USE OF BIOMASS IN THE LIGHT OF CO2 EMISSION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Tamas Dienes Central European University Budapest, Hungary The 23rd International Conference on Solid Waste Technology and Management Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A. March 31 2008
Contents 1. Introduction to the topic 2. Theoretical framework 3. Research questions 4. Conclusions
1. Introduction to the topic Biomass: Definition: All organic matter that derives from the photosynthetic conversion of solar energy. (http://ec.europa.eu/research/biosociety/library/glossarylist_en.cfm?init=b) Used to produce energy (bioenergy) reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the European renewable energy targets. Biomass (principally wood and wood waste, but also straw, crop harvest residues, vegetal and animal waste) energy instead of fossil fuel (petrol, gas and coal). Biomass is grown from several plants, including hemp, corn, wheat, sugar beet, poplar, willow, sugarcane and oil palm (palm oil).
Bio-energy in general (2005) Biomass to produce electricity, heat and transport fuels total of 58,753 Mtoe in EU (5.7% growth with respect to 2004) Logs Pellet Biofuels Biodiesel - originated from rapeseed (leading biofuel in the EU, representing 81.5% of production- 3.184.000 tons) Bioethanol - originated from sugar cane (18.5% of biofuel production- 720.927 tons)
2. Theoretical framework (Hungary) National Climate Change Strategy for Hungary The Parliament approved it unanimously on 19.03.2008 the greens also welcome this document (The EU set 18 % emission reduction to Hungary by 2020. Base year: 1990). Sustainable Development Strategy for Hungary Energy Efficiency Strategy for Hungary Hungary plans to finance HUF 110 billion (650 million USD) for RES and energy efficiency investments (mainly from the EU) between 2008 and 2013
Legislational background (EU) 2001/77/EC: Directive on Electricity Production from Renewable Energy Sources Directive 2003/30 on bio-fuels GREEN PAPER - Towards a new culture for urban mobility EU Strategy for Biofuels (COM(2006) 34) Biomass Action Plan - Brussels, 7.12.2005
Targets Share of renewable energy sources (RES) 6% to 12 % in total energy consumption in Europe by 2010. Biofuels should be increased up to 5.75% in 2010 and 10% by 2020.
Energy sources in Hungary, 2006 100% 2,6 3,7 2,1 0,4 19,9 13,1 75% 15,8 14,4 Megújuló RES Egyéb Other 50% 31,0 44,8 Szén Coal Atom Nuclear Gáz Gas 25% Olaj Oil 28,7 23,7 0% 1990 2004 Import dependency (67,3%) 78,5 % Source: Energy Centre Hungary
Planned RES mix in 2020 (PJ) 1.7% 1.9% 10.3% Solar (thermal) 7.0% Geothermal Biogas Biomass, wood Waste 79.0% Source: Energy Centre Hungary
Potential of RES, Hungary, 2006, PJ 2000 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 63.5 Geothermal Potential 1838 328 532.8 3.6 0.1 49.2 14.4 0.7 0.16 Solar Used Biomass Hydro Total: used: 53.8 potential: 2700 Estimation from the Hungarian Academy of Scieneces Wind
Amount of the biomass Primary energy production* of solid biomass in the European Union in 2004 and 2005** (in Mtoe) The EU currently meets 4% of its energy needs from biomass. If it made full use of its potential, it would more than double biomass use by 2010 (to about 185 Mtoe)
Renewable energy in Europe Share of each resource in the renewable primary energy production (in %) Source:Eurobserver
3. Research questions 1, Does the use of biomass really mean CO2 saving? 2. What are the con`s and pro`s of the biomass use? 3, How can the biomass use take place in compliance with the sustainable development?
Pro`s for the use of biomass This increase in biomass use could bring the following benefits in 2010: replacing fossil fuels; reducing reliance on imported energy from 48 to 42%; a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 209 million tonnes CO2eq a year; direct employment for up to 250-300 000 people; pressure on the oil price as a result of lower demand for oil. (Biomass Action Plan) surplus in the agricultural production; it is easy for the agriculture to switch for this technology with low effort.
