Dr. Vanessa Burg

Function

Scientific staff member

Forest Resources and Management

Sustainable Forestry

Contact

vanessa.burg(at)wslto make life hard for spam bots.ch

+41 44 739 23 76+41 44 739 23 76

Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf

Site

Birmensdorf Bi GL B 01

Research interests

Integrated and strategic management of natural resources; sustainable provision of bioenergy; circular economy; energy-land-food nexus; motivations and barriers to the adoption of pro-environmental practices; spatial data analysis and modelling.

Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Vanessa_Burg.
Google scholar: https://scholar.google.ch/citations?user=IaakgJ8AAAAJ&hl=en.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Projects

Bioenergy and circular economy: the biogas plant as a hub

In this transdisciplinary study, the bioenergy system is assessed from the perspective of the circular economy. The focus is on wet biomass, whereby the current cycle of the most important elements is investigated qualitatively and quantitatively. The anaerobic digestion serves as the central hub.

Strategies and concepts for tapping the sustainable, energetic potential of manure in Switzerland

The project "NETZ" develops strategies and concepts for tapping the sustainable, energetic potential of substrates of agricultural origin, in particular farmyard manure in Switzerland.

Biomass transport for energy in Switzerland

The aim of this project is to explore the transport chains of biomass for energy in Switzerland and assess their economic and ecological impacts. Costs, energy inputs, and CO2 balances are calculated for the major paths travelled by forest wood and manure.

Power Density Switzerland

"Power Density" describes the relationship between energy carrier, area and time. Renewable energies and particularly biomass require much larger area to produce energy compared to fossil fuels. This study helps identify where and to what extent which type of bioenergy could be used.

Biomass potentials Switzerland

SCCER-BIOSWEET aims to increase the energetic use of biomass in Switzerland. WSL determines resource potentials, examines availabilities and future developments of different biomass categories.

Publications WSL

Scientific publication article peer reviewed

Bowman, G.; Ayed, L.; Burg, V., 2022: Material and energy flows of industrial biogas plants in Switzerland in the context of the circular economy. Bioresource Technology Reports, 20: 101273 (9 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.biteb.2022.101273

Siegrist, A.; Bowman, G.; Burg, V., 2022: Energy generation potentials from agricultural residues: the influence of techno-spatial restrictions on biomethane, electricity, and heat production. Applied Energy, 327: 120075 (12 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.120075

Bowman, G.; Burg, V.; Erni, M.; Lemm, R.; Thees, O.; Björnsen Gurung, A., 2021: How much land does bioenergy require? An assessment for land‐scarce Switzerland. GCB Bioenergy, 13, 9: 1466-1480. doi: 10.1111/gcbb.12869

Schnorf, V.; Trutnevyte, E.; Bowman, G.; Burg, V., 2021: Biomass transport for energy: cost, energy and CO₂ performance of forest wood and manure transport chains in Switzerland. Journal of Cleaner Production, 293: 125971 (14 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.125971

Burg, V.; Troitzsch, K.G.; Akyol, D.; Baier, U.; Hellweg, S.; Thees, O., 2021: Farmer's willingness to adopt private and collective biogas facilities: an agent-based modeling approach. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 167: 105400 (12 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105400

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Further scientific publications

Production de biogaz à partir d’engrais de ferme en Suisse. Potentiel énergétique, développement technologique et mobilisation des ressources. Livre blanc

L’objectif de ce livre blanc est de fournir aux décideurs, aux administrations et aux parties prenantes les résultats de recherche les plus récents afin de promouvoir l’utilisation optimale de la bioénergie issue des engrais de ferme dans la transition énergétique suisse. À cette fin, les résultats du centre de compétence suisse pour la recherche en bioénergie – SCCER BIOSWEET – sont résumés et présentés dans un contexte plus large. Si rien d’autre n’est mentionné, les résultats se réfèrent à la Suisse et, dans le cas de la matière première, aux potentiels nationaux de biomasse.

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Biogas from animal manure in Switzerland. Energy potential, technology development and resource mobilization. White paper

Aim of this white paper is to provide decision-makers, administrations and stakeholders with the most current research findings in order to promote the optimal use of bioenergy from manure in the Swiss energy transition. For this purpose, the results of the Swiss competence center for bioenergy research – SCCER BIOSWEET – are summarized and presented in a broader context. If nothing else is mentioned, the results refer to Switzerland and in case of the feedstock to the domestic biomass potentials.

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Biogas aus Hofdünger in der Schweiz. Energiepotenzial, Technologieentwicklung und Ressourcenmobilisierung. White paper

Ziel dieses Whitepapers ist es, Entscheidungsträgern, Verwaltungen und Stakeholdern die aktuellsten Forschungsergebnisse zur Verfügung zu stellen, um die optimale Nutzung von Bioenergie aus Hofdünger in der Schweizer Energiewende zu fördern. Zu diesem Zweck werden die Ergebnisse des Schweizer Kompetenzzentrums für Bioenergieforschung – SCCER BIOSWEET – zusammengefasst und in einem breiteren Kontext dargestellt. Wenn nichts anderes erwähnt wird, beziehen sich die Ergebnisse auf die Schweiz und im Falle der Ressourcen auf die heimischen Biomassepotenziale.

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Guidati, G.; Marcucci, A.; Damartzis, T.; Burg, V.; Schildhauer, T.; Giardini, D.; Kröcher, O., 2021: Biomass and waste potentials and conversion pathways for energy use in Switzerland. Report JASM - Biosweet. 39 p.

Panos, E.; Kober, T.; Ramachandran, K.; Hirschberg, S.; Bauer, C.; Schildhauer, T.; Streicher, K.N.; Yilmaz, S.; Zuberi, J.; Patel, M.; Schlecht, I.; Lordan-Perret, R.; Weigt, H.; Li, X.; Gupta, R.; Damartzis, T.; Marechal, F.; Paolone, M.; Bolliger, A.; ... Burg, V., 2021: Transformation of the Swiss energy system for a net-zero greenhouse gas emission society. Results from the joint activity scenarios & modelling. 32 p.

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Magazine article and brochures

Schnorf, V.; Schweier, J.; Burg, V.; Frutig, F.; Thees, O., 2021: Bois-énergie: coûts et logistique. La Forêt, 74, 3: 12-15.

Schnorf, V.; Schweier, J.; Burg, V.; Frutig, F.; Thees, O., 2021: Energieholztransport in der Schweiz. Wald und Holz, 102, 1: 20-23.

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Biosketch

I am an environmental engineer with more than 10 years experience in the field of natural resources management and energy. Since 2014, I have been a researcher at WSL, also bringing experience from the private sector and international organizations.

Currently, my focus lies on sustainable bio-resources management in the context of the energy transition. I use transdisciplinary research approaches integrating different methods, such as geographic information system, agent-based modeling, and surveys for quantitative as well as qualitative analysis.