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Projeto de investigação
Research Unit in Materials, Energy and Environment for Sustainability
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Residual Biomass: A Comprehensive Review on the Importance, Uses and Potential in a Circular Bioeconomy Approach
Publication . Casau, Margarida; Dias, Marta Ferreira; Matias, João C.O.; Nunes, Leonel J.R.
The paradigm shift towards sustainable growth is urgent, and biomass, which is the oldest
energy source that humans have used since the discovery of fire, might play an important role.
Biomass waste from forestry and agriculture is expected to fuel part of the increasing demand for
biomass, and its valorization allows for more the efficient use of nutrients and resources. In this study,
we carried out an extensive literature review on the valorization of residual agroforestry biomass
since the 1970s to understand the leading research focuses on the subject over the last few decades,
identify the most recent trends, and establish a possible solution path for the future of biomass. It was
observed that most studies focused on biomass as being capable of replacing fossil energy sources.
According to the literature, biomass has the most significant potential to meet requirements and
ensure fuel supplies in the future. The developments of the last decades have significantly improved
the conversion processes, leading to greener solutions, but there is still much to be studied and
put into practice. Closing the loop into biomass waste recovery will be essential for a genuinely
circular bioeconomy
Reducing Rural Fire Risk through the Development of a Sustainable Supply Chain Model for Residual Agroforestry Biomass Supported in aWeb Platform: A Case Study in Portugal Central Region with the Project BioAgroFloRes
Publication . Casau, Margarida; Dias, Marta Ferreira; Teixeira, Leonor; Matias, João C.O.; Nunes, Leonel J.R.
In the European Mediterranean region, rural fires are a widely known problem that cause
serious socio-economic losses and undesirable environmental consequences, including the loss of
lives, infrastructures, cultural heritage, and ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and the
provisioning of raw materials. In the last decades, the collapse of the traditional rural socioeconomic
systems that once characterized the Mediterranean region, along with land-use changes, have created
conflicts and additional driving factors for rural fires. Within Europe, Portugal is the most affected
country by rural fires. This work intends to demonstrate the importance of recovering and valorizing
residual agroforestry biomass to reduce rural fire risk in Portugal, and thus contributing to a fire
resilient landscape. From the results of the known causes of fires in Portugal, it becomes very clear
that it is crucial to educate people to end risky behaviors, such as the burning of agroforestry leftovers
that causes 27% of fires in Portugal each year. The valorization of the existing energy potential in the
lignocellulosic biomass of agroforestry residues favors the reduction of the probability of rural fires,
this being the focus of the project BioAgroFloRes—Sustainable Supply Chain Model for Residual
Agroforestry Biomass supported in a Web Platform—introduced and explained here
Assessment of Woody Residual Biomass Generation Capacity in the Central Region of Portugal: Analysis of the Power Production Potential
Publication . Nunes, Leonel J.R.; Casau, Margarida; Matias, João C.O.; Dias, Marta Ferreira
Biomass is an alternative energy source with high potential to contribute to the global
energy mix and to countries’ energetic independence. The case of Portugal is particularly relevant,
given its biomass availability. Thus, the quantification of woody residual biomass is assumed to
be urgent. To achieve the objective of quantifying residual woody biomass, various available data
were used, namely the Land Cover and Soil Use Map (COS 2018), from which areas occupied by
different categories were selected as being the most relevant. Then, based on coefficients previously
established, the amounts of residual woody biomass were determined, namely for maritime pine
forests, eucalyptus forests, scrubland, vineyards, olive groves, and orchards. Then, the potential
for generating electricity was estimated. It was found that for the hypothetical scenario of the total
conversion of the recently closed Pêgo coal power plant to biomass, the available amounts of residual
woody biomass in the country would not be sufficient to ensure the operation. On the other hand, if
the power plant only worked as a backup unit, the available quantities could ensure its operation
and contribute to creating a value chain for residual woody biomass of forest and agricultural origin
within a circular economy and sustainable development approach
An integrated PROMETHEE II-Roadmap model: Application to the recovery of residual agroforestry biomass in Portugal
Publication . Alves, Adriana S.F.; Nunes, Leonel J.R.; Matias, João C.O.; Espadinha-Cruz, P.; Godina, Radu
Rural fires are currently one of the main global disasters, and Portugal is among the countries that have suffered
from them for decades. These fires pose economic, environmental, and social threats to the country. A primary
cause of rural fires is the burning of biomass to clear agroforestry residues. Thus, combating rural fires requires
more effective forest management, particularly the removal of forest residues that serve as fuel. These residues,
also known as biomass, have significant potential for energy production and biofuel use. This paper proposes a
model that integrates the PROMETHEE decision-making method with the roadmapping. This proposed model
includes 7 steps, including the planning of the roadmap, the definition of the decision problem, gathering in-
formation and building the roadmap. The proposed model was applied to develop a roadmap proposal for the
recovery of surplus agroforestry biomass in Portugal, identifying the most emerging conversion technologies in
the national context. With the roadmap developed, it was possible to understand that the recovery of surplus
agroforestry biomass in Portugal involves several sectors. The energy sector is one of those that can benefit from
the recovery of leftover agroforestry biomass, both from the point of view of carbon neutrality and energy in-
dependence. Forestry management is another of the great advantages of recovering leftover forestry biomass and,
consequently, reducing the number of fires. In the context of recovery, combustion is the most widely used
technology for producing energy or heat. The technology identified as most emerging in the upcoming years is
gasification. Investment in scientific research is essential for the success of this sector, as is the development of
public incentive policies and more engagement from all stakeholders. This paper conclude that valorizing
agroforestry residues can reduce rural fire risks while promoting energy independence, sustainable regional
development, and innovation in Portugal.
Evolution of land cover in the special area of conservation of Monchique (Southern Portugal): Have the objectives of the Natura 2000 network been achieved (1995–2018)?
Publication . Raposo, Mauro A. M.; Nunes, Leonel J. R.; Pinto-Gomes, Carlos J.
The Natura 2000 Network, as the European Union's ecological network, aims toensure the long-term conservation of Europe's most threatened species and habitats,helping to stop the loss of biodiversity. Based on this assumption, the changes in landcover in the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) of Monchique between 1995 and2018 are analysed and related to identify favourable and unfavourable policies con-cerning the habitats and respective species conservation. The most important landcovers are compared with the habitats and species legally protected at the Nationaland European level, as well as the Red List of Vascular Flora of Mainland Portugal. Asmain results can be highlighted the increase in the forest area occupied by species suchasEucalyptus globulusandPinus pinaster, and a reduction in the areas of grazing andshrub species. Can also be noted an increase in the areas covered by invasive species,which may be associated with the abandonment of rural areas. We identified 21 taxawith high heritage interest in the Monchique SAC, occurring mainly in forest habitats,namely 91E0, 92A0, 9240, 9330 and 9340, which should be considered in the elabora-tion of future Territorial Management Plans. Thus, it can be concluded that the objec-tives initially stipulated by the Natura 2000 Network were not fully achieved withinthe Monchique SAC. Alternative management methods must be studied to allow con-servation in a territory with a high land consolidation and low population density
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Entidade financiadora
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
6817 - DCRRNI ID
Número da atribuição
UIDP/05975/2020