| In the developed world until the end of the last | | | | Gasification |
| century its use was mainly restricted to niche | | | | Fixed bed gasifiers |
| applications such as combined heat and power | | | | Fluidized bed gasifiers |
| generation in the wood and paper industries. | | | | Power production using biomass gasification |
| Today the perception of biomass is changing and | | | | Modular systems |
| it is being recognized once more as a valuable | | | | Anaerobic fermentation of biomass |
| modern fuel that can provide a renewable energy | | | | Biomass digesters |
| to replace fossil fuel in power generation. As a | | | | Chapter 5 Environmental and legislative issues |
| consequence its use is growing at it is set to | | | | Introduction |
| become one of the major renewable sources | | | | The carbon cycle and atmospheric warming |
| over then next two decades. | | | | Biomass and carbon dioxide |
| Biomass consists of all the plant material on the | | | | Atmospheric emissions other than carbon dioxide |
| surface of the earth (and in the seas if algae are | | | | Life cycle assessment |
| included). Almost two thirds of the total is | | | | Energy crops |
| regenerated each year during seasonal growth. | | | | Waste fuel |
| The total regenerated is probably equivalent to | | | | Agricultural wastes |
| more than three times total global energy | | | | Forestry residues |
| consumption in 2008. Around 3% of this is used | | | | Urban waste |
| each year, mostly in the form of wood. | | | | Legislative issues |
| Key features of this report | | | | Issues affecting biomass energy crops |
| Analysis of biomass technologies concepts and | | | | Chapter 6 The economics of biomass for |
| components. | | | | electricity generation |
| Clarification of the market for biomass and future | | | | Introduction |
| growth. | | | | Installed costs of biomass generating plants |
| Assessment of new renewable energy | | | | Fuel costs |
| technology analysis including innovation, | | | | Cost of electricity |
| infrastructure investment. | | | | Chapter 7 Future outlook |
| Insight relating to the most innovative product | | | | Introduction |
| launches and potential areas of opportunity for | | | | Comparative costs of energy from biomass |
| manufacturers. | | | | Financial incentives and deterrents |
| Examination of the key technology introductions | | | | Global biomass markets |
| and innovations. | | | | Biomass growth and targets |
| Scope of this report | | | | Biomass prospects |
| Achieve a quick and comprehensive understanding | | | | Index |
| of how biomass market trends and infrastructure | | | | List of Figures |
| are influencing the development of the renewable | | | | Figure 2.1: Breakdown of biomass contribution to |
| energy market. | | | | primary energy consumption (%) |
| Realize up to date competitive intelligence through | | | | Figure 2.2: Bagasse annual potential availability |
| a comprehensive review of biomass technology | | | | (thousand tonnes), 2007 |
| concepts in the recent electricity infrastructure | | | | Figure 2.3: Global wood fuel consumption (PJ), |
| and renewable energy market. | | | | 2007 |
| Assess the emerging trends in renewable energy | | | | Figure 2.4: Current and predicted EU biomass |
| technology - biomass - grid connection and energy | | | | resources (Mtoe/y) |
| distribution. | | | | Figure 2.5: Current and potential US biomass |
| Key Market Issues | | | | resources (Million dry tonnes/y), 2005 |
| Environmental requirements: The growth of | | | | Figure 2.6: Potential power generation from |
| carbon dioxide emissions globally are creating a | | | | biomass among ASEAN countries (MW) |
| path for lower carbon emitting power generation | | | | Figure 2.7: Breakdown of currently available |
| technologies. Biomass as fuel is carbon neutral | | | | biomass in China by type (%) |
| since while it releases carbon into the atmosphere | | | | Figure 2.8: Maximum regional bioenergy production |
| when burnt, the growth of new biomass absorbs | | | | potentials (EJ/y) |
| the same amount carbon from the atmosphere. | | | | Figure 4.9: Typical biomass combustion technology |
| As a consequence it offers a valuable renewable | | | | power generation efficiencies (%) |
| source of energy. | | | | Figure 4.10: Typical wood gas composition (%) |
| Legislative issues: The use of biomass as an | | | | Figure 4.11: Biogas energy content (MJ/m3) |
| energy source raises a number of environmental | | | | Figure 4.12: Power generation systems for |
| and legislative issues. One of the most difficult is | | | | biomass (%) |
| that of maintaining a balance between land for the | | | | Figure 5.13: Atmospheric carbon dioxide |
| production of energy crops and land for producing | | | | concentrations (ppm) |
| food. Additional questions arise when waste | | | | Figure 6.14: Estimated biomass generation installed |
| materials are used to produce energy. Agricultural | | | | costs in California ($/kW), 2007 |
| wastes are a valuable fuel source but part of | | | | Figure 6.15: Energy content of biomass fuels (MJ |
| each crop must be returned to the land if soil | | | | kg) |
| quality is not to deteriorate. A significant part of | | | | Figure 6.16: Energy crop costs ($/tonne), 2007 |
| municipal waste can be burnt too but some of it | | | | Figure 6.17: Energy crop costs ($/tonne), 2007 |
| is better recycled. Additionally, the combustion of | | | | Figure 6.18: UK wood fuel power costs (£/MWh), |
