UPM Biofore Magazine 1-2019

Bioenergy usage must be quadrupled by 2060 to mitigate climate change. One key means of achieving this goal is to increase advanced biofuel usage in transport, advocates the International Energy Agency (IEA). T he IEA affirms that modern bioenergy has a key role to play in the fight against global warming and the transition to low-carbon energy. The IEAmakes a strong argument in favour of sustainable biofuels in its recent Renewables 2018 report published in October. “Increasing the use of modern bioenergy will additionally allow us to improve energy security, diversify energy generation, and reduce air pollution,” says Paolo Frankl , Head of the Renewable Energy Division at the IEA. Modern bioenergy refers to biomass use alongside modern heating technologies, power generation and transport fuels as opposed to traditional wood-burning methods commonly used for heating and cooking in developing countries. Frankl notes that despite strong growth in wind and solar energy, modern bioenergy is the most significant form of renewable energy globally, accounting for half of all renewable energy consumption in 2017. “It’s important to increase production of wind and solar energy, but modern bioenergy is an overlooked giant in the renewable energy field. Too little effort has been put into promoting its usage.” Zero-emission future The IEA’s new report follows up the agency’s Technology Roadmap – Delivering Sustainable Bioenergy report published last year, which looks as far forward as 2060. The roadmap, too, emphasizes the growing importance of sustainably produced bioenergy and advanced biofuels for reducing emissions. According to the IEA roadmap, modern bioenergy accounted for 4.5% of global energy consumption in 2015. In 2060, that figure should be closer to 17%.

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© OECD/IEA 2017 Technology Roadmap: Delivering Sustainable Bioenergy.

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