Table 5

System performance metrics for spatial scale, spatial distribution and technological scenarios

Scenario

Current

Future

Grid scale (km²)

Grid scale (km²)

Metric

Unit

25

50

100

25

50

100

Centralised

Ethanol cost

$₂₀₀₇.l_EtOH^-1

0.714

0.605

0.579

0.350

0.328

0.328

km

53

70

114

53

107

97

L:C ratio**

-

0.17

0.29

0.45

0.45

0.86

0.79

No. plants

-

1

2

4

1

1

5

Max. plant***

10⁶ l year^-1

109

297

546

742

2970

2620

Corner-Point

Ethanol cost

$₂₀₀₇ l_EtOH^-1

0.712

0.601

0.578

0.355

0.337

0.346

km

48

71

102

48

66

82

L:C ratio

-

0.17

0.28

0.46

0.33

0.49

0.75

No. plants

-

1

2

4

1

3

8

Max. plant

10⁶ l year^-1

109

297

533

742

1230

2380

*The average unit-biomass transport distance

**The ratio between logistics costs and process capital and operating costs

***Maximum single-plant scale observed within system

Dunnett et al. Biotechnology for Biofuels 2008 1:13   doi:10.1186/1754-6834-1-13