Bio-Based Economy (2026/2027: Periode 1)

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Cursusdoel

Please note: the information in the course manual is binding.
The objective of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and insights needed to understand the potential future role of a biobased economy (BBE) in a sustainable world, including its possibilities and limitations.

After completion of the course, the students should be able to:
  • understand the technical, economic and societal possibilities and limitations of biomass to substitute fossil fuels for the production of energy, chemicals and materials, including the complexity of determining the ideal use/cascade of biomass for materials and energy
  • explain the main sustainability challenges that are linked to the production and use of biomass, including the possible contribution that biomass use for energy, chemicals and materials can make to mitigate climate change
  • discuss the main uncertainties concerning the opportunities and risks of a BBE, and the related issues to concerning economic and/or environmental policy strategies.

Vakinhoudelijk

Biomass is an important feedstock to produce food, fodder, materials and energy. Given the environmental concerns of fossil fuel use for the production of materials and as energy carrier, the use of biomass is expected to strongly increase in the coming decades as a feedstock for the bio-based economy. However, developing the bio-based economy is not straightforward: (1) there are limited amounts of feedstock and potential (environmental and other) impacts of feedstock production and biomass use; (2) there are a large-number of possible applications and end-uses; and (3) the (currently often unfavorable) economics compared to fossil fuels make deployment difficult. The course examines the potential deployment of biomass (for a biobased economy) from a system perspective, from feedstock production until final use. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach thereby looking at the physical, technical, economic, environmental and policy aspects involved on the deployment / transition towards a biobased economy.

Topics that will be treated during the course include:
  • Overview of the historic and current biobased economy in the Netherlands, Europe and the world, including traditional and new uses of biomass for energy and materials;
  • EU and global biomass potentials (current – 2100) and key factors determining this potential (including overall land-use patterns and agricultural productivity);
  • The role of biomass logistic chains (including pretreatment & storage strategies) and how to optimize them;
  • Current and future biochemical and thermochemical conversion routes from various biomass feedstocks to energy carriers and materials and the related types of biorefineries (including integrated bio-refinery concepts);
  • Overview of possible end uses of biomass for energy (electricity; heat; road, aviation and marine transport fuels) and materials (including biobased plastics, bulk and fine chemicals, advanced fibers and building materials etc.);
  • GHG performance of biomass use for energy and materials, including life-cycle chain emissions (including recycling), land-use change effects and temporal effects (carbon debt and parity concepts);
  • Cascading and links with the circular economy concept;
  • Other potential environmental benefits and impacts of biomass use for energy and materials;
  • Overview of past and current policy strategies to promote and govern sustainable biomass production and use;
  • Micro-economic perspectives and socio-economic aspects of a biobased economy.
Note
This course is especially recommended for students that want to write their MSc thesis on BBE-related topics.

Werkvormen

Excursion

Lectures

Presentatie van assignment

Exercise classes/serious game

Toetsing

Eindresultaat

Verplicht | Weging 1% | ECTS 7,5

• Group paper on the development of the BBE until 2050 in the Netherlands from a specific stakeholder perspective (60%, including two oral presentations) • Individual written open book (but no internet) exam (40%). * Meeting the minimum participation requirements (e.g. nr of questions entered in PeerWise and correctly answered questions in PeerWise) - no grade, but compulsory to pass the course

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Ingangseisen

Je moet inschreven staan voor een van de volgende opleidingen:

  • Nanomaterials: Chemistry and Physics
  • Energy Science
  • Nanomaterials Science
  • Innovation Sciences
  • Sustainable Business and Innovation
  • Sustainable Development
  • Water Management for Climate Adaptation

Voorkennis

It is recommended (but not necessary) that students should have followed at least one of the following courses • Advanced Energy Analysis (GEO4-2508) • Life Cycle Assessment (GEO3-2124) (BSc course) • Sustainability Assessment and Management Tools (GEO4-2602) In general, basic knowledge of organic chemistry, and energy science is helpful.

Voertalen

  • Engels

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

  • READER
    Course reader (available on blackboard), lecture notes, scientific articles and other reports (available on blackboard)

Aanbevolen materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de aanbevolen literatuur bekend

Coördinator

prof. dr. H.M. Junginger H.M.Junginger@uu.nl

Docenten

Docenten onderwijsinstituut SD -
dr. E.T.A. Hoefnagels r.hoefnagels@uu.nl
dr. L. Shen L.Shen@uu.nl

Inschrijving

Deze cursus is open voor bijvakkers. Controleer wel of er aanvullende ingangseisen gelden.

Inschrijving
Van maandag 8 juni 2026 tot en met vrijdag 26 juni 2026

Na-inschrijving
Van maandag 17 augustus 2026 tot en met dinsdag 18 augustus 2026

Inschrijving niet geopend
Permanente link naar de cursuspagina
Laat in de Cursus-Catalogus zien
Laat in MyTimetable zien