An increasing better use in bioenergy resource requires greater disclosure about their benefits to citizens. The raw material is available, technology and professionals too. How to make profitable for everyone- consumers, biofuel producers, equipment manufacturers and energy service companies- the use of a local, clean and reliable energy which in addition is competitive with fossil fuels?
The Brent oil barrel price is, today July 11th $ 97.44 / barrel, having reached historial highs of almost $ 150 / barrel. Moreover, Brent oil has risen 14.30% in 2011 (despite the deep economic crisis
in the EU), and forecasts of BRENT price rise over one year period are higher than 19% and 71% over a 5 years period. Natural gas prices are indexed to oil prices so that increases of at least the same proportion are occurring. A couple of weeks ago it rose 4%.
From the energy standpoint Spain’s depends by 80% on foreign energy, and in addition in Europe the energy consumption for thermal use accounts for 50% of the total energy consumed. Biomass for thermal competes well with the heating diesel and LPG, and would also compete with natural gas should the subsidies and public support to the imported fossil gas (known as natural gas) not exist.
Baseline data on thermal biomass
1. In the period 2012-2015 the price per barrel is likely to rise to $ 150, peaking at $ 200.
2. The access of millions of people to the middle class in BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries will mean a significant increase in energy demand, even with Europe in recession.
3. 50% of energy consumed in the EU is for thermal use.
4. PANER (National Renewable Energy Plan): In 2020 16% of energy for air conditioning and hot domestic water will come from biomass.
5. PER (Renewable Energies Plan): Huge potential of biomass for thermal use, which is 20,425 toe of oil, the largest of all Renewable Energy
6. The National Observatory for Biomass Boilers estimates 4,000 thermal MW installed in Spain in July 2012.
7. 46% of households in Upper Austria are heated with RES, which saves the country a billion euros in fossil fuels each year.
8. Austria expects all of its buildings to be heated with RES in 2030, with important benefits such as avoiding citizens “energy poverty” and create “green jobs”.
9. Biomass for thermal use generates 135 jobs for every 10,000 inhabitants, compared to 9 jobs generated by diesel and natural gas.
Future trends in thermal biomass by 2020
1. To install boilers to increase the national biomass consumption is a priority. Up to 40,000 biomass boilers could be installed per year, considering only Spain’s cold areas.
2. The microgeneration with pellets and hybridization between different RES and energy efficiency concepts in buildings.
3. Opportunity for biomass: 40% of houses in the Mediterranean coast are single-family and use diesel.
4. The new Technical Building Code proposes to increase to 50% mandatory RES producing heat, and to promote conversion of old coal, oil or propane plants to biomass.
5. Exemplary local corporations in the use of RES, such as biomass.
6. Remove the direct or indirect subsidies to fossil fuels, including natural gas.
7. Further aid to information disclosure; guaranteed funding, and less direct subsidies to the installation.
8. In 2020, biomass will totally replace diesel and will strongly compete with natural gas.
9. Chip and pellet biofuels are profitable without subsidies or premiums. In Spain there could be 300/400 forest chips treatment and marketing centers in rural regions, which could generate up to 2,800 new direct jobs.
10. Municipal officials must prepare cities to consume and produce RES.
11. Biomass TRIGENERATION especially in southern Europe. Great source for job creation.
12. Biomass Trigeneration (electricity, heat, cold): significant accumulated savings throughout lifespan.
13 . Biomass digestion gas can be injected into natural gas pipeline with efficiency of 93%
14. Bioenergy will be the most important RE for 20-20 Europe’s objectives.
In the BIOENERGY CONNECT event, case studies will show savings in thermal biomass in sectors such as agribusiness, tourism, schools and neighborhoods. Largescale energy consumers in these sectors will attend. ConectaBioenergía will be held from 23 to 25 October 2012, coinciding with Expobioenergía 2012. www.congresobioenergia.org
AVEBIOM, the Spanish Association for Energy Recovery from Biomass, holds the vice presidency of AEBIOM , the European Association which is organizing the Sixth International Congress on Bioenergy and co-organizes Expobioenergía”12. AVEBIOM gathers 185 members who generate 6,500 jobs and have incomes of 2,750 million euros / year.
