Definition
Basic
Traditional biomass refers to unprocessed biomass, including agricultural waste, forest products waste, collected fuel wood, and animal dung, that is burned in stoves or furnaces to provide heat energy for cooking, heating, and agricultural and industrial processing, typically in rural areas.
A wide range of fuels derived from vegetable oils and animal slurries form the biofuels including ethanol, biodiesel, and biogas and are burned for transportation, heating, cooking, and electricity generation.
Biogas is a byproduct of fermenting solid and liquid biomass, can be converted by a combustion engine to heat, power, and transport.
Commodification
There are many different ways to commodify Biogas. You can read more about these processes under the "Production" section. The most important include:
a. Co-firing.
b. Combustion in dedicated power and CHP plants.
c. Gasification.
d. Anaerobic digestion.
Modern Biomass
Biomass-utilization technologies other than those de?ned for traditional biomass, such as biomass cogeneration for power and heat, biomass gasi?cation, biogas anaerobic digesters, and liquid biofuels for vehicles.
History
Origin
Biomass history covers the entire life of our planet. Its natural organic products have been in evidence since that time and are what formed the coal and oil that is in use today. It was in the 1970's that scientists actually became seriously interested in the possibility of replacing fossil fuels with a more reliable and less expensive product. There is a record of a man who, in that period of time, actually ran his car on what he called 'degasification'. Apparently there was no problem with the engine.
Around 1975 the actual name 'biomass' came into being and the idea took off like wildfire. Currently, scientists and engineers are trying to develop methods of using this fuel in a cost-effective manner
Money Involved
Investments
Stepping up to third place in investment rates, after wind and solar, is biomass with a rise in investment to $10.4 billion in 2009.
The decline in asset investment in biofuels relegated the sector to fourth place among the renewable energy sectors in 2009. The decline is supposedly due to oversupply and just $5.6 billion have been invested in 2009, representing only 5 percent of global project investment.
Employment
Worldwide, jobs in renewable energy industries exceeded 3 million in 2009. More than half of the employment is related to biofuels with Brazil as leading country with 730 000 jobs in sugar cane and ethanol production.
Countries with high percent of jobs related to solid biomass are Germany - 110 000 jobs; United States - 66 000 jobs and Spain – 5 000 jobs.
Use
Consumption
Global consumption of biomass increased by 51% between 2006 and 2009, as percentage of total energy usage this relates to 16% in 2006 to 18% in 2009.
The global pulp and paper industry has substantially increased its use of woody biomass for energy in recent years, and was able to reduce its demand for fossil energy. The increased use of bioenergy by the pulp and paper industry now accounts for 18% of the total energy consumption by this industry sector.
Production
Overall
There are various conversion technologies that can convert biomass resources into power, heat, and fuels.
Co-Firing
Biomass co-firing in modern, large-scale coal power plants is efficient, cost-effective and requires moderate additional investment. In the case of co-combustion of up to 5%-10% of biomass only minor changes in the handling equipment are needed and the boiler is not noticeably derated. For biomass exceeding 10% or if biomass and coal are burned separately, then changes in mills, burners and dryers are needed.
Boilers
The biomass fuel is burned in a boiler to produce high-pressure steam. This steam is introduced into a steam turbine, where it flows over a series of turbine blades, causing the turbine to rotate. The turbine is connected to an electric generator. The steam flows over and turns the turbine. The electric generator rotates, producing electricity.
Combustion in Dedicated Power and CHP Plants
Biomass can be burned to produce electricity and CHP via a steam turbine in dedicated power plants. The typical size of these plants is ten times smaller (from 1 to100 MW) than coal-fired plants because of the scarce availability of local feedstock and the high
transportation cost. When waste heat from the steam turbine of factories can be recovered and used for meeting industrial heat needs.
Gasification
Gasifiers operate by heating biomass in an environment where the solid biomass breaks down to form a flammable gas. Biomass conversion into biogas can be either from fast thermo-chemical processes (e.g., pyrolysis ) which can produce biogas and other fuels, with only 2%-4% of ash, or from slow anaerobic fermentation - which converts only a fraction (50%-60%) of feedstock but produces soil conditioners as a byproduct.
Anaerobic Digestion
In the absence of air, organic matter such as animal manures, organic wastes and green energy crops (e.g. grass) can be converted by bacteria-induced fermentation into biogas (a 40%-75% methane-rich gas with CO2 and a small amount of hydrogen sulphide and ammonia).
