Can biomass be deployed sustainably?

Some people believe that biomass is an important source of renewable energy that can be effectively used to replace fossil fuels in the longer term. Others highlight the potentially dramatic consequences for food supplies if farmers cultivate crops for biomass instead of growing food. At the end of September 2010, this controversial area will be the subject of a three-day international conference, which brings together policymakers and scientists and is being organised by the Energy Research centre of the Netherlands (ECN) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC).

Biomass is a highly promising renewable raw material. It is one of the most likely candidates for replacing fossil fuels as a raw material for the petrochemicals, transport and manufacturing industries and for the generation of electricity. Already, a small portion of the fuels available at the pump originate from biomass cultivated on the Earth’s surface rather than from oil taken from deep beneath the Earth’s crust. Some large power stations are attempting to reduce their carbon consumption by adding all kinds of biomass, preferably in torrefied form, for co-firing in the steam boiler. All of this is being done in an effort to reduce CO₂ emissions.
This pioneering phase involves pushing the boundaries, not only in physical terms but more importantly in terms of society. There is a clear need for well-defined criteria for ensuring that sources of biomass and their use for energy, transport and chemistry can develop in a way which is sustainable. Some of these criteria already exist and are being applied. But at the same time, their application and along with it the sustainable deployment of biomass continue to be inhibited by shifting opinions in society and new discoveries by scientists researching different aspects of the biomass supply chain. Against this complex backdrop, it makes sense to clarify issues by identifying the current state of affairs. This will take place in Petten, from 29 September until 1 October 2010, at the international conference Science and Policy on Biomass and Sustainability
The three-day programme will include the following subjects:

Direct and indirect changes in land use	Biodiversity
Disruptions to the nitrogen balance	Biochar
Current and new policy	Conserving the peatlands
Water availability/water management	Second generation biofuels

But there will be much more than mere discussion alone. Participants will also have the opportunity to visit the leading research installations for biomass technology in Petten.

Contact
Jip Lenstra (ECN) and Tom Baxter (JRC)

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