| biomass produces a number of potential pollutants | | | | 2008 |
| in addition to releasing carbon dioxide and these | | | | Figure 6.19: Estimated biomass generation costs in |
| must normally be controlled. | | | | California ($/MWh), 2007 |
| Key findings from this report | | | | Figure 7.20: Levelized cost of electricity from |
| In 2005 biomass provided around 1.3% of total | | | | power plants ($/MWh), 2009 |
| global electricity production. By 2050 this could rise | | | | Figure 7.21: Global biomass-based electricity |
| to between 3.4% and 5.8% of total electricity | | | | production (TWh), 2007 |
| production. | | | | Figure 7.22: Global biomass production by country |
| By definition, biomass comprises all the plant life | | | | (TWh), 2007 |
| on the surface of the earth. In its 2001 Survey of | | | | Figure 7.23: Biomass use in Europe (ktoe/%), |
| Energy Resources, the World Energy Council put | | | | 2007 |
| the total biomass on the surface of the earth at | | | | Figure 7.24: US biomass-based electricity |
| 220bn oven dry tonnes, equivalent to 4,500EJ of | | | | production (TWh), 2009 |
| energy. This definition may require modifying if | | | | Figure 7.25: EU renewable energy roadmap |
| algae become a major source of biomass energy | | | | targets (TWh), 2006-2020 |
| since algae grow in water. | | | | List of Tables |
| Actual usage today is around 50EJ, or 10% of the | | | | Table 2.1: Breakdown of biomass contribution to |
| estimated 500EJ of total global energy | | | | primary energy consumption (%) |
| consumption in 2008. This is roughly 77% of the | | | | Table 2.2: Potential long term biomass supply by |
| total renewable contribution (including hydropower) | | | | category, (EJ), 2000 |
| to primary energy consumption. | | | | Table 2.3: Bagasse annual potential availability |
| Key questions answered | | | | (thousand tonnes), 2007 |
| What are the drivers shaping and influencing new | | | | Table 2.4: Global wood fuel consumption (PJ), 2007 |
| technology development in the electricity industry? | | | | Table 2.5: Current and predicted EU biomass |
| How will renewable energy technologies be | | | | resources (Mtoe/y) |
| connected and integrated into the existing grid | | | | Table 2.6: Current and potential US biomass |
| network? | | | | resources (Million dry tonnes/y), 2005 |
| What is the biomass power generation system | | | | Table 2.7: Potential power generation from |
| going to cost? | | | | biomass among ASEAN countries (MW) |
| What are the components of the biomass power | | | | Table 2.8: Breakdown of currently available |
| generation system? | | | | biomass in China by type (%) |
| Which biomass types will be the winners and | | | | Table 2.9: Maximum regional bioenergy production |
| which the losers? | | | | potentials (EJ/y) |
| | | | | Table 3.10: Properties of miscanthus and |
| | | | | switchgrass as combustion fuels |
| Table of Contents : | | | | Table 3.11: Typical energy crop yields |
| The Future of Biomass | | | | Table 4.12: Typical biomass combustion technology |
| Executive summary | | | | power generation efficiencies (%) |
| Introduction | | | | Table 4.13: Typical wood gas composition (%) |
| Biomass resources | | | | Table 4.14: Biogas energy content (MJ/m3) |
| Energy crops | | | | Table 4.15: Power generation systems for |
| Biomass power generation technologies | | | | biomass |
| Environmental and legislative issues | | | | Table 5.16: Atmospheric carbon dioxide |
| The economics of biomass for electricity | | | | concentrations (ppm), 1700-2100 |
| generation | | | | Table 5.17: Typical atmospheric emissions from |
| The future of biomass power generation | | | | combustion power plants (kg/MWh) |
| Chapter 1 Introduction | | | | Table 5.18: Power plant total energy balance (kJ |
| Summary | | | | kWh) |
| Biomass development | | | | Table 6.19: Installed cost of biomass CHP and |
| The structure of the report | | | | power-only |
| Chapter 2 Biomass resources | | | | Table 6.20: Estimated biomass generation costs in |
| Introduction | | | | California, 2007 |
| The size of the resource | | | | Table 6.21: Energy content of biomass fuels (MJ |
| Types of biomass resource | | | | kg) |
| Residues | | | | Table 6.22: Energy crop costs ($/tonne), 2007 |
| Fuelwood | | | | Table 6.23: Energy crop costs ($/tonne), 2007 |
| Energy crops | | | | Table 6.24: UK wood fuel costs, 2008 |
| Regional resources | | | | Table 6.25: Cost of electricity from biomass CHP |
| Chapter 3 Energy crops | | | | and power only installations |
| Introduction | | | | Table 6.26: Estimated biomass generation costs in |
| Types of energy crop | | | | California |
| Energy crop infrastructure | | | | Table 7.27: IEA global power generation scenarios |
| Energy crop yields | | | | (TWh), 2008 |
| Chapter 4 Biomass power generation technologies | | | | Table 7.28: The cost of electricity from power |
| Introduction | | | | plants ($/MWh), 2009 |
| Direct firing of biomass | | | | Table 7.29: Global biomass-based electricity |
| Stoker combustors | | | | production (TWh), 2007 |
| Suspension combustion | | | | Table 7.30: Global biomass production by country |
| Fluidized bed combustors | | | | (TWh), 2007 |
| Steam cycle improvements | | | | Table 7.31: Biomass use in Europe (ktoe/%), 2007 |
| Co-firing | | | | Table 7.32: US biomass-based electricity |
| Direct firing fuel considerations | | | | production (TWh), 2009 |
| Fuel handling | | | | Table 7. |