Bioeconomy and bioenergy for the Mediterranean area and third Countries
01DURND, 01DURUT
A.A. 2025/26
Course Language
Inglese
Degree programme(s)
Master of science-level of the Bologna process in Ingegneria Energetica E Nucleare - Torino Master of science-level of the Bologna process in Agritech Engineering - Torino
The course explores the role of bio-based processes and technologies in the context of the Southern European Mediterranean Countries, as well as in EU, Italy and Third Countries cooperation.
The shift to more sustainable energy and economic models based on bioeconomy and renewable energies is getting momentum, under the pressure of policy measures (UN SDGs, Renewable and Waste / Circular Economy Directives, EU Green Deal, FitFor55) and the need to quickly decarbonise global economies, moving towards new and circular models. Bioenergy is a leading element in this change, and part of Bioeconomy. The Mediterranean area, as well as many Third Countries and in particular the Arican region, share common environmental and socio-economic problems, as desertification and marginalization of land, lack of water, and their economic activities are affected by lack or expensive energy. Similarly, the availability of products becomes limited, and circularity not implemented.
Biomass feedstocks can offer a multitude of opportunities and solutions, most of which subject of the present course, where these will be explored in terms of technical, environmental and economic characteristics. Soil health and the link to Energy, Carbon and Fertilisers markets will be shortly examined. A special focus will be given to hard-to-decarbonize sectors, as Aviation, Maritime, Heavy Duty and Steel making.
Following an introduction to the agroclimatic, social and soil conditions typical of the MED area and selected Third Countries (with a special focus to Africa), the first part of the course will introduce the various biomass feedstocks, and the basic concepts of bioenergy, biorefining, circularity and overall bioeconomy. Processes and technologies will be screened, examining the critical elements in view of their introduction in the target areas. The concept of “appropriate” solutions will be explored. Then, in the second part a techno-economic and environmental analysis of some selected options will be treated, aiming at the identification of benefits and constraints. Among these, aspects as the link between energy availability and socioeconomic development, carbon and fertilizers markets, soil, climate, water-food energy nexus, sustainability, life-cycle assessment, and some further case studies will be examined.
The course explores the role of bio-based processes and technologies in the context of the Southern European Mediterranean Countries and Third Countries (African region).
The shift to more sustainable energy and economic models based on bioeconomy and renewable energies is getting momentum, under the pressure of policy measures (UN SDGs, Renewable and Waste / Circular Economy Directives, EU Green Deal, FitFor55) for a rapid decarbonization of the global economy, moving towards new and circular models.
Bioenergy, as part of Bioeconomy, is a key component of this change, particularly in the field of liquid and gaseous transport fuels. The Mediterranean area, as well as many Third Countries and in particular the African region, share common environmental and socio-economic problems, such as the increasing desertification trend, the degradation of agricultural land, the lack of water, and the related social impacts. In fact, economic activities are already affected by climate impacts, and scarce energy generation and distribution, while demography diverge among richest and poorer regions, and urbanisation is advancing. Food production is also affected by climate change (water-food-energy nexus), with agriculture struggling to meet the growing food/feed demand, and circularity not yet implemented.
Biomass feedstocks and residual biowaste streams can offer a multitude of opportunities and solutions to face these challenges: most of these will be explored throughout the course in terms of their technical, environmental and economic characteristics.
Soil health and the link to crop production, bioenergy, Carbon storage and fertilisers markets will be briefly addressed. A special focus will be given to hard-to-decarbonize sectors, as Aviation, Maritime, Heavy Duty and Steel making, and the Sustainable Biofuels for transports.
After an introduction to the agroclimatic, social and soil conditions typical of the MED area and selected Third Countries (with a special focus to Africa), the course will introduce the various types of biomass feedstocks, and the basic concepts of bioenergy, biorefining, circularity and overall bioeconomy. Processes and technologies will be screened, examining the critical elements in view of their introduction in the target areas, highlighting also the challenges related to the scale-up activity in case of low level of maturity. The concept of “appropriate” solutions will be discussed, taking into account the ecological boundaries. Then, in the final part of the course, a techno-economic and environmental analysis of Bioenergy/Bioeconomy will be examined, to identify the main benefits and challenges. Among these, aspects as the link between energy availability and socioeconomic development, carbon and fertilizers markets, soil, climate, water-food energy nexus, sustainability, life-cycle assessment, and some further case studies will be examined.
By the end of the course, students are expected to understand the main characteristics of bioenergy and bioeconomy solutions and opportunities suited for the EU MED and Third Countries. They will be able to carry out a critical assessment of each solution in a specific context, evaluating the techno-economic performances and the main environmental and social impacts. They will learn how to compare the different systems, also achieving a first understanding of the soil-biomass relation, being soil the most critical non-renewable resource for the EU MED area, as well as the fundamentals of Carbon markets.
By the end of the course, students are expected to understand the main characteristics of bioenergy and bioeconomy solutions and opportunities suited for the EU MED and Third Countries. They will be able to carry out a critical assessment of solutions in a specific context, evaluating the techno-economic performances and the main environmental and social impacts in a highly policy-driven scenario. They will learn how to compare the different systems, also achieving a first understanding of the soil-biomass relation, being soil the most critical non-renewable resource for the EU MED area, as well as the fundamentals of Carbon markets.
A basic knowledge on energy generation systems is requested, both fossil and renewable.
A basic knowledge on energy generation systems is requested, both fossil and renewable.
