Assessment of sustainable Grassland biomass potentials for energy supply in Northwest Europe

The so-called surplus grass is available for energy conversion after satisfying first existing fodder demands from animal husbandry, and secondly environmental sustainability criteria representing a weak sustainability (Basis) scenario and a strong sustainability (Restrict) scenario. The results show large potentials which vary strongly between the model regions. Local biomass potentials account for up to 1416 tonnes per square kilometre dry mass (t/km2 dm) per year in the Basis scenario in South Netherlands, while the annual mean values for the regions vary between 100 t/km2 dm in Île de France and 374 t/km2 dm in the West Midlands region. Five out of seven regions show surplus grass in the Basis scenario; four regions even in the Restrict scenario. Thus, the model approach provides improved quality and consistency in biomass assessment at different scales and for different regions in the EU.