TT Flashcards
What is biomass?
Biomass is organic matter derived from living or recently living organisms. It typically contains carbon, oxygen & hydrogen, and often nitrogen and small amounts of many other elements (Na, K, Mg, Cl, Si, P, S and many more).
What are the main feedstock used?
- Sugar and starch crops (sugar cane, sugar beet, corn, wheat)
- Oil crops (oil palm, soy beans, rapeseed)
- Lignocellulosic crops/ woody biomass (pine, spruce, eucalyptus, willow, poplar)
- Agricultural and forest residues, manure, other organic waste streams
- In the future: aquatic biomass (micro & macro-algae)
What is a BBE?
The circular & BBE is an economy drive by efficiency in using crops and biomass for food, feed, chemicals, energy and fuels (WUR).
What can we do with biomass?
o Food, feed, energy
o Materials: fibers for paper and wood for timber
o Substances: starch for plastics and bio-oil for paints
o Chemical building blocks: lactic acid for additives and polymers, ethanol for plastics, furans for resins and fuels.
Bio-based is not biodegradable
Biodegradable products decompose over time through biochemical processes. Not all bio-based plastics are biodegradable. In theory fossil fuels can also be used to produce biodegradable plastics.
What are the drivers for a BBE?
Climate change (it is renewable, no or less GHG emissions than fossil economy, overall more sustainable than fossil economy), security of energy supply (depletion of fossil fuels) and rural development.
The three definitions/examples of ILUC
- Firstly, when a direct displacement of pastureland, cropland or crop use results in livestock or crops being produced elsewhere to continue to meet demand.
- Secondly, when the diversion of the crop to other uses triggers higher crop prices, which results in more land being taken into agricultural production elsewhere.
- And lastly, when infrastructure is developed in support of bioenergy production and human migration.
What do you know about measuring ILUC?
It is difficult to measure ILUC, because ILUC of for example biofuels is another product’s DLUC. Models cannot distinguish between DLUC and ILUC. A lot of models did research into the LUC-related GHG emission of corn ethanol. Only a research by Searchinger et al. 2008 found ethanol to emit more than fossil-based gasoline. All 13 other researchers found corn ethanol to emit less than 40% of the fossil-based gasoline.
Why do ILUC needs to be addressed?
It needs to be addressed if we want bioenergy (or any other application of biomass) to meaningfully contribute to GHG emission reduction.
How to mitigate the risk of ILUC?
- Use low ILUC-risk feedstocks: residues, dedicated energy crops, algae
- Increase productivity of existing agriculture: produce more per hectare, reduce losses
- Expand production only on currently un-used, low carbon land: abandoned agricultural land or degraded land)
What are emissions related to BBE?
The emissions that are considered for bioenergy are the supply chain emissions and the direct land use change (LUC). Indirect land us change (ILUC) is no considered as emission yet.
Explain the key premises of BBE?
- Climate Change: there are opportunities to mitigate climate change by replacing fossil fuels with biomass as feedstock for energy, materials and chemicals. A pro is the decarbonisation of the energy system (negative emissions using for example BECCS). A con is the increase in land use change and associated emissions. The size of ILUC impact the mitigation ability of BBE.
- Energy/resource security: locally produced biomass can replace imported fossil fuels for energy and thereby improve energy security. The diverse portfolio of energy & feedstock sources also improves energy security.
a. The concerns about imports/foreign oil dependence are geo-politics, supply disruption, finite resources and price fluctuations.
b. Trade-offs are the increased use of natural land for crop production, this leads to carbons tock changes, biodiversity loss, water quality and quantity. Also increased food prices due to using food crops for energy and materials, this reduces the food security. - Rural development: new economic activities in rural areas create jobs and increase farm revenue. For the EU BBE could be an alternative outlet and incentive to enhance production. For developing countries increase farm gate prices and agricultural employment could improve rural livelihoods. Higher crop/food prices are good for farmers that produce more than they need for themselves, but non-farming households can buy less food (this is also a part of the food vs fuel debate).
What are the two perspective of the relationship between food and fuel prices?
One perspective is that there is a causal relationship between biofuel expansion and food insecurity. A second perspective is that both are affected by oil prices, policy and regulation instead of by each other. Scientists say that biofuels alone do not affect food prices but that there are many more causes: high oil prices, weather conditions, currency exchange rates, policies, speculation in food commodities and increase in demand of food and fuel.
How do you measuring food (in)security?
Key indicators are food prices and food price index (often commodity prices are used). But note that international commodity prices are not the same as local consumer prices. The four pillars of food security are: availability, access, utilization and stability.
What are country examples of BBE?
- Brazil: investment in sugarcane ethanol already in 1970’s, now globally 2nd biggest producer of ethanol. Currently the have a large fleet of flex-fuel vehicles.
