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Biomass for Biorefineries: Availability and Costs

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Biorefinery

Abstract

Biomass for biorefineries or in support of a wider bioeconomy can be sourced from various sources. Currently forest or woody biomass makes up the largest contribution to bioenergy production, but future supply potentials include dedicated production of biomass for energy or biorefineries and an increased use of agricultural or forest residues. By 2050 a technical potential of agricultural residues between 10 and 66 EJ has been identified, constituting a significant resource. Also processing residues and food waste constitute a significant biomass resource each with a potential between 5 and 50 EJ per year by 2050. Residue biomass, be it from the field or from processing of agricultural produce, has a low cost compared to other biomass resources. However, due to its low energy density and geographically dispersed production, long-range transport is prohibitively costly, which could limit the biorefinery concept from being broadly implemented. Development towards densification and to ensure uniform material characteristics may reduce cost and risk in the supply chain.

A significant resource base at a reasonable cost and with a manageable risk is not enough to ensure mobilisation of the resource and the establishment of a viable supply chain. A number of institutional, technical, social and economic barriers must be overcome. A consistent policy framework that supports a bioeconomy, biorefineries or production based on biomass and waste is required. Awareness about credible knowledge on process costs and sustainability aspects must be developed among stakeholders along the supply chain.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Directive 2001/77/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2001 on the promotion of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market.

  2. 2.

    Directive 2003/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2003 on the promotion of the use of biofuels or other renewable fuels for transport.

  3. 3.

    Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC.

  4. 4.

    Directive 2009/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 amending Directive 98/70/EC as regards the specification of petrol, diesel and gas-oil and introducing a mechanism to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and amending Council Directive 1999/32/EC as regards the specification of fuel used by inland waterway vessels and repealing Directive 93/12/EEC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Niclas Scott Bentsen

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  1. Niclas Scott Bentsen
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Correspondence to Niclas Scott Bentsen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Department, Khalifa University, Masdar Campus, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Juan-Rodrigo Bastidas-Oyanedel

  2. SDU-Department of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, and Environmental Technology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, United Arab Emirates

    Jens Ejbye Schmidt

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Bentsen, N.S. (2019). Biomass for Biorefineries: Availability and Costs. In: Bastidas-Oyanedel, JR., Schmidt, J. (eds) Biorefinery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10961-5_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10961-5_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-10960-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-10961-5

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

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