Systems Analysis of Biomass Flows A Case study of Borås Madumita Sadagopan This thesis comprises 60 ECTS credits and is a compulsory part in the Master of Science with a Major in Sustainable Engineering – Resource Recovery 120 ECTS credits No. 3/2013 A Systems Analysis of Biomass flows – A case study of Borås Madumita Sadagopan,
[email protected] Master thesis Subject Category: Technology University of Borås School of Engineering SE-501 90 BORÅS Telephone +46 033 435 4640 Examiner: Prof. Tobias Richards Supervisor,name: Prof. Tobias Richards Supervisor,address: Client: Date: 2014-06-13 Keywords: Systems analysis of biomass, material flow analysis, urban metabolism, biomass Borås, industrial ecology 2 Abstract The systems analysis of biomass in the Borås municipality is conducted so as to identify the amount of biomass consumed by certain designated systems for this study. Using the principles of urban metabolism and material flow accounting, the system boundary is setup and biomass is categorized into system specific entities which are to be quantified. The symbiosis principle and the cascading approach of resource utilization are used to determine the systems which are working together and the resources they share among each other. Selected flows are established to be calculated for paper and paper products; fuel and construction wood; biogas; and blended transportation fuels. The flows are considered one by one, it is found that the consumption system and the waste management system are main players in the flow of paper and its products. The flow of fuel and construction wood is surveyed across different companies in the municipality for 2013.