- Indonesia: has a large trade deficit & high subsidy for transport fuels, at the same time globally largest producer & exporter of palm oil. They use palm oil for biodiesel for domestic consumption.
What are opportunities and challenges for sustainability?
- LUC does not only cause carbon stock changes, but also affects biodiversity, soil fertility, water quality and quantity, land tenure conflicts and social unrest, …
- Land grabbing, the acquisitions of land
- GDP and trade balance
- Opportunities and challenges are closely intertwined
- Perspective: global vs local and micro vs macro
How to ensure sustainability?
- Binding sustainability criteria (EU-RED and in the Netherlands the Cramer criteria)
- Other (inter-)national regulations on agriculture, forestry and biodiversity
- Voluntary sustainability certification schemes, general for all crops and crop specific
- Standardization bodies (ISO)
- Requirements by funding agencies (Climate Bonds Initiative)
The criteria that are included in the Cramer criteria are:
GHG emissions, competition with food and other application of biomass, biodiversity, welfare, prosperity and environment (waste management, air quality, erosion, use of agrochemicals).
Biomass use as renewable energy source in the EU, what are the shares of biomass and heat of biomass?
Biomass for energy is the main source of renewable energy in the EU, with a share of almost 60% The heating and cooling sector is the largest end user, using about 75% of all bioenergy.
Why do we need biomass potential assessments?
Whether there is enough biomass to reach renewable energy and BBE ambitions and what it delivers in terms of sustainability goals. Whether there is enough biomass at an affordable cost/price. Whether policies measures are needed to mobilize or to constrain biomass production/harvesting. To support the development of roadmaps/BBE strategies at regional and national levels.
What are the biomass categories?
- Primary by-products/residues: at the source, for example sugar beet tops
- Secondary by-products/residues: later in the production chain at the mill, for example sugar beet pulp
- Tertiary by-products/residues: has had use, for example UCO
- Primary dedicated biomass: Specific crops, for example trees from forest
What are the definition of biomass potentials?
Theoretical potential > technical potential > economic potential > implementation potential > sustainability implementation potential
What is theoretical potential?
The theoretical potential is the maximum amount of biomass theoretically available within fundamental bio-physical limits. It represents the maximum productivity.
What is technical potential?
The technical potential is the available amount under the regarded techno-structural framework conditions with the current technological possibilities. It also takes into account the spatial confinements due to other land uses as was as the ecological.
What is economic potential?
The economic potential is the share of technical potential that meets criteria of economic profitability within the give framework conditions.
What is implementation potential?
The implementation potential is the fraction of economic potential that can be implanted within a certain time frame and under concrete socio-political framework conditions, including economic, institutional and social constraints and policy incentives.
What is sustainability implementation potential?
The sustainability implementation potential is the fraction that can be produces sustainable according the sustainability criteria.
What are the sustainability considerations and potential s of primary forestry production and residues?
Primary forestry production and residues have limited ILUC risks in the EU, more likely outside the EU when new plantation forest is established on agricultural lands. The loss of dead wood and stumps may negatively influence the species diversity and soil fauna. However, leaving them all may result in increased fertilization and negative impacts on vegetation. When overharvesting increased risk for soil erosion and carbon stock change could occur. Harvesting should not be larger than the average forest biomass increasement. The quantity of water could be in danger, particularly new plantations increase the risk. And lastly the quality of water could change due to increased risk in N-leaching.
What are the sustainability considerations and potential s of secondary residues from wood industries?
Secondary residues from wood industries have no ILUC, biodiversity and water risks. There are debates that using the wood in panel boards, creates a carbon stock in comparison to combustion of the wood.
What are the sustainability considerations and potential s of argicultural residues?
Agricultural residues have no ILUC risks. There could be biodiversity loss when harvesting too many crop residues. Stubbles left are feed for fauna, also harvesting of residues gives more disturbance. Also, a moderate risk to lose soil organic carbon when overharvesting crop residues, risk to lose nutrients when overharvesting with have machinery. The quality of water could decrease due to N-input increase but may also reduce nutrient leaching.
What are the sustainability considerations and potential s of manure?
Manure has no ILUC risks. It could have a risk on biodiversity when the manure is used as fertilizer. If it lowers fertilization it may lead to soil quality loss but generally digestate is brought back to land. It may also reduce N and P leaching into water streams.
What are the sustainability considerations and potential s of Secondary residues of food processing industry?
Secondary residues of food processing industry have no sustainability risks in the four groups.
What are the sustainability considerations and potential s of biodegradable municipal waste?
Biodegradable municipal waste has no ILUC risks. The biodiversity, soil, carbon stock and water quality are affected positively in regions where it avoids landfill.
What are the sustainability considerations and potential s of post-consumer wood?
