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Securing a bioenergy future without imports

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  • Welfle, Andrew
  • Gilbert, Paul
  • Thornley, Patricia

Abstract

The UK has legally binding renewable energy and greenhouse gas targets. Energy from biomass is anticipated to make major contributions to these. However there are concerns about the availability and sustainability of biomass for the bioenergy sector. A Biomass Resource Model has been developed that reflects the key biomass supply-chain dynamics and interactions determining resource availability, taking into account climate, food, land and other constraints. The model has been applied to the UK, developing four biomass resource scenarios to analyse resource availability and energy generation potential within different contexts. The model shows that indigenous biomass resources and energy crops could service up to 44% of UK energy demand by 2050 without impacting food systems. The scenarios show, residues from agriculture, forestry and industry provide the most robust resource, potentially providing up to 6.5% of primary energy demand by 2050. Waste resources are found to potentially provide up to 15.4% and specifically grown biomass and energy crops up to 22% of demand. The UK is therefore projected to have significant indigenous biomass resources to meet its targets. However the dominant biomass resource opportunities identified in the paper are not consistent with current UK bioenergy strategies, risking biomass deficit despite resource abundance.

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  • Welfle, Andrew & Gilbert, Paul & Thornley, Patricia, 2014. "Securing a bioenergy future without imports," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 1-14.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:68:y:2014:i:c:p:1-14
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2013.11.079
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    Cited by:

    1. P. Hammond, Geoffrey & O' Grady, Áine, 2017. "The life cycle greenhouse gas implications of a UK gas supply transformation on a future low carbon electricity sector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 937-949.
    2. Hall, Lisa M.H. & Buckley, Alastair R., 2016. "A review of energy systems models in the UK: Prevalent usage and categorisation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 607-628.
    3. Kung, Chih-Chun & Zhang, Ning, 2015. "Renewable energy from pyrolysis using crops and agricultural residuals: An economic and environmental evaluation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 90(P2), pages 1532-1544.
    4. Guerra, K. & Welfle, A. & Gutiérrez-Alvarez, R. & Freer, M. & Ma, L. & Haro, P., 2024. "The role of energy storage in Great Britain's future power system: focus on hydrogen and biomass," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 357(C).
    5. Tylecote, Andrew, 2019. "Biotechnology as a new techno-economic paradigm that will help drive the world economy and mitigate climate change," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(4), pages 858-868.
    6. Konadu, D. Dennis & Mourão, Zenaida Sobral & Allwood, Julian M. & Richards, Keith S. & Kopec, Grant & McMahon, Richard & Fenner, Richard, 2015. "Land use implications of future energy system trajectories—The case of the UK 2050 Carbon Plan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 328-337.
    7. Welfle, Andrew & Röder, Mirjam, 2022. "Mapping the sustainability of bioenergy to maximise benefits, mitigate risks and drive progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 493-509.
    8. Delafield, Gemma & Smith, Greg S. & Day, Brett & Holland, Robert A. & Donnison, Caspar & Hastings, Astley & Taylor, Gail & Owen, Nathan & Lovett, Andrew, 2024. "Spatial context matters: Assessing how future renewable energy pathways will impact nature and society," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    9. Mellor, P. & Lord, R.A. & João, E. & Thomas, R. & Hursthouse, A., 2021. "Identifying non-agricultural marginal lands as a route to sustainable bioenergy provision - A review and holistic definition," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).

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    Biomass; Resource; Energy;
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