Assessing the feasibility of vertical farming for second generation bioenergy crops

生物能源来自专门的第二代(2G)作物，如快速生长的木本植物或能源草，提供了一种很有前途的可再生能源。这些作物在生长过程中将大气中的碳吸收到它们的生物量和土壤中，因此当它们被用于发电时，由此产生的部分或全部排放已经被隔离。生物能源提供了降低大气二氧化碳浓度的双重好处，同时通过直接发电和液体生物燃料提供能源安全。随着可再生能源目标的增加，以及对负排放技术(如具有碳捕获和封存的生物能源(BECCS))的兴趣增加，土地压力增加。为了实现这些目标(到2050年，全球土地总面积约为7%，约相当于美国的大小)，需要转换大量土地，这将导致潜在的负面环境影响，以及对土地和粮食的潜在竞争。可以缓解这种土地压力的一个选择是“垂直耕作”。垂直耕作允许作物以垂直方式种植，例如在堆叠的板条箱中，每一土地面积适合的作物比目前实践的要多得多。垂直耕作由于减少了农作物所占的土地面积而受到越来越多的关注。目前，该方法仅应用于粮食作物，对其在2G生物能源作物上的适用性知之甚少。这项研究将是评估2G生物能源垂直耕作可行性的第一项研究。我将与加州大学戴维斯分校的园艺科学家和南安普顿大学的工程师合作，评估目前垂直耕作的做法，并为2G生物能源作物设计一个定制的系统。使用技术经济模型，我将估计与传统生物能源种植相比，使用垂直农业生物能源的成本和环境影响。我还将回顾传统种植的2G生物能源的生态系统服务可能会如何受到使用垂直耕作的耕作的影响。在与英国最大的生物能源电力生产商Drax磋商后，我将确定垂直农业可能如何影响他们的商业运营。利用空间模型，我将确定在英国哪些地方可以部署垂直农业生物能源，以及将其与负排放技术碳捕获和储存生物能源(BECCS)一起部署的可行性。我将考虑英国未来可能的土地使用，超越历史上的土地管理，考虑激进的土地使用替代方案。鉴于地理、气候和政治优先事项的不同，美国目前和未来的土地使用情况有很大不同。我将与加州大学戴维斯分校的科学家合作，确定垂直农业生物能源如何在美国部署。最后，在与商业、能源和工业策略部(BEIS)磋商后，我将概述促进垂直农业生物能源传播所需的政策创新和监管环境，以最大限度地提高经济、社会和环境成果。这项研究处于开发的早期阶段，因此符合产业战略的目标，即投资于科学、研究和创新。如果这项技术被证明是可行的，垂直农业生物能源有可能提供清洁能源，提高供应安全，并通过减少对进口的依赖来增强供应链。这项创新技术存在着外来投资的潜力，单位土地面积的产量增加也带来了出口机会。如果与BECCS相结合，垂直农业生物能源将通过培训和为当地社区创造就业机会来促进当地增长。这一奖学金将是将世界级研究转化为有利可图的商业成果的第一步。

Bioenergy, from dedicated second-generation (2G) crops such as fast growing woody species or energy grasses, provide a promising renewable energy source. These crops draw carbon from the atmosphere into their biomass and the soil during growth, so when they are utilised for energy generation, some or all of the resulting emissions have already been sequestered. Bioenergy offers the dual benefit of reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, whilst providing energy security through both direct electricity generation and liquid biofuels. As renewable energy targets increase, and interest in negative emissions technology (such as Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)) increases, pressure on the land increases. Large amounts of land would need to be converted to meet these targets (approximately 7% total global land area, about the size of the USA, by 2050), resulting in potential negative environmental impacts, as well as potential competition for land with food. One option, which could alleviate this pressure on the land, is 'vertical farming'. Vertical farming allows crops to be grown in a vertical formation, for example in stacked crates, fitting much more crop per land area than is currently practiced. Vertical farming is attracting an increasing amount of attention for reducing the amount of land occupied by crops. At present, this method is only being applied to food crops, and little is known about its suitability for 2G bioenergy crops. This Fellowship will be the first research to assess the feasibility of vertical farming for 2G bioenergy. I will assess the current practice of vertical farming and design a bespoke system for 2G bioenergy crops, in collaboration with horticultural scientist from the University of California Davis and with engineers from the University of Southampton. Using techno-economic modelling, I will estimate the cost and environmental impact of using vertical farming bioenergy compared to traditional bioenergy cultivation. I will also review the how the Ecosystem Services from traditionally cultivated 2G bioenergy may be affected by cultivation using vertical farming. In consultation with Drax, the UKs largest bioenergy electricity producer, I will identify how vertical farming may impact their commercial operations. Using spatial modelling, I will identify where in the UK vertical farming bioenergy can be deployed, and the feasibility of deploying it with the negative emissions technology Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS). I will consider possible future land use in the UK, thinking beyond historical land management, to consider radical land use alternatives. Given contrasting geography, climate and political priorities, current and future land use is considerably different in the USA. I will work with scientists at the University of California Davis to ascertain how vertical farming bioenergy could be deployed in the USA. Finally, in consultation with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), I will outline the policy innovations and regulatory environment necessary to facilitate the dissemination of vertical farming bioenergy, to maximise economic, social and environmental outcomes.This research is the early stages of development and therefore falls within the Industrial Strategy's aim to invest in science, research and innovation. Should the technology prove viable, vertical farming bioenergy has the potential to deliver clean energy, improve security of supply and enhance the supply chain through reduced reliance on imports. There is the potential for inward investment in this innovative technology, and opportunities for export due to increased yields per unit land area. If coupled with BECCS, vertical farming bioenergy will promote local growth through training and jobs for local communities. This Fellowship will be the first step in translating world-class research into lucrative commercial outcomes.