The Future of Biomass

Technology developments, key cost

and the future outlook

Report Price: £1495/
2160/$2875

Publication Date: November 2009
E N E R G Y
 The Future of Biomass
Technology developments, key cost and the future outlook

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Report Overview
Biomass has always been an Pages 135 Achieve a quick and
important source of energy for comprehensive understanding
mankind and today it accounts for Figures 25 of how biomass market trends
10% of primary energy
and infrastructure are
consumption. Most of this is
Tables 33 influencing the development of
traditional fuels used for cooking
and heating in the developing the renewable energy market.
world. In the developed world until
“Use this report to identify
the end of the last century its use Realize up to date competitive
which key trends will offer the
was mainly restricted to niche intelligence through a
greatest growth potential and
applications such as combined heat comprehensive review of
learn which technology trends
and power generation in the wood biomass technology concepts
are likely to allow greater
and paper industries. Today the
market impact...” in the recent electricity
perception of biomass is changing
infrastructure and renewable
and it is being recognized once
more as a valuable modern fuel that energy market
can provide a renewable energy to replace fossil fuel in power
generation. As a consequence its use is growing at it is set to become Assess the emerging trends in
one of the major renewable sources over then next two decades. renewable energy technology –
biomass – grid connection and
Biomass consists of all the plant material on the surface of the earth (and energy distribution.
in the seas if algae are included). Almost two thirds of the total is
regenerated each year during seasonal growth. The total regenerated is
Compare how manufacturers
probably equivalent to more than three times total global energy
are positioning new
consumption in 2008. Around 3% of this is used each year, mostly in the
form of wood. technologies to parallel
infrastructure development.
 The Future of Biomass
Technology developments, key cost and the future outlook

Key Findings
In 2005 biomass provided around 1.3% of total
global electricity production. By 2050 this could rise
to between 3.4% and 5.8% of total electricity
production.

Biomass comprises all the plant life on the surface of

the earth. In its 2001 Survey of Energy Resources, the
World Energy Council put the total biomass on the surface of
the earth at 220bn oven dry tonnes, equivalent to 4,500EJ of
energy. This definition may require modifying if algae become
a major source of biomass energy since algae grow in water. Figure 2.8: Maximum regional bioenergy
production potentials (EJ/y)
Actual usage today is around 50EJ, or 10% of the
“These are the best figures from a set of four different
estimated 500EJ of total global energy consumption
global agricultural scenarios. They show that by 2050,
in 2008. This is roughly 77% of the total renewable global biomass energy production could reach
contribution (including hydropower) to primary energy 1545EJ/y. The potentially most productive region
consumption. under this scenario is sub-Saharan Africa which may

Estimates for the total technical potential for biomass

energy production could be as high as 1500EJ/y by 2050, the IEA has suggested, a figure which is
significantly larger than expected total primary energy consumption.

Key features

• Analysis of biomass technologies concepts • Insight relating to the most innovative

and components. product launches and potential areas of
opportunity for manufacturers.

• Clarification of the market for biomass and • Examination of the key technology
future growth. introductions and innovations.

• Assessment of new renewable energy • Identification of the key trends shaping the
technology analysis including innovation, market, as well as an evaluation of emerging
infrastructure investment. trends that will drive innovation moving
forward.
 The Future of Biomass
Technology developments, key cost and the future outlook

Explore issues including...

Environmental requirements:- The growth of carbon dioxide emissions globally are creating a path for
lower carbon emitting power generation technologies. Biomass as fuel is carbon neutral since while it
releases carbon into the atmosphere when burnt, the growth of new biomass absorbs the same amount carbon
from the atmosphere. As a consequence it offers a valuable renewable source of energy.

Legislative issues:- The use of biomass as an energy source raises a number of environmental and
legislative issues. One of the most difficult is that of maintaining a balance between land for the
production of energy crops and land for producing food. Additional questions arise when waste materials are
used to produce energy. Agricultural wastes are a valuable fuel source but part of each crop must be returned to
the land if soil quality is not to deteriorate. A significant part of municipal waste can be burnt too but some of it
is better recycled. Additionally, the combustion of biomass produces a number of potential pollutants in addition
to releasing carbon dioxide and these must normally be controlled.

The economics of biomass for electricity generation :- The cost of electricity from a biomass-fired
power plant depends on both the cost of the fuel and the cost of building the plant. Dedicated biomass
power plants are relatively expensive to build, comparable in cost with coal-fired power plants. The cost of the
fuel, on the other hand, can be near to zero for some waste materials though much higher for energy crops.

Future growth:- The contribution of biomass to the generation of electricity is likely to rise significantly.
Over the shorter term both the EU and the USA envisage large increases in the use of biomass for power
generation and similar increases are likely across the developing world. Recent predictions suggest that the
increase in biomass generating capacity may be larger than that of wind capacity in some regions over the next
ten to twenty years.

Discover...

• What are the drivers shaping and influencing • Which biomass types will be the winners and
new technology development in the electricity which the losers?
industry?

• How will renewable energy technologies be • Which biomass technology types and materials
connected and integrated into the existing grid are likely to find favor with manufacturers
network? moving forward?

• What is the biomass power generation system • Which emerging technologies are gaining in
going to cost? popularity and why?

