Distributed Networked Biobased Economies

• MSc Thesis: Distributed Networked Biobased Economies. By Fabio Barone.

URL = http://fbarone.net/sites/default/files/Distributed-Networked-Biobased-Economies.pdf

Abstract

"Distribution is a strategy used in information systems architecture to increase fault-tolerance and overall resilience. Decentralising or distribution of energy generation improves the resilience of electricity supply compared to centralised big power stations with losses due to transmission lines. Distributed production can further increase the resilience of societal systems, while allowing cultural diversity and certain degree of self-determination. It could mitigate destructive patterns of large scale economies through concentrating on small to mid scale applications. Community ownership as well as local control and management of resources and natural assets establishes stronger communities, streamlines supply allocation along local needs and priorities while amplifying self-reliance and decreasing dependence on global markets and big business. Such structures could organically configure themselves based on bioregions. Electronic communication embracing open source principles through the Internet constitutes the base for equitable access to information and education worldwide, fosters collaborative, cooperative modes of working, interacting and sharing, and can be beneficial for any kind of project through the participative integration of potential contributors all over the planet. Costs of new developments can be driven down through sharing of information and experiences. Facing peak oil also means finding alternatives to oil products. Many such artefacts can be produced from biomass. Biorefineries are installations which convert biomass into usable products, like fuels, bioplastics, solvents or chemicals. The correspondent technologies are still in infancy; their development requires massive investments. Some are already available and suitable for small scale distributed economies, others might become over time. A distributed scenario encompassing technological advance requires appropriate materials; biorefineries could be instrumental in providing them through the conversion of biomass. The biggest challenge to this vision is the allotment of available biomass resources to different streams: food, clothing, energy, materials, arts and construction. Prioritisation along local conditions would generate regional differences and adaptations. Algae biomass holds amazing prospects. However, its implementation is all too uncertain today."

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