Post-consumer wood has no ILUC risks. The biodiversity, soil, carbon stock and water quality are affected positively in regions where it avoids landfill.
What are the sustainability considerations and potential s of rotational/annual arable crops?
Rotational/annual arable crops have large risk on ILUC as it competes with food and feed. However also high productivity. Intensive annual crops require relative high inputs of N, pesticides and mechanization with risk for adverse effects on soil biodiversity and water quality, leading to pollution of habitats and eutrophication diminishing floristic diversity. Risks for soil erosion related to annual cropping. This type of crops is a more GHG intensive crop. If produced with irrigation in arid areas it leads to depletion of water.
What are the sustainability considerations and potential s of perennial lognocellulosic crops?
Perennial lignocellulosic crops have only ILUC risk when it grows in agricultural lands. It could reduce the biodiversity in the form that it provides winter shelter for birds. Because of its potential to grow on marginal lands it could increase soil quality and soil carbon stock. In arid regions ground water abstraction and depletion is possible because of the deep roots.
Cost-supply assessment for biomass potentials? (three types)
- Market prices for already trade biomass types.
- Road-side-cost for biomass for which markets are not developed yet. The cost depends on the level of waste. For example, dedicated biomass crops have all cost allocated to the biomass while waste has no costs allocated.
- At-gate-costs cover the costs at roadside + transport and pre-treatment until the biomass reaches the conversion plant gate. The costs that are allocated to biomass for this category are all the road side costs, the logistics costs between road side to plant gate which vary according to for example the type of transport and the pre-treatment.
What are methods to assess the potential role of the BBE?
- On the process scale an LCA or plot/technology scale could be made.
- On the sectoral scale an energy system, agricultural economy, land cover and use or biophysical environment could be made.
- On global interaction scale an integrated assessment model (IAM) could be made.
What are scenarios?
Scenarios are storylines which describe plausible alternative trends in the evolution of society and ecosystems over the long-term. Often it is a baseline scenario without governmental policies vs a scenario with mitigation policies.
What are the five Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) ?
- SSP1: Optimistic world (low challenges to mitigation and adaptation)
- SSP2: Middle of the road (current trends)
- SSP3: Pessimistic world (high challenges to mitigation and adaptation)
- SSP4: Inequality in the world (Adaption and challenges dominate)
- SSP5: Fossil-fueled development (Mitigation challenges dominate)
What is a Integrated Model to Assess the Global Environment (IMAGE)?
Model framework that simulates the global consequences of human activities. It represents the interactions between society, the biosphere and climate system. The model is used for global, long term (2050-2100) assessments.
Why do models have different outcomes?
Models are simplifications, different models have different results
o Future energy/agricultural demand
o Technological assumptions (availability, costs, etc.)
o Biomass resources
o Solution Method: Simulation vs. Equilibrium vs. Optimization
→ Model Intercomparison Projects (MIPs)
What are broad agreements among models?
o Biomass used significantly in future projections
o Importance of lignocellulosic feedstocks
o Use of BECCS
What are broad disagreements among models?
o Transport ↔ Power
o Supply regions
o Cost / Yield projections
What is a biorefinery?
A biorefinery is the sustainable processing of biomass into a spectrum of marketable products and energy. The spectrum of products consists of bioenergy, bio-oil, bioplastic and biochemicals just like the output of an oil refinery. But a biorefinery also has protein-rich animal feed, nutrients and healthy food ingredients as additional output. Another difference between an oil and biomass refinery is the needed pre-treatment of the biomass. Biomass has a lot of oxygen which has to be removed in order to produce energetic end products. If the oxygen is not removed the products will oxidize which will make CO2 instead of the end products.
What are the different conversion processes in a biorefinery?
- Bio-chemical
- Thermo-chemical
- Physical-chemical
- Others
What are the differences between first, second and third generation biofeedstocks?
- First generation are the high energy bio-feedstocks; therefore, people often describe it as food products.
- Second generation are the products in biomass to strength the biomass (lignocellulose), this is the reason that people often think that second generation biomass is the waste products from first generation biomass.
- Third generation is biomass that does not interact with the food chain. An example is algae, because it grows on places where no food can grow.
Second and third vs. first generation biofeedstocks. Pro en cons?
- Pro: many different sources including waste, no competition with food, no direct land use change and more sustainable.
- Con: more difficult to convert, higher cost of production and require development of new conversion technologies.
What is the definition of a platform in a biorefinery?
The key intermediates between feedstock and final product. It can be a wide range of different products, ranging from a single carbon to large molecules. They can be converted to products with combination of thermal, biological and chemical processes.
What are the different platforms that you should remember?!
H2, Syngas, Biogas, C5 & C6 Sugars, Lignin and Pyrolytic oil / Bio-oil