Better Use of Biomass for Energy – Position paper and Background Report
On 15 December 2009 lEA RETD and lEA Bioenergy presented the key findings from a joint project on ‘Better Use of Biomass for Energy’ during the RETD side event at the COP15 in Copenhagen. The project identified opportunities for bioenergy to achieve better greenhouse gas reduction, and for climate policies to achieve better bioenergy development.
– ‘Good’ biomass for energy could diversify energy supply at reasonable cost, improve trade balances, and provide rural income and employment. Bioenergy could help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuels.
– Biomass for energy could be ‘Bad’ if no safeguards are placed against GHG emissions and biodiversity loss from land use change, food insecurity, overuse of water, and mismanagement of soils.
– ‘Better’ biomass for energy is needed to increase sustainable energy in all countries, taking into account costs and efficiency.
These issues are addressed in the position paper which was produced by the Implementing Agreements on ‘Renewable Energy Technology Deployment (RETD)’ and ‘Bioenergy’, which form part of a programme of international energy technology collaboration undertaken under the auspices of the International Energy Agency.
Details on the findings, recommendations and brief case studies are given in a background document prepared for lEA RETD and lEA Bioenergy by a research team consisting of CE Delft, Oeko-Institut, AidEnvironment and CIEP. This will be available early in 2010.