Con`s for the use of biomass -1 Area demand If we want to reach the 5.75% market share of the biofuels by 2010 we need 25,9 million hectars of agricultural land, however the area of the agricultural land in the UK is 5,7 million hectars. George Monbiot, (Guardian, 22.11.2004 and in 2007 http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/mar/27/comment.food Fuel vs. Food Energy balance positive or negative? Ecological as well as social aspects Forests are replaced by palm oil in Indonesia or in Malaysia between 1985 and 2000 the palm oil plants was responsible for the 87% of the forest cuts (Gyulai) Threat to Biodiversity
Con`s for the use of biomass - 2 Certainly leads to an increase of food prices and shortages is expected in some countries. A recent OECD-FAO report (2007): food prices expected to rise by between 20% and 50% by 2016. Cereals, sugar, oilseeds and vegetable oils to satisfy the needs of an increasing bio fuels industry. GHG saving is not obvious. In Indonesia 15,6 million ha forests were cut between 1995 and 2003 to replace by palm oil plantations. From these new areas 70-100 tons of CO2/ha is released. Indonesia became the third CO2 emitter in the world. (Gyulai)
Liquid Bio-fuel Life Cycle (source: Yulia Voytenko) CROP CULTIVATION (growing) TRANSPORTATION FUEL PRODUCTION (refining) CO 2 emitted NET ENERGY BALANCE CO 2 saved DISTRIBUTION (transportation) FUEL USE (burning) (Courtesy of Yulia Voytenko CEU)
2 nd generation biofuels cellulosic ethanol (lignocellulosic ethanol or ceetoh). all plants contain cellulose and lignin. freeing the sugar molecules from cellulose using enzymes. sugar can be fermented to produce ethanol. Lignin can be burned as carbon neutral fuel. ligno-cellulosic sources do not compete with food production. crops: coppice crops (willow, poplar) perennial grasses (switchgrass, miscanthus)
Types of 2 nd gen. ethanol The fuel comes from the fiber in the plant, rather than starches in the grain Non-edible cellulose materials Agricultural residues: Straw Corn stalks Stems Sunflower husk etc. Wood residues Animal manure Leaves, tree bark, straw or woodchips, (Courtesy of Yulia Voytenko CEU)
Advantages of 2 nd gen. biofuels have a more favourable GHG balance; high energy density and yield per hectare; are able to use a wider range of biomass feedstocks; can be grown on lands less suitable for crop production; better quality of fuel than first-generation biofuels.
Sampo Soimakallio et al, VTT TECHNICAL RESEARCH CENTRE OF FINLAND GHG Emissions of Biofuels & Fossil Fuels 1 st Generation Fossil Fuels 2 nd nd Generation Courtesy of Dr. Philip Peck, IIIEE, Lund University
Challenges for 2 nd gen. biofuels Cost: high production costs - cannot yet be produced economically on a large scale. Technological: developments are needed on to break plant fibers into sugarsefficient. Infrastructure: logistics.
1 st vs. 2 nd generation biofuels Courtesy of Dr. Philip Peck, IIIEE, Lund University
Current developments for 2 nd gen. bioethanol Choren Case (www.choren.com): World s 1 st commercial BtL Plant in Freiberg (Germany) Japan: wood-to-ethanol plant was planned for 1.4 million liters/year Demonstration plant in Canada (http://www.iogen.ca/) Abengoa Bioenergy Spain, USA (http://www.abengoabioenergy.com/) Verenium, (USA) formed in June 2007 from Diversa Corporation, a global leader in enzyme technology, and Celunol Corporation, a leading developer of cellulosic ethanol process technologies and projects. (http://www.verenium.com/)
Feed materials to Carbo-V Process
WIREC 2008-1 Washington International Renewable Energy Conference, 4-6 March 20 http://www.wirec2008.gov/wps/portal/wirec2008 http://www.iisd.ca/ymb/wirec2008/html/ymbvol95num8e.html More than 3000 participants from 118 countries four themes: market adoption and finance; agriculture, forestry and rural development; state and local authorities; and research and development (R&D).
WIREC 2008-2 George W. Bush, President of the United States of America a goal to reduce gasoline consumption by 20% over 10 years Clean Technology Fund is needed. Called on Congress to commit USD 2 billion for this purpose
WIREC 2008 - Conclusions links between energy, climate and security issues were emphasized renewable energy sources not exhaustible decentralized power source investing in biomass generation only at a local scale (Poland) investment into the most promising cellulosic biomass technologies the importance of cooperative efforts with other countries, (US, EU and Brazil on biofuels), and US and EU to work together on renewable energy
Biomass-to-Liquids - 1 Biomass to liquids - Biomass gasification followed by liquid bio-fuel synthesis Compatible with ligno-cellulosic biomass Full use of input biomass Strong technical background Oil seeds Vegetable oil Hydro processing Green Diesel Biomass Gasification Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis BTL Conventional esterification process: by-product glycerol (source: ENI)
3 rd generation bio-fuels Growing biomass by means of micro-organisms (such as phytoplankton, micro-algae, bacteria, yeasts) to produce lipids suitable for conversion into diesel fuel Sun + CO2 algae Biomass collection Lipid extraction Conversion to green diesel CO2 produced from power station and industrial plants can be used to feed the process (source: ENI)
Conclusion Second generation biofuels turned out more favorable in reduction of GHG emissions, but highly dependent on emissions from electricity consumed within fuel processing environmentally safe and biodiversity friendly Besides using the bio-fuels we should focus on: energy saving and energy efficiency investments and attitude. A complete portfolio of green energy strategies: Biofuels + RES + E ef-cy + E saving The most environmental-friendly and the cheapest energy is the energy which is not used up.