RenewableS 2013 GlObal STaTUS RePORT - REN21

02 MARKET AND INDUSTRY TRENDS
BY TECHNOLOGY
BioEnergy
The use of biomass to provide modern energy services has
continued to increase in the building, industry, and transport
end-use sectors in recent years. In addition to being a source
of food, fibre, and feed for livestock, as well as feedstock for
materials and chemical production, biomass accounts for over
10% of global primary energy supply and is the world’s fourth
largest source of energy (following oil, coal, and natural gas). 1
Biomass used for energy purposes is derived from a number
of sources. Residues from forests, wood processing, and food
crops dominate. Short-rotation energy crops, grown on agricultural
land specifically for energy purposes, currently provide
about 3–4% of the total biomass resource consumed annually. 2
The total area of land used for bioenergy crops is difficult to
quantify accurately because of large data gaps. Furthermore,
some energy crops are grown for competing non-energy uses. 3
For example, ethanol production volumes from sugar cane
fluctuate with the sugar commodity market price, and, in the
case of palm oil, only around 15% of the total produced is used
for biodiesel. 4
The production of biomass feedstock and its conversion to
useful energy have varying environmental and socioeconomic
impacts that depend on a number of factors, as with
other renewables. The sustainability of biomass production,
associated land use change, feedstock competition, trade
restrictions, and impacts of biofuels produced from food crops
such as corn remain under review and could affect future
demand. 5 Ethanol production in the United States, for example,
consumes about 10% of annual global corn production, raising
concerns about its impact on food supply. 6
The bioenergy sector is relatively complex because there are
many forms of biomass resources; various solid, liquid, and
gaseous bioenergy carriers; and numerous routes available for
their conversion to useful energy services. Biomass markets
often rely on informal structures, which makes it difficult to
formally track data and trends. Furthermore, national data collection
is often carried out by multiple institutions that are not
always well-coordinated, or that report contradictory findings.
Consequently, national and global data on biomass use and
bioenergy demand are relatively difficult to measure and, as a
result, relatively uncertain.
■■Bioenergy Markets
Total primary energy supplied from biomass increased 2–3%
in 2012 to reach approximately 55 EJ. 7 (See Figure 5.) Heating
accounted for the vast majority of biomass use (46 EJ), including
heat produced from modern biomass and the traditional,
inefficient use of animal dung, fuelwood, charcoal, and crop
Figure 5. Biomass-to-Energy Pathways
Electricity
Biofuels
Buildings
Industry
Modern
biomass
GLOBAL
ANNUAL PRIMARY
BIOMASS DEMAND
55 EJ
Traditional
biomass
Heat sold or used
on site
Losses
End-use losses
02
Useful heat
for cooking
and heating
Source: See
Endnote 7 for
this section.
Renewables 2013 Global Status Report 27