The Bioenergy simulator relies on spatial datasets, such as agro-ecological zones, protected areas, water scarcity distribution, population density, and power lines, to identify opportunities and limitations to utilise biomass resources for bioenergy production. The user inputs the required parameters, including the area, biomass resource and production process, and the bioenergy simulator retrieves location specific information on the bioenergy potential to run the simulation. Some default technical parameters are included as part of the simulation, but these can be edited by the user for more accurate results.

The methodology of the Bioenergy simulator can be deployed globally to provide estimates of potential bioenergy resource. It provides estimates of possible bioenergy contribution in transport, heating, and electricity.

The simulator allows users to utilise various resources and processes:

• The biomass resources include agricultural crops, featuring 14 dedicated bioenergy crops; agricultural residues, including 28 residue types; livestock waste, with 9 different animal manures; and forest plantations, which includes 52 different tree species.
• The production processes include 25 different production processes for bioenergy development, covering 6 types of biofuels in liquid, solid, and gaseous states, and 19 types of biofuel conversion technologies.

To define a resource/process, users must:

1. Select an area of interest on the map provided
2. Select a specific type of feedstock (crop, agriculture residue, livestock waste, or forest plantation)
3. Keep the default values provided or change them if better data for the area is available to the user
4. Select a bioenergy end-use (transportation, heating, or electricity)
5. Select a bioenergy conversion technology (anaerobic digestion, combustion, gasification, hydrolysis-fermentation), a process scheme screen will detail the process of conversion for your biomass of choice to its end-product

The simulator utilises different datasets depending on the selected type of biomass:

1. IIASA/FAO, Global Acro-Ecological Zones (GAEZ) - for crops and agricultural residues
2. Residue-to-product ratio based on a global literature review - for agricultural residues
3. IPCC (2006), Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories - for livestock waste
4. FAO (2003), Planted forests database by M. Varmola and A. Del Lungo - for forest plantations
5. CABI, Encyclopaedia of Forest Trees 2013 - for forest plantations

Additionally, the default values used as the simulation parameters for the bioenergy sources are obtained from a global in-depth literature review. But users can edit these values.

The result section provides users with the summary of the selected inputs, the result of the simulation, including the bioenergy yield and production, and gross electricity or heat production if applicable. The simulator will also suggest an application for the potential bioenergy production and provide further information on how to interpret the data.

The Bioenergy simulator does not assess the socio-economic feasibility or environmental impacts of the selected bioenergy value chains at any investment scale. Field surveys and in-depth assessments should be conducted to identify the most appropriate technologies for bioenergy production.

No, the Bioenergy simulator provides the theoretical potential based on the provided inputs. It does not account for self-consumption and losses at the plant installation/network.

The Bioenergy simulator is not intended to be the basis for final technology choices or investment decisions. It allows the user to perform preliminary analysis to promote modern bioenergy production options for a given area, biomass resource and associated conversion technology.

For more information refer to the user guidance section or email GARE@irena.org for feedback and questions.