Biomass and nutrient management in Switzerland

Picture: Nils Bremer

08.02.11 - Investigation of utilisation routes, eco-balance and the economic benefits of biomass.

The Federal Offices for the Environment (FOEN), Agriculture (FOAG), Spatial Development (ARE) and Energy (SFOE) are compiling a strategy for the optimum utilisation of biomass in Switzerland. To this end the federal offices have formed a senior project management team (SPM). In order to be able to formulate a sound strategy the SPM needs an accurate overview of how biomass is being used in Switzerland today and how this is to be assessed from the ecological and economic point of view.

Ernst Basler + Partner have refined a materials flow model at the request of Bafu and in close cooperation with the Zurich University for Applied Sciences ZHAW. This allows statements to be made on which volumes, energy and nutrient amounts (P, N) occur and where, how they are utilised and, where necessary, how they are disposed of.

The most important parameters of the system were determined and the eco-balance and the economic benefits of selected utilisation methods investigated.

This is a pragmatic approach. For the first time it will give an overall picture of biomass utilisation in Switzerland.