12.07.2015 Views

Energy Systems and Technologies for the Coming Century ...

Energy Systems and Technologies for the Coming Century ...

Energy Systems and Technologies for the Coming Century ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Paper <strong>for</strong> Risø 2011 ProceedingsJeppe Bjerg <strong>and</strong> Charles Nielsen, DONG <strong>Energy</strong>Biomass in <strong>the</strong> Future European <strong>Energy</strong> MarketAbstractWith Europe’s ambitious target in mind to increase its share of renewable energy to 20% (a 34% share ofenergy <strong>for</strong> electricity production), this paper discusses <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>and</strong> challenges that increased use ofbiomass will lead to. Biomass comprises a wide range of fuels featuring a variety of properties <strong>and</strong> qualities,<strong>and</strong> both usage <strong>and</strong> import will result in dilemmas in relation to sustainability, area usage <strong>and</strong> foodproduction. The paper also discusses Eurelectric’s reasons why import criteria should be defined. Thechallenge of establishing <strong>the</strong> required capacity <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> perspectives involved in added use are addressedhere based on Danish experience <strong>and</strong> observations from two decades of development programmes. Thedevelopment comprises generation of infrastructure, co‐firing of straw <strong>and</strong> coal, gasification, new ways ofexploiting <strong>the</strong> energy in household waste <strong>and</strong> second‐generation bio‐ethanol production.IntroductionRenewable energy, <strong>and</strong> this includes biomass, today plays a marginal role in <strong>the</strong> supply of energy in Europe.In 2009, <strong>the</strong> share of renewable energy sources (RES) constituted 15,6% of <strong>the</strong> electricity production <strong>and</strong>8% of <strong>the</strong> energy production. Biomass constituted 3% of <strong>the</strong> electricity production <strong>and</strong> 5% of <strong>the</strong> energyproduction, respectively.In view of Europe’s ambitious 2020 target according to which RES are to constitute 20% of <strong>the</strong> energysupply <strong>and</strong> expectations to continue to pursue an ambitious target in <strong>the</strong> subsequent period leading up till2050, <strong>the</strong> green light has been given to seriously launch <strong>the</strong> work involved in trans<strong>for</strong>ming <strong>the</strong> energysupply to comprise RES shares of a completely more significant volume.Biomass has been selected to act <strong>the</strong> role as <strong>the</strong> primary source of energy in <strong>the</strong> future energy mix. Atransition in which <strong>the</strong> costs of producing <strong>the</strong> resource as well as collecting, storing, transporting, h<strong>and</strong>ling<strong>and</strong> converting it are reduced to a competitive level compared with o<strong>the</strong>r resources ‐ while at <strong>the</strong> sametime continuing to expect that this resource can be procured in a sustainable way.The transition process also means that in several areas biomass changes from being a marginal resource tobeing a resource of significant importance in <strong>the</strong> energy supply.Risø International <strong>Energy</strong> Conference 2011 Proceedings Page 249

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!