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Development of the energy potential of the forestry sector and wood energy in a sustainable way. UNECE/FAO Policy Forum: The Forest Sector in the Green Economy, Geneva – Switzerland, October 15 th , 2009. André Faaij Copernicus Institute - Utrecht University Task Leader IEA Bioenergy Task 40.
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Development of the energy potential of the forestry sector and wood energy in a sustainable way.UNECE/FAO Policy Forum: The Forest Sector in the Green Economy, Geneva – Switzerland, October 15th, 2009. André Faaij Copernicus Institute - Utrecht University Task Leader IEA Bioenergy Task 40
Developed perceptions… • GHG balances not OK • Endless subsidies needed. • Land and water constrain bioenergy to marginal levels. • Increases food prices and not good for farmers. • Other alternatives (solar, efficiency, hydrogen) are better and really sustainable.
After the burst of the bubble in 2008… • Strong policy action: • Push for sustainability frameworks • Push for 2nd generation biofuels and other advanced options • Targeting lignocellulosic resources (residues from agriculture, forestry, marginal/degraded lands) • Market players follow this development
Bioenergy today • 45 EJ + 10 EJ total use (global about 480 EJ) • 9 EJ + 6 EJ commercial; non-modern • ~ 8 EJ Modern; commercial: • < 1 EJ electricity • ~ 2.5 EJ heat • ~ 1.5 EJ biofuels (bulk = ethanol; half of that ethanol sugar cane based) • Main controversy on biofuels from annual crops and palm oil. • Currently some 25 Mha in use for biofuels worldwide (compared to 5,000 Mha for food)
Certification bioenergy: ongoing initiatives • Governments: UK, NL, D, B, and more EU nations…; EC, US, DC’s… • NGO’s & International bodies. • Market initiatives/multistakeholder: roundtables on palm, soy, sugar and biofuels, utilities,… IEA Task 40:Van Dam et al., 2008; Biomass & Bioenergy. www.bioenergytrade.org
Energy & climate crisis can only be tackled by a portfolio of all options we have available. [IIASA] GHG mitigation Potentials [IPCC AR4, 2007]
OverallPicture Yes, biomass can play a significant role in future energy supply Dornburg et al., 2008
Perennial crops (vs. annual crops) • Lower costs (< 2 €/GJ) • Planted for 15-25 years • Low(er) intensity • Can restore soil carbon and structure • Suited for marginal/degraded lands • Requires less inputs (well below key threshold values) • Wide portfolio of species & production systems • Possibilities for enhancing (bio-) diversity • Adaptable to local circumstances (water, indigenous species) • Earlier development stage • Large scale and diverse experience needed • Learning curve to be exploited • Improvement potential Miscanthus x giganteus
Experience curve for primary forest fuels in Sweden and Finland (1975 and 2003). Source: Junginger Faaij et al., 2005
Experience curve for the average and marginal production cost of electricity from Swedish biofuelled CHP plants from 1990-2002 Source: Junginger, Faaij et al., 2005
Developing international bioenergy markets Canada E. Europe & CIS W. Europe USA Japan Japan South East Asia Ethanol ethanol Brazil Pellets pellets palm oil & Palm oil & agricultural residues agricultural residues Wood Pellets Ethanol Palm Oil & Ag Residues [IEA Task 40; www.bioenergytrade.org]
A future vision on global bioenergy…(2040?) 250 Mha = 100 EJ = 5% ag land + pasture = 1/3 Brazilie [GIRACT FFF Scenario project; Faaij, 2008]
Pre-treatment: - grinding - drying feedstock is poplar wood Gasification: - air or oxygen - pressurised or atmospheric - direct/indirect Gas cleaning: - ‘wet’ cold or ‘dry’ hot FT liquids Offgas Recycle loop FT synthesis: - slurry reactor or fixed bed Gas turbine Gas processing: - reforming - shift - CO2 removal Power Synthetic fuels from biomassBiomass & coal gasification to FT liquids - with gas turbine Major investments in IG-FT capacity ongoing in China right now: - Reducing dependency on oil imports! - Without capture strong increase in CO2 emissions… About 50% of carbon!
Economic performance 2nd generation biofuels s.t. & l.t.; 3 Euro/GJ feedstock [Hamelinck & Faaij, 2006]
The IEA on biofuels… IEA-ETP, 2008
Final Remarks • We cannot miss out on the biobased economy for fundamental and interlinked reasons (energy, climate, soil & carbon management, rural development). • Lignocellulosic biomass (perennials, residues) offer the excellent perspectives. • Forest sector and (international) pellet markets offers an essential opportunity on shorter term + the market experience to build on for longer term. • Follow the learning curve, develop (sustainable) markets and stimulate investment. • Breakthrough of 2nd gen biofuels may take affect on the forestry sector sooner than we think and will not be driven by policy but by economics