Page 36 - Advances in bioenergy (2016)

Preface

Bioenergy is one of mankind's most important natural energy sources. It dominated energy
supply until the industrial revolution and still plays an important role in many countries. Today
around 10 percent of the world's primary energy is derived from the use of biological
materials. Its potential is far beyond the present use even when we restrict development to
observe a “food first” principle and nature conservation objectives.

From a technology point of view, bioenergy is a versatile fuel as it can be converted to all final
energy forms such as electricity, thermal energy or fuel. Contrary to many other renewable
energy sources it can be stored for a long time. It is a local energy source which is available

practically everywhere in different forms except for very harsh climatic conditions. In
addition, when properly utilized, bioenergy is a highly sustainable energy source.

By nature biomass and bioenergy are strongly coupled to ecosystems and both are closely
linked to biodiversity and development issues as well. Because of these linkages, bioenergy
cannot be evaluated only from a technology or energy supply point-of-view, but requires a
multidisciplinary approach to estimating its utilization. This book seeks to provide a
multidisciplinary, “whole-picture” view while at the same time identifying advances in the
different fields of bioenergy research and technology development.

Measures to reduce energy demand growth and the promotion of bioenergy and other
renewable energy sources are nowadays cornerstones in climate and energy security agendas
around the world. Support for bioenergy is also in many countries part of policy packages for
promotion of rural development with intentions to improve energy access, increase
employment, and stimulate positive development in agriculture and forestry. In this respect,
bioenergy must be a part of any serious green energy economy agenda.

The use of biomass for cooking, space heating, and lighting in developing countries presently
accounts for roughly 80 percent of global bioenergy use. However, recently a rapid increase in
interest in other biomass uses for energy has emerged as countries contemplate steps to address
concerns about energy insecurity and climate change. These so-called “modern” biomass uses

for energy are so far mainly restricted to the burning of municipal organic waste, straw, wood
and forest industry by-flows to provide heat and electricity, anaerobic digestion of organic
waste to produce biogas, and the use of conventional agriculture crops such as cereals, oil
seeds, and sugar crops to produce biofuels.

However, the technologies used for converting biomass to fuels, heat and electricity continue
to develop and can be expected to change the way we produce and use bioenergy products.
Especially, emerging options for converting lignocellulosic biomass into refined solid, liquid
and gaseous fuels gives access to new feedstock resources. New production systems for
lignocellulosic biomass offer a broadened resource base. Perennial grasses and trees grown in
short rotations (both coppice and single-stem plantations) represent new feedstock supply
options in agriculture. Similarly, technology development in planting, silvicultural treatments