“Biomass Energy Use”: Bioenergy – More Than a Secure Reserve in the Future Energy Mix?!

Abstract

The transition of the energy system is a complex process, which does not only need a switch from fossil to renewable energy carriers, but a smart interaction of the different renewable energy options as well. Bioenergy plays a central role in this transition because it is multifunctional and can provide heat, power, and transport fuels independent from the actual weather situation. On the other hand, the resource base for bioenergy is limited. Therefore the “how” of bioenergy utilization is crucial. In a future energy system, the energy supply should be environmental-friendly, cost-efficient, with a high share of renewable energy and the security of energy supply should be guaranteed at any time needed. Hence, the role of bioenergy has to change dramatically from a monovalent all-year-long supply system to a smart, flexible energy source, which can fill the gaps when other renewables are not available in the required amount or quality. To figure out the future potential of bioenergy in renewable energy-based systems, it is necessary to consider three different major characteristics: Flexible and controllable: With regard to the ongoing energy transition, electricity from biomass can be already properly targeted for the transition of the power market. For instance, bioenergy can guarantee sufficient system services including frequency control, reactive power or congestion management for the power grid, and compensation of fluctuating renewable energies in the energy system, to name but a few. But technology development is still needed for many plants to reach the necessary flexibility. Some project groups in this issue present their results on the development of systems for the controllable generation of electricity by biogas plants to meet consumer demands. However, flexible heat provision is expected to take a longer time to be implemented. Combinable: The success of a future renewable energy system will depend in particular on the integration and quality of the combination of all renewable energies. Promising concepts are, e.g., regional hybrid systems for heat provision with solar thermal energy and PV, respectively with solid biomass-based heating systems or power-to-gas, which can provide flexible energy in different sectors. Further synergies from direct coupling of BtL- and PtL-plants can be expected. Sustainable: Last but not least, bioenergy is, indeed, controversially debated due to restrictions concerning the rising demand in resources for food and animal feed, as well as efforts to conserve biodiversity. To be sustainable, energy supply from biomass must focus on the efficient use of biomass, especially of biogenic residues, by-products, and waste, taking into consideration its quantities and qualities and/or biomass with high greenhouse gas savings and safeguards for other risks such as soil conservation, biodiversity conservation, or food security as well. In the end, within the “team“ of renewables, the strengths of the single renewables (including storage capacity and versatility of bioenergy or high quantities of wind and sun) have to fill the gaps of the other renewables (e.g., limited bioenergy quantities or fluctuating output of wind and solar energy) and the synergy potentials should be used. Some major achievements to develop bioenergy are published in this issue of Chemical Engineering & Technology. The majority of the research and demonstration results was achieved in the research program “Biomass Energy Use” funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in Germany, which shows the pioneering role of Germany in the energy transition (“Energiewende”) and made this impressive contribution possible. We hope you will enjoy reading this issue and get inspiring inside views of the current status and an outlook of bioenergy technology. Daniela Thrän and Diana Pfeiffer Department of Bioenergy Systems, DBFZ Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum gGmbH, Head of Department of Bioenergy, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Bioenergy Systems, University of Leipzig