Risø energy report 2. New and emerging bioenergy technologies

Three growing concerns - sustainability (particularly in the transport sector), security of energy supply and climate change – have combined to increase interest in bioenergy. The trend towards bioenergy has been further encouraged by technologicaladvances in biomass conversion and significant changes in energy markets. We even have a new term, “modern bioenergy”, to cover those areas of bioenergy technology – traditional as well as emerging – which could expand the role of bioenergy. Besides itspotential to be carbon-neutral if produced sustainably, modern bioenergy shows the promise of covering a considerable part of the world’s energy needs, increasing the security of energy supply through the use of indigenous resources, and improving localemployment and land use. To make these promises a reality, however, requires further R&D. This report provides a critical examination of modern bioenergy, and describes current trends in both established and emerging bioenergy technologies. As well asexamining the implications for the global energy scene, the report draws national conclusions for European and Danish energy supply, industry and energy research. The report presents the status of current R&D in biomass resources, supply systems, endproducts and conversion methods. A number of traditional and modern bioenergy technologies are assessed to show their current status, future trends and international R&D plans. Recent studies of emerging bioenergy technologies from internationalorganisations and leading research organisations are reviewed. The report is based on internationally-recognised scientific material, and is fully referenced. The presentation of current global developments in bioenergy is based on the latest informationfrom authoritative sources including the IEA, the World Energy Council (WEC) and World Energy Assessment. This is the second in the series of Risø Energy Reports, which are published to provide global, regional and national perspectives on current andfuture energy issues. Individual chapters have been written by Risø staff members and leading Danish and international bioenergy experts, and the whole report has been refereed by an independent panel of international experts. Our target group iscolleagues, collaborating partners, customers, funding organisations, the Danish ministries and agencies as well as international organisations such as the EU, the IEA and the UN.