Bioenergy: A Force to Combat Climate Change
Fueling Progress through Sustainable Biomass Resources
The power of bioenergy lies in its remarkable ability to harness the potential of sustainable biomass resources. At the heart of the Our bioenergy expo trade fair, we recognize the significance of leveraging these resources to generate renewable energy, reducing our carbon footprint and securing a cleaner future. Through carbon capture and utilization, diverse pathways converge to produce renewable energy, gaseous fuels, liquid biofuels, and biobased products that redefine sustainability.
Navigating the Pathways of the Biotransition
The pathways of the biotransition are complex and multifaceted, each contributing to a more sustainable future. Our bioenergy expo maps these pathways, showcasing the synergy between feedstock, process technology, and valorization. From solid biomass combustion powering industries to renewable green gas production, along with the development of liquid biofuels through various processes, the event unravels the transformative journey that sustains our environment and empowers societies.
Bioenergy: The Trilogy
Bioenergy offers multiple pathways to generate renewable energy in the form of power, heat, gas and liquid biofuels from a large spectrum of biomass feedstocks.
Solid Biomass
Combustion of solid biofuels in the form of wood and waste wood for wood energy, agri-residues and non-recyclable waste streams, for industry and municipalities generates power and heating/cooling via district heating & cooling networks. It not only contributes to the replacement of fossil fuels and the reduction of CO2 emissions but also to the local economy in terms of job creation and retained wealth, energy security and improved forestry management.
Harnessing Renewable Green Gas
Renewable Green gas can be produced via a number of different pathways depending on the feedstock (humid or dry) which determines the choice of process technology (biological or thermochemical) which then leads in turn to different compositions of gaseous outputs (biogas or syngas), consumable directly for heat and power or if further upgraded, injectable into the gas grid as biomethane or usable as bioNGV, a clean fuel for transport.
Common to these different pathways is a value chain starting from agriculture, forestry or from range of different bio-waste streams that are then processed to generate a higher value than traditional or alternative uses, not only in terms of the derived energetic output but also in terms of environmental benefits (fossil fuel displacement, CO2 emissions savings, valuable bi-products) the creation of local employment, increased rural incomes and increased diversification of income etc.
Biological : Anaerobic Digestion to biogas and biomethane
The anaerobic digestion of a large range of organic wastes (livestock effluent, agricultural and agro-alimentary waste streams, biowastes etc) produces biogas containing around 55-65% methane, 35-45% CO2, and small quantities of other gasses. Digestate recovery also offers a number of routes to add and generate further value to the process.
Biohydrogen
Biohydrogen, a sustainable energy source, can be produced from solid biomass or biomethane using various innovative technologies. One approach involves gasification, converting solid biomass or biomethane into biohydrogen through controlled chemical reactions. Membrane reactors separate hydrogen from gas mixtures, increasing production efficiency.
plasmolysis and plasma gasification use cold plasma and high-energy plasma, respectively, to break down feedstock.
Pyrolysis, suitable for both methane and solid biomass, and thermolysis, a thermal decomposition process, offer additional ways to generate biohydrogen.
These technologies are shaping biohydrogen as a sustainable and eco-friendly energy source for the future.
Thermal : Pyrolysis, Pyrogasification, Hydrothermal gasification to syngas / biomethane
Thermal treatment of an extensive range of both solid and liquid bio-wastes from agriculture, forestry, industry and household waste (eg srf - solid recovered fuel) today are creating new pathways to extract green gas from otherwise undervalued or discarded waste streams which in turn can be utilised in a gaseous form or via further processing (eg Fischer-Tropsch), converted into a liquid biofuels, see below.
Liquid Biofuels
Bioethanol and biodiesel from agricultural crops and waste streams for replacing petrol and diesel in internal combustion engines, primarily for transport but also for smaller scale power generation, have been part of the energy mix now for many years.
In addition to bioethanol and biodiesel, renewable fuels and advanced biofuels have gained significant traction in recent years, diversifying the options for reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. These alternative fuels are derived from a variety of sources and undergo distinct processes to meet various energy needs.
Renewable Fuels
Renewable fuels encompass a broad category of bio-based energy sources. They can be produced from agricultural crops such as corn, sugarcane, and wheat, as well as from waste streams like food and agricultural residues. The production of renewable fuels primarily involves processes like fermentation for ethanol production and transesterification for biodiesel.
Advanced Biofuels
Advanced biofuels represent the next frontier in sustainable transportation and energy generation. They are typically produced from non-food feedstocks and employ advanced conversion techniques.
E-Fuels (Electrofuels)
E-fuels, derived from renewable energy sources like wind, solar, or hydropower, use electrolysis to create hydrogen from water. This hydrogen combines with captured carbon dioxide to produce synthetic fuels. E-fuels are crucial in sectors where electrification is challenging, bridging the gap between renewable energy and industries dependent on fossil fuels, reducing emissions and aiding the transition to sustainability.
These advanced biofuels aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions even further while offering flexibility for various applications, including transportation, electricity generation, and industrial processes. As the world seeks to transition to more sustainable energy sources, renewable and advanced biofuels are playing a crucial role in the evolving energy mix.