title: Multi-scale process and supply chain modelling: from lignocellulosic feedstock to process and products.
abstract: There is a large body of literature regarding the choice and optimization of different processes for converting feedstock to bioethanol and bio-commodities; moreover, there has been some reasonable technological development in bioconversion methods over the past decade. However, the eventual cost and other important metrics relating to sustainability of biofuel production will be determined not only by the performance of the conversion process, but also by the performance of the entire supply chain from feedstock production to consumption. Moreover, in order to ensure world-class biorefinery performance, both the network and the individual components must be designed appropriately, and allocation of resources over the resulting infrastructure must effectively be performed. The goal of this work is to describe the key challenges in bioenergy supply chain modelling and then to develop a framework and methodology to show how multi-scale modelling can pave the way to answer holistic supply chain questions, such as the prospects for second generation bioenergy crops.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences ,  University of Surrey ,  Guildford GU2 7XH ,  UK.
authors.forename: Seyed Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.forename: Nilay
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shah