Part 1 – Climate change and Soil
1. Climate change and the EU MED area
2. Desertification, Soil, Water: the impact on environment and economic activities in EU MED
Part 2 – Circular Bioeconomy: Biomass, Bioenergy and Bio-based products
1. Introduction to bioeconomy: setting the scene
2. Bio-based and Recycled Carbon fuels and products
a. Feedstocks, sustainability, policies, cascade use
b. Alternative fuels for road, maritime and aviation sectors: differences and commonalities.
c. Biobased products: main routes to polymers, feed, fertilizers, materials
d. Biorefining: main production pathways
3. Biomass feedstocks
a. biomass, residues and wastes
b. sustainable agronomic models: cover and catch cropping, agroforestry
c. biomass pretreatments
4. Bioenergy Conversion Processes and Technologies for the MED area
a. Thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into fuels and products
i.Slow Pyrolysis for Biochar production
ii.Fast Pyrolysis for Biocrudes
iii.Gasification to liquid and gaseous fuels
iv.Methane Pyrolysis
b. Lipid conversion into fuels and products
i. HVO and HEFA
ii.Oleochemicals and bopolymers
c. Biological conversion: pre-treatments, processes, and technologies
i. Conventional and Advanced processing into alcohols and other products
ii. Algae and microbial oils
iii. Anaerobic Digestion to gas and organic digestate for soil health
5. Bioeconomy, Soil and Energy-Water-Food Nexus
6. Carbon markets
7. Technologies for EU MED and Third Countries
a. Framing the selection and use of technologies appropriate for local contexts
b. Selected case studies, invited speakers and seminars
Part 3 – Sustainability and socio-economic aspects
1. Sustainability analysis: hints on LCA and SGDs’ assessment
2. Energy and socio-economic/rural development: the Bioeconomy/Bioenergy/Circular Economy route
3. Potential impacts in EU MED and Third Countries
MED region and Third (African) Region
Circular Bioeconomy: Biomass, Bioenergy and Bio-based products
Sustainability and socio-economic aspects
Applied lectures and practice tutorials with problem-sets and exercises.
Applied lectures and practice tutorials
Teaching material provided by the instructor.
Part 1 – Short introduction to MED region and Third (African) Region
Part 2 – Circular Bioeconomy: Biomass, Bioenergy and Bio-based products
1. Introduction to bioeconomy: setting the scene
2. Biomass feedstocks
a. biomass, residues and wastes
b. sustainable agronomic models: cover and catch cropping, agroforestry
3. Bioenergy Conversion Processes and Technologies for the MED area
a. Thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into energy, fuels and products
i.Biomass composition and combustion
ii.Slow Pyrolysis for Biochar production. Carbon markets
iii.Fast Pyrolysis for Biocrude production
iv.Gasification to liquid and gaseous fuels
v.Methane Pyrolysis
b. Lipid conversion into fuels and products
i. HVO and HEFA
ii.Oleochemicals and biopolymers
c. Biological conversion: pre-treatments, processes, and technologies
i. Conventional and Advanced processing into alcohols and other products
ii. Algae and microbial oils
iii. Anaerobic Digestion to biomethane/biogas. Organic digestate use for soil health and Carbon Accumulation
4. Soil and Energy-Water-Food Nexus
5. Biorefining and Biobased products: polymers, feed, fertilizers, materials
6. Technologies for EU MED and Third Countries: Framing the selection and use of technologies appropriate for local contexts
Part 3 – Sustainability and socio-economic aspects
7. Feedstocks for Sustainable Biofuels, Recycled Carbon fuels and bio-based products.
a. Policies on Sustainability, cascade use of biomass
b. Feedstocks for alternative fuels for road, maritime and aviation: differences and commonalities. The EU and International dimension
8. Sustainability analysis: hints on LCA and SGDs
Seminars on: Selected case studies and topics, invited speakers
Materials and videos provided by the teacher
Biofuels' Digest
IEA, JRC and BIC websites
Biofuels' Digest
IEA, JRC and BIC websites
Teaching material provided by the instructor.
Slides;
Lecture slides;
E' possibile sostenere l’esame in anticipo rispetto all’acquisizione della frequenza
You can take this exam before attending the course
Modalità di esame: Prova orale obbligatoria;
Exam: Compulsory oral exam;
...
Computer-based written exam using the PoliTo platform, or oral examination (at discretion of the professor, depending on number of students).
Gli studenti e le studentesse con disabilità o con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento (DSA), oltre alla segnalazione tramite procedura informatizzata, sono invitati a comunicare anche direttamente al/la docente titolare dell'insegnamento, con un preavviso non inferiore ad una settimana dall'avvio della sessione d'esame, gli strumenti compensativi concordati con l'Unità Special Needs, al fine di permettere al/la docente la declinazione più idonea in riferimento alla specifica tipologia di esame.
Exam: Compulsory oral exam;
Expected learning outcomes
-Understanding of the topics covered and the value chains
-Ability to identify key element and performances on process technologies considered in the course (main mass and energy balances).
Criteria, rules and procedures for the examination
The exam aims to verify the above skills (see Expected learning outcomes). The exam thus aims at ascertaining the knowledge of the topics listed in the official teaching program and the ability to apply the theory and the related calculation methods to real cases.
Evaluations are expressed out of thirty and the exam is passed if the vote obtained is at least 18/30.
The exam consists of an oral examination of approx 30 minutes duration in total, during which schemes, sketches and graphs of technologies under considerations will be drafted and discussed by the candidate. The exam will also touch upon the physical and chemical main characteristics of the feedstocks under consideration and the related value chains. Sustainability, economic aspect will complement the analysis from the candidate, together with a critical discussion of the suitability of these systems to EU MED and Third Country conditions.
During the exam it is not allowed to keep and consult notebooks, books, exercise sheets, forms, calculators.
The results of the exam are anticipated at the end of the exam and formally communicated on the teaching portal.
In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.