Abstract
Biomass can be grown to act as a carbon (C) store, or as a direct substitute for fossil fuels (with no net contribution to atmospheric CO2 if produced and used sustainably). There is great potential for the modernisation of biomass fuels to produce convenient energy carriers such as electricity and liquid fuels. Bioenergy accounts for about 15% of primary energy used throughout the world, and 4% of energy used in Western Europe. Several European countries plan to significantly increase their use of bioenergy and some already obtain over 10% of their energy from biomass fuels. The European Community (EC) is planning to implement policies which will more than double the use of biomass by 2005, with biofuels taking 5% of the motor vehicle fuel market, and a resultant reduction in CO2 emissions of about 180 million tonnes (Mt), equivalent to 50 Mt C/yr. The potential contribution of biofuels is even greater, especially with all the ‘setaside’ land being taken out of production. Use of 15–20 million hectares (Mha) of agricultural land for biomass crops could represent an annual sink of some 90–120 Mt C or else offset between 50 Mt C and 120 Mt C from fossil fuel emissions, depending on the fuel displaced (7–17% of total EC carbon emissions). Policies are needed that will encourage the penetration of biofuels into the market such as increased support for research, development and demonstration, subsidies for biofuels, and carbon taxes on fossil fuels.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alpert, S.B., Spencer, D.F. & Hidy, G.: 1992, Biospheric options for mitigating atmospheric carbon dioxide levels,Energy Conservation and Management. 33(5–8), 729–736.
Bekkering, T.D.: 1992, Using Tropical Forests to Fix Atmospheric Carbon: The Potential in Theory and in Practice.Ambio,21(6), 414–419.
Beyea, J., Cook, J., Hall, D.O., Socolow, R. & Williams, R.: 1991, Toward ecological guidelines for large-scale biomass energy development. National Audobon Society, New York/CEES, Princeton University, New Jersey.
BP (British Petroleum): 1990,BP Statistical Review of World Energy, British Petroleum Company PLC. London, UK.
Cannell, M.G.R.: 1989, Physiological Basis of Wood Production: A Review.Scand. J. Forest Res.,4, 459–490.
Culshaw F. & Butler, C.: 1992,A Review of the Potential of Biodiesel as a Transport Fuel, (ETSU-R-71), HMSO, London.
DEA (Danish Energy Agency): 1992,Update on centralised biogas plants, Danish Energy Agency, Copenhagen.
Economist (The): 1991, Cool it: a survey of energy and the environment. 31st August, 1991. The Economist Publ. Co., London.
ETSU (UK Energy Technology Support Unit): 1993,RESTATS Newsheet,No.1, Dec, 1992. ETSU, Harwell, Oxfordshire 0X11 ORA.
ETSU: 1992b,1992 Digest of UK Energy Statistics, hmso, London.
European Communities Economic and Social Committee: 1992,Opinion on the Proposal for a Council Decision Concerning the Promotion of Renewable Energy Sources in the Community, (Doc.COM(92) 180 final). Document CES(92) 1314, November 1992, Brussels.
FAO (Food and Agricultural Organisation): 1989,Agrostat Database, FAO, Rome.
Grassi, G.: 1992, Address to the 6th European Conference on Biomass, in: G. Grassi, A. Collina & H. Zibetta (eds.),Biomass for Energy, Industry and Environment — 6th EC Conference, Elsevier Applied Science, London, pp. 27–29.
Grassi, G. & A.V. Bridgewater: 1993, The opportunities for elelctricity productiion from biomass by advanced thermal conversion technologies.Biomass and Bioenergy (in press).
Greenpeace Energy Policy Project: 1993,Powerhouse Issue 11, 23 March 1993. Greenpeace UK, London N1 2PN.
Hall, D.O., Mynick, H.E. & Williams, R.H.: 1990, Alternative Roles for Biomass in Coping with Greenhouse Warming,Science and Global Security,2, 113–151; Nature (1991)353, 11–12.
Hall, D.O. & House, J.I.: 1992, Conversion of Biomass into Ethanol and Electricity, inApplication of Biomass Energy Projects in Developing Countries. United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (HABITAT), Nairobi.
Hall, D.O., Rosillo-Calle, F., Williams, R.H. & Woods, J.: 1993, Biomass for Energy: Supply Prospects. In B.J. Johansson, H. Kelly, A.K.N. Reddy & R.H. Williams (eds)Renewables for Fuels and Electricity, Island Press, Washington D.C. pp. 583–652.
Hall, D.O., Woods, J. & House, J.I.: 1992, Biological systems for uptake of carbon dioxide.Energy Conservation and Management,33(5–8): 721–728.
Hendriks, C.A., Blok, K. & Turkenburg, W.C.: 1989, The Recovery of Carbon Dioxide From Power Plants, in P.A. Okken, R. Swart & S. Zwerver (eds),Climate and Energy, the Feasibility of Controlling CO 2 Emissions, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands, pp.107–124.
