Bioenergy; the forgotten giant of renewable energy - Green Ecologist

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Bioenergy

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Bioenergy

If we ask someone … Tell us three renewable energy sources? Possibly it starts with solar energy, wind energy and ended with that produced by water (hydraulic or marine). Although we recognize that there are other ways of obtaining energy while respecting the environment, few of us think of naming the bioenergy.

We could say that it is "the great ignored of the media" and although it is in the shadows, the energy bioenergy modern (Excluding the traditional use of the biomass) was responsible for half of all renewable energy consumed last year. It provided four times the combined contribution of solar photovoltaic and wind power.

Bioenergy last year provided four times the combined contribution of solar photovoltaic and wind power.

Bioenergy o biomass energy It is the forgotten giant within renewable energies, however, it is responsible for most of the final energy consumption to supply heat to buildings and industry worldwide.

ButWhat is bioenergy and where does it come from?…

What is bioenergy?

The concept of bioenergy refers to a type of renewable energy that comes from the use of biomass energy; industrial or organic matter. This can be anything from plants to straw to organic waste, food waste, and even sewage.

When these materials are used for their energy content, they are called 'raw materials'. Sometimes raw materials are grown specifically for their bioenergetic content (Known to many as «energy crops«), While others are industrial waste products that come from agriculture, wood production, food processing, etc.

Bioenergy is also recognized as biofuels (Fuels derived from biological sources). Its best known forms are calledBiofuels: Biodiesel, Bioethanehe and Biogas or Biomass. But… How is Bioenergy obtained?

We want to leave a summary outline of the process of obtaining biomass energy (In this case it is from Biogas) but the concept is applicable to all subjects:

As you can see in the diagram of the Bio Energy, we are facing the convincing concept of circular economy, which aims to reduce both the production of virgin waste and the input of materials, closing the economic and ecological flows of resources.

If we look at its production and utility process, we will see that there are multiple advantages of using Bioenergy:

Types of bioenergy

Biomass, depending on its origin and processing, provides useful and feasible electricity to be used from three physical forms: solid, liquid and gaseous. This gives it characteristics of a universal energy resource, clean before the environment and powerful.

According to its transformation processes we have several types of bioenergy:

1.- Biofuels

The biofuels are mainly forest residues; firewood, charcoal, and for example agricultural waste such as straw and other solids. They are widely used both in the industrial sector (producing heat or electricity) and more domestic; heating water, for cooking, etc.

And, in addition, you can obtain pyrolysis gas, which is used as an energy material in internal combustion engines, that is, to run vehicles.

2.- Biofuels

The biofuels come from an important variety of cropss: sugar cane, rapeseed, corn, beets, soybeans, oil palm, etc., as well as agro-industrial waste. Where by processes we obtain pure vegetable oils that we convert into biodiesel (Used in diesel or gasoline engines, in buses or trucks) and also into alcohol (bioethanol).

3.- Biogas or methane

The biogas is produced by the fermentation product of organic waste from forests, agricultural fields and the waste of farm animals such as pigs, cows, sheep, goats, etc. The extracted methane is used to produce thermal, mechanical or simply electrical energy.

Bioenergy or biofuels in renewables

Bioenergy is the largest source of growth in the consumption of renewable energies during the period 2022-2023. As a solid, liquid or gaseous fuel, will represent 30% of the growth of renewable consumption in this period.

This is the result of considerable use of bioenergy in heat and transport. Other renewable energies have a lower penetration in these two sectors, which represent 80% of total final energy consumption.

In 2023, it will remain the predominant source of renewable energy, although its share of total renewables will decline from 50% in 2022 to 46% as the expansion of the energy industry accelerates. solar photovoltaic and wind energy.

Renewables will have the fastest growth in the power sector, providing almost 30% of energy demand in 2023, up from 24% in 2022.

During this period, the heating sector, which includes heating for buildings or industry, will account for the largest share of renewables to meet energy demand in 2023.

Of the world's largest energy consumers, Brazil employs the largest proportion of renewable energy from bioenergy by far: almost 45% of total final energy consumption in 2023. Bioenergy consumption in transport and industry is significant, and hydropower dominates the electricity sector.

Meanwhile, due to policies of decarbonisation of all sectors and reduction of harmful local air pollution, China leads global growth in absolute terms during the forecast period, overtaking the European Union to become the largest consumer of renewable energy. from the earth.

Bioenergy - which excludes the traditional use of biomass - produced almost 70% of direct renewable heat in 2022. Bioenergy penetration is higher in industry than in buildings. It currently covers 8% of the industrial heat demand, mainly in sectors that produce biomass waste.

In buildings, the use of bioenergy grows between 8% and 2023, less than the 16% growth registered in the last six-year period. In the residential sector, the European Union represents an even larger share of world bioenergy consumption (54%), with France, Germany and Italy being the countries that consume the most.

Italy leads the European market for pellet stoves and the United States remains the largest individual consumer of bioenergy in the construction sector.

To achieve long-term climate and other sustainability goals, the development of renewable energy in the heat, power and transport sectors must be accelerated.

If progress continues at the currently anticipated pace, the share of renewables in final energy consumption would be approximately 18% by 2040, well below the 28% benchmark of the IEA Sustainable Development Scenario.

We can see more information from the IEA (International Energy Agency) market analysis and forecast report

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