Challenges
Transportation and Production
Key challenges facing developers and facility operators as the industry grows include sourcing, transportation, and the storage and handling of feedstock. There are further concerns related to biofuels production impacts on biodiversity impacts associated with crop production, impacts on food security, and land rights infringements on local populations.
Possibilities
Environmental Aspects
Biomass utilization for energy production reduces pressure on finite natural resources such as fossil fuels. In addition it increases terrestrial carbon sinks and reservoirs thus reduced GHG emissions. Bioenergy is considered as clean energy as no air pollution is generated from its use.
Social Aspects
Bioenergy contributes to all important elements of national/regional development: economic growth through business earnings and employment; import substitution with direct and indirect effects on GDP and trade balance; security of energy supply and diversification. Other benefits include support of traditional industries, rural diversification and the economic development of rural societies.
Key Countries
Solid Biomass
(existing capacity of biomass power, in GW, ultimo 2009)
1. United States - 9
2. Brazil - 4.8
3. Germany - 4
4. China - 3.2
5. Sweden (data not available)
Biofuels
(in billion litres/year)
1. United States (Ethanol - 41, Biodiesel - 2.1)
2. Brazil (Ethanol - 26, Biodiesel - 1.6)
3. France (Ethanol - 0.9, Biodiesel - 2.6)
4. Germany (Ethanol - 0.8, Biodiesel - 2.6)
5. China (Ethanol - 2.1, Biodiesel - 0.4)
Key Companies
Biofuels
(specific numbers not available)
1. Shell
2. BP
3. ETH Bioenergia
4. Renewable Energy Group (REG)
5. PetroBras
Prospects
Potential
In the short term, co-firing is expected to remain the most efficient use of biomass for power generation. As electricity from coal represents 40% of worldwide electricity, each percentage point replaced by biomass results in some 8 GW of installed biomass capacity giving about 60 Mt of CO2 avoided per year. Global electricity production from biomass is projected to increase to some 3%-5% by 2050.
Sustainability
Overall
In the context of biomass, sustainability standards are specific rules and criteria by which the production, transportation, and processing of feedstocks can be assessed for their environmental, social, and other values. Bioenergy is considered to be environmentally sustainable and socially equitable, however the nexus bioenergy vs. Food security persists as a problem.
Global Compact
The following companies are members of the UN Global Compact:
PetroBras
BP
Shell
CSR
The following companies have CSR profiles on their websites:
PetroBras
BP
Shell
Bottom of the Pyramid
There is no evidence of initiatives of any of the companies for Bottom of the Pyramid.
Miscellaneous
Additional
As part of the photosynthesis process algae produce oil and can generate 15 times more oil per acre than other plants used for biofuels, such as corn and switchgrass. Algae can grow in salt water, freshwater or even contaminated water, at sea or in ponds, and on land not suitable for food production. On top of those advantages, algae — at least in theory — should grow even better when fed extra carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas) and organic material like sewage. If so, algae could produce biofuel while cleaning up other problems.
Transition to Globalisation
Climate change: Sugar Cane Cools Climate
The rapid expansion of sugar cane cultivation for biofuels in Brazil may be cooling the local climate. when planted on land already used for agriculture, sugar cane crops cool temperatures by 0.93 °C, thanks to greater evaporation and transpiration, and higher albedo.
Globalisation > Environment > Climate
Transition to Tools
Implications of Biofuel Sustainability Standards for Indonesia
The relevance and benefit of implementing various international sustainability standards in Indonesia differs. Current biofuel policy in Indonesia focuses on a domestic market for biofuel in Indonesia,which reduces the relevance of international market-driven biofuel sustainability standards unless these standards are seen to provide some other benefit e.g. they improve economic returns for projects.
However, these standards will likely impact crude palm oil (CPO) production and export as a biofuel feedstock because it is expected to make a significant contribution to the biofuel feedstock mix internationally (and particularly within the EU).
Political Tool > National > Indonesia > Domestic Policy > Economy > Energy > Renewables
Transition to Actors
Sustainable “Bio-Derived” Jet Fuel Industry Is Achievable
Establishing an economically and environmentally beneficial, 'bio-derived' Australian and New Zealand aviation fuels industry is a viable proposition, according to a report compiled by CSIRO in collaboration with the region's major aviation industry players.
Actors > Business > Sustainability
