Status and Vision for the Biomass-To-Energy Sector

Abstract

This study deals with biomass as an important and fast growing natural resource and bioenergy sector, resulting in an overview of the state of art. The study outlines a vision for future biomass cultivation, bioenergy technologies, and their use within the industrial sector. Biomass in its many forms is simply a “renewable energy carrier (REC).” Stored chemical energy can be converted to other demanded energy forms. Bioenergy will significantly enhance the security of energy supply in many regions while at the same time contributing to keystone GHG mitigation efforts. Local biofuel sources' exploitation creates economic activities thus benefiting industrial development and employment in rural areas.

KEYWORDS:

• Bioenergy
• biomass
• fuel
• GHG—greenhouse gas emissions
• renewable energy carrier

This research was partly sponsored with the following grants, Project Nos., and titles: Project—Contract No.: 98/2008 “Sustainable Bioenergy Systems,” grant given from the Company “Dalkia Slovakia,” long-term cooperation between Dalkia Slovakia and the TU in Zvolen; Project No.: COLL-CT-2005–012429—BIOPROS “Solutions for Safe Application of Wastewater and Sludge for High Efficient Biomass Production in Short-Rotation-Plantations,” 2005–2008; Project No.: COLL-CT-2006-030348-2, AGROBIOGAS “An Integrated Approach for Biogas Production with Agricultural Waste,” 2006–2009; Project No.: 1CE013P3, COACH BioEnergy “Strengthening the Energetic Use of Biomass in Central and Eastern Europe through the Establishment of a Standardized Consulting Structure for Regions,” 2009–2011; Project No.: 1CE001P3, 4BIOMASS “Fostering the Sustainable Usage of Renewable Energy Sources in Central Europe—Putting Biomass into Action,” 2009–2011. The authors are indebted to the mentioned institutions for helping to sponsor this research work.

Notes

∗According to European standard TC335 for domestic use, for pellets as received.

∗Short Rotation Willow Coppice.

1. Gasification is a thermal treatment of biomass with an oxidation agent (air for example) with a limited amount of oxygen, which results in mixtures of gases (containing CO and H₂) that can be used for energy purposes.

2. Pyrolysis is a thermal degradation of wood in absence of oxygen (dry wood is heated up to 500–600°C in a very short time in flash pyrolysis) resulting into a liquid, or bio-oil.

3. Anaerobic digestion is a biological process that converts biomass into biogas in absence of oxygen. The gas consists mainly of methane and carbon dioxide.

4. In this section only four types of technological developments are outlined, as examples. Obviously there are many other areas where technological developments are ongoing, regarding biomass production, logistics, or conversion.

5. Co-firing is here defined as simultaneous use of different fuels (different bio-fuels together or with fossil fuels) in the same plant, by direct co-firing in a single boiler or indirect means (bio-fuels previously gasified).

6. Two techniques can be distinguished: the particles can be forced through the bed at low velocity and forming bubbles (bubbling fluidized bed—BFB) or at higher velocity and circulating particles (circulating fluidized bed—CFB).

7. In Eurostat (2002), the primary energy production from biomass reached 45,450 Mtoe in 1995 and 54,352 Mtoe in 2000, of which 26% was for wood in households, 24% for wood in industry and power plants, 8% from MSW, 2% from biogas, and 1% from liquid bio-fuels. Biomass/wastes represented 62% of total RES energy production in 2000.