Bioenergy revisited: Key factors in global potentials of bioenergy

TLDR

The growing use of bioenergy is accompanied by heated public debate over the sustainable amount of biomass that can be used. The article evaluates current knowledge on biomass resource potentials and related factors such as water availability, biodiversity, food demand, energy demand, and agricultural commodity markets. The analysis incorporates water limitations, biodiversity protection, and food demand to refine biomass potential estimates. Sensitivity analysis narrows projected 2050 biomass potentials to 200–500 EJ/yr, driven by agricultural efficiency and crop choice, indicating that biomass could supply up to one‑third of global energy demand.

Abstract

The growing use of bioenergy goes hand in hand with a heated public debate, in which conflicting claims are made regarding the amount of biomass that can be sustainably used for this purpose. This article assesses the current knowledge on biomass resource potentials and interrelated factors such as water availability, biodiversity, food demand, energy demand and agricultural commodity markets. A sensitivity analysis of the available information narrows the range of biomass potentials from 0–1500 EJ/yr to approximately 200–500 EJ/yr in 2050. In determining the latter range, water limitations, biodiversity protection and food demand are taken into consideration. Key factors are agricultural efficiency and crop choice. In principle, global biomass potentials could meet up to one third of the projected global energy demand in 2050.