chain from the resource areas.