Howes, R.: 1992, Set Aside and Energy Policy: The Potential of Short Rotation Energy Forestry. M.Sc. Thesis, Center for Environmental Technology, Imperial College, London University.
Hummel, F.C., Palz, W. and Grassi, G. (ed.): 1988,Biomass Forestry in Europe: A Strategy for the Future. Elsevier Applied Science, London, pp.1–7.
Johansson, T.B., Kelly, H., Reddy, A.K.N. & Williams, R.H.: 1993, Renewable Fuels and Electricity for a Growing World Economy: Defining and Achieving the Potential, in T.B. Johansson et. al. (eds)Renewables for Fuel and Electricity, island Press, Washington D.C., pp.1–72.
Koukios, E.G. and Umealu, O.S.: 1992, Present contribution of bioresources to satisfy the energy needs of Greece, in: G. Grassi, A. Collina & H. Zibetta (eds.),Biomass for Energy, Industry and Environment — 6th EC Conference, Elsevier Applied Science, London, pp. 41–47.
Kulp, J.L.: 1990,The Phytosystem as a Sink for Carbon Dioxide, EPRI Report EN-6786, Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
Marland, G. & Marland, S.: 1992, Should we Store Carbon In Trees?,Water, Air and Soil Pollution,64, 181–195.
Marland & Turhollow: 1991, CO2 emissions from production and combustion of fuel ethanol from corn.Energy,16, pp 1307–1316.
Moulton R.J. & Richards, K.R.: 1990, Costs ofSequestering Carbon Through Tree Planting and Forest Management in the United States, USDA Forest Service General Technical Report. USDA, Washington, DC.
Nakicenovic, N.et al.: 1993, Long Term Strategies for Mitigating Global Warming.Energy International J.,18(5), 97–106
Neilsen, C.: 1992, Straw-fired decentralised combined heat and power plants in Denmark, in: G. Grassi, A. Collina & H. Zibetta (eds),Biomass for Energy, Industry and Environment — 6th EC Conference, Elsevier Applied Science, London, pp. 1143–1145.
Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy: 1992,Ground for Choices — Four Perspectives for the Rural Areas in the European Community, Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy, P.O. Box 20004, 2500 EA The Hague, The Netherlands.
Nilsson, L.O.: 1993, Carbon fixation in Norway Spruce in Southern Sweden as a function of air pollution, water availability and optimal fertilisation with irrigation, in: J. Wisniewski and A.M. Solomon (eds),Quantification of Sinks and Sources of CO 2 Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.
NUTEK (Swedish National Board for Industrial and Technical Development): 1992,Energy in Sweden 1992, NUTEK, S- 117 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
OECD (1993) Biofuels for Transport. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris. In press.
POST (UK Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology): 1993,Biofuels for Transport Briefing Note 41, March 1993. POST, Houses of Parliament, London.
Ravn-Jensen, L.: 1992, Danish experience with combustino of straw, in: G. Grassi, A. Collina & H. Zibetta (eds) Bitiomass for Energy, Industry and Environment — 6th EC Conference, Elsevier Applied Science, London, pp. 884–888.
Rubin, E.S., Cooper, R.N., Frosch, R.A., Lee, T.H., Marland, G., Rosenfield, A.H. & Stine, D.D.: 1992, Realistic Mitigation Options for Global Warming.Science,257, 148–266.
Sampson, R.N.: 1992, Forestry opportunities in the United States to mitigate the effects of global warming, in: Wisniewski, J. and Lugo, A.E. (eds.)Natural Sinks of CO 2. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp. 157–180.
Savanne, D., Dufour, N., & Degand, C.: 1992, A Fresh Appraisal of Fuelwood Consumption in France. Poceedings: 7th European Conference on Biomass for Energy and Environment, Agriculture and Industry, Florence, Italy, October 1992. Ponte Press, Bochum (in press).
Turnbull, J.: 1993,Strategies for achieving a sustainable, clean and cost-effective biomass resource. Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, California.
UK Department of Energy: 1988,Renewable Energy in the UK: The Way Forward, Energy Paper 55. HMSO, London.
Unteregger, E.: 1992, Country Report for Short Rotation Forestry: Austria, in: S. Ledin & A. Alriksson (eds.),Handbook on How to Grow Short Rotation Forests, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, pp. 10.1.1–10.1.4.
USDA: 1987,A Report From the New Forest Products Task Force, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington D.C.
VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland): 1992, New Options in Bioenergy From Finland, VTT, Laboratory of Fuel and Process Technology, P.O.Box 205, SF-02151 Espoo, Finland.
WRI (World Resources Institute): 1990,World Resources 1990–91, Oxford University Press, UK.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Scurlock, J.M.O., Hall, D.O., House, J.I. et al. Utilising biomass crops as an energy source: A European perspective. Water Air Soil Pollut 70, 499–518 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01105018
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01105018