• What are the components of the biomass

power generation system?
 The Future of Biomass
Technology developments, key cost and the future outlook

Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • Direct firing fuel considerations • Global biomass markets
• Introduction • Fuel handling • Biomass growth and targets
• Biomass resources • Gasification • Biomass prospects
• Energy crops • Fixed bed gasifiers • Index
• Biomass power generation • Fluidized bed gasifiers
technologies • Power production using biomass LIST OF FIGURES
• Environmental and legislative issues gasification • Breakdown of biomass contribution
to primary energy consumption (%)
• The economics of biomass for • Modular systems
• Bagasse annual potential availability
electricity generation • Anaerobic fermentation of biomass
(thousand tonnes), 2007
• The future of biomass power • Biomass digesters • Global wood fuel consumption (PJ),
generation
2007
CHAPTER 5 ENVIRONMENTAL • Current and predicted EU biomass
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND LEGISLATIVE ISSUES resources (Mtoe/y)
• Summary • Introduction • Current and potential US biomass
• Biomass development • The carbon cycle and atmospheric resources (Million dry tonnes/y),
• The structure of the report warming 2005
• Biomass and carbon dioxide • Potential power generation from
CHAPTER 2 BIOMASS • Atmospheric emissions other than
biomass among ASEAN countries
RESOURCES (MW)
carbon dioxide
• Introduction • Breakdown of currently available
• Life cycle assessment
biomass in China by type (%)
• The size of the resource • Energy crops
• Maximum regional bioenergy
• Types of biomass resource • Waste fuel production potentials (EJ/y)
• Residues • Agricultural wastes • Typical biomass combustion
• Fuelwood • Forestry residues technology power generation
• Energy crops • Urban waste efficiencies (%)
• Regional resources • Typical wood gas composition (%)
• Legislative issues
• Biogas energy content (MJ/m3)
• Issues affecting biomass energy
CHAPTER 3 ENERGY CROPS • Power generation systems for
crops
• Introduction biomass (%)

• Types of energy crop • Atmospheric carbon dioxide

• Energy crop infrastructure
• Energy crop yields
CHAPTER 4 BIOMASS POWER
GENERATION
TECHNOLOGIES
• Introduction
• Direct firing of biomass
• Stoker combustors
• Suspension combustion
• Fluidized bed combustors
• Steam cycle improvements
• Co-firing
CHAPTER 6 THE ECONOMICS
concentrations (ppm)
OF BIOMASS FOR
• Estimated biomass generation
ELECTRICITY GENERATION
installed costs in California ($/kW),
• Introduction
2007
• Installed costs of biomass • Energy content of biomass fuels
generating plants (MJ/kg)
• Fuel costs • Energy crop costs ($/tonne), 2007
• Cost of electricity • Energy crop costs ($/tonne), 2007
• UK wood fuel power costs (£/MWh),
CHAPTER 7 FUTURE OUTLOOK 2008
• Introduction • Estimated biomass generation costs
• Comparative costs of energy from in California ($/MWh), 2007
biomass • Levelized cost of electricity from
• Financial incentives and deterrents power plants ($/MWh), 2009

Table of Contents
• Global biomass-based electricity
production (TWh), 2007
• Global biomass production by
country (TWh), 2007
• Biomass use in Europe (ktoe/%),
2007
• US biomass-based electricity
production (TWh), 2009
• EU renewable energy roadmap
targets (TWh), 2006-2020
LIST OF TABLES
• Breakdown of biomass contribution
to primary energy consumption (%)
• Potential long term biomass supply
by category, (EJ), 2000
• Bagasse annual potential availability
(thousand tonnes), 2007
• Global wood fuel consumption (PJ),
2007
• Current and predicted EU biomass
resources (Mtoe/y)
• Current and potential US biomass
resources (Million dry tonnes/y),
2005
• Potential power generation from
biomass among ASEAN countries
(MW)
• Breakdown of currently available
biomass in China by type (%)
• Maximum regional bioenergy
production potentials (EJ/y)
• Properties of miscanthus and
switchgrass as combustion fuels
• Typical energy crop yields
• Typical biomass combustion
technology power generation
efficiencies (%)
• Typical wood gas composition (%)
• Biogas energy content (MJ/m3)
• Power generation systems for
biomass
• Atmospheric carbon dioxide
concentrations (ppm), 1700-2100
• Typical atmospheric emissions from
combustion power plants (kg/MWh)
The Future of Biomass
Technology developments, key cost and the future outlook
• Power plant total energy balance
(kJ/kWh)
• Installed cost of biomass CHP and
power-only
• Estimated biomass generation costs
in California, 2007
• Energy content of biomass fuels
(MJ/kg)
• Energy crop costs ($/tonne), 2007
• Energy crop costs ($/tonne), 2007
• UK wood fuel costs, 2008
• Cost of electricity from biomass
CHP and power only installations
• Estimated biomass generation costs
in California
• IEA global power generation
scenarios (TWh), 2008
• The cost of electricity from power
plants ($/MWh), 2009
• Global biomass-based electricity
production (TWh), 2007
• Global biomass production by
country (TWh), 2007
• Biomass use in Europe (ktoe/%),
2007
• US biomass-based electricity
production (TWh), 2009
• EU renewable energy roadmap
targets (TWh), 2006-2020
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