Available for download here:
http://irena.org/remap/IRENA_REmap_2030_Biomass_paper_2014.pdf
Email: remap@irena.org
Background and objective
• REmap 2030 shows that biomass is a key resource in both the power and
end-use sectors if the worldwide share of renewable energy is to be doubled
by 2030.
• In 2010 around 80% of all renewable energy consumed in final energy was in
the form of biomass, with half coming from traditional uses of biomass for
heating and cooking
• IRENA prepared a working paper on bioenergy to analyze the bioenergy
demand, supply and trade potentials as well as its supply costs at country
and sector levels
• Affordability, supply security and sustainable sourcing of biomass are major
concerns
• For each application (power generation, heating, transport fuel) the
realizable potential of bioenergy is estimated
• The supply potential to meet this demand is estimated for seven types of
feedstock as well as the related supply costs based on the bottom-up
analysis of 116 countries
• The working paper also elaborates on the barriers to deployment and the
technology and policy needs to realize these ambitious potentials
Process for identifying technology
options in REmap 2030
• REmap identifies renewable energy technology options that substitute conventional energy
technologies, or traditional uses of biomass.
Current bioenergy use by sector
EJ
Current global biomass use reached 56 EJ per year of which 62% was consumed in buildings,
15% in industry, 9% in transport, and 8% in the power and district heating sectors. Rapid
growth was observed in transport sector amounting to 19%/year in the period 2000-2010
Bioenergy demand could double by
2030
If all the renewable energy options identified in REmap were implemented, primary biomass
demand would double to 108 EJ/year by 2030. This would amount to 20% of global primary
energy supply, and 60% of total final renewable energy use. Increased use of LIQUID BIOFUEL
and CHP, reduction of TRADITIOAL BIOMASS are the major contributor for this transition.
Key factors to determine biomass
feedstock supply
(Primary determinant)
- Consumption volume
of main product
(Affected by)
- Population and
economic activity
(Primary determinant)
- Land availability
(Affected by)
- Total land area
- Competing land use
Supply potential for primary bioenergy feedstocks is estimated by grouping different kinds of
biomass into two major categories, namely “primary bioenergy” and “biomass residues & waste”
Primary supply potential is based on “total land area and competing land use” and biomass residue
& waste is based on the developments in “population and economic activity”
Is there enough biomass feedstock to
meet growing demand in 2030?
With the exception of Asia (accounting for 40% of the global demand), all regions can meet their
demand from domestic biomass sources
Whereas regions can meet their demand, individual countries may not fully meet their demand and
will rely on trade from countries in the same region or even beyond
Biomass supply potentials by
feedstock and region in 2030
Global biomass supply is estimated to reach 97-147 EJ/yr. Key feedstock and regions are:
Africa: energy crops (5-7 EJ); Asia: residues & waste (15-32 EJ); North America: energy crops (7
EJ) and fuel wood (3 EJ); Latin America: energy crops (16 EJ); Europe: fuel wood (0.3-13 EJ) and
energy crops (7 EJ)
Biomass feedstock supply volume and
cost in 2030
Processing residues (USD 3-4 per GJ), harvesting residue (USD 5-6 per GJ), energy crop and
wood resources (USD 7-17 per GJ)
International trade of bioenergy could reach 23-43 EJ/year (energy crop and wood resource)
Summary of findings
• Biomass has an auspicious future with potential in all sectors, and
demand doubling by 2030 to represent 60% of total renewable energy
use
• Biomass applications will change over time, nearly a third will be used
for power and district heat generation, 30% for liquid biofuels
production, the remainder for heating/cooking in buildings and industry
• Global biomass supply is estimated to reach 97-147 EJ and international
bioenergy trade to 20-40% of the global bioenergy demand by 2030
• Domestic supply cost ranges between USD 3 and 17 per GJ
• Many sustainability and technology issues need to be researched in order
to meet the demand and supply potentials estimated in this working
paper
• Realizing a sustainable and affordable bioenergy system requires a mix
of energy and resource policies at national and international levels as
well as a diversification of the renewable energy system to reduce
increasing dependency on bioenergy resources