Smart Bioenergy (eBook)

Contents 6
Contributors 8
Chapter 1: Introduction 10
1.1 Bioenergy Today 11
1.2 The Way Forward: Traditional, Modern and Integrated Bioenergy Provision 13
1.3 The German Transformation: Demanding a New Role for Bioenergy? 14
1.4 Set-Up of the Book 15
References 17
Chapter 2: Demand for the Flexible Provision of Bioenergy Carriers: An Overview of the Different Energy Sectors in Germany 19
2.1 Introduction 20
2.2 Electricity Market 21
2.2.1 The Political Framework 21
2.2.2 The Market Situation 22
2.2.3 Future Markets for Electricity from Biomass 23
2.2.4 Options for Integrating Biogas into the Future Power Supply 24
2.2.5 Options for Integrating Solid and Liquid Biofuels into the Future Power Supply 26
2.3 Heat Market 26
2.3.1 The Political Framework 26
2.3.2 The Market Situation 27
2.3.3 Development Trends 27
2.3.4 Flexibility 28
2.4 Biofuels Market (Transport Sector) 29
2.4.1 The Political Framework 29
2.4.2 The Market Situation 30
2.4.3 Development Trends 31
2.4.4 Flexibility 31
2.5 Biomethane Market 32
2.5.1 The Political Framework 32
2.5.2 The Market Situation 33
2.5.3 Development Trends 34
2.5.4 Flexibility 34
2.6 Cross-Sectoral Markets from Power to Heat, to Gas and to Liquid 35
2.7 Conclusion 36
References 37
Chapter 3: Biomass Resources and Sustainability Issues for a Flexible Bioenergy Provision 40
3.1 Introduction 41
3.2 Biomass Potentials and Drivers 42
3.3 Environmental Aspects of Biomass Production and Certification 45
3.3.1 Potential Environmental Issues Surrounding the Production of Energy Crops for the Provision of Flexible Bioenergy 46
Soil Erosion 47
Humus Balance 47
Pesticides and Fertilizers 48
Biodiversity 48
3.3.2 Sustainability Certification 49
3.4 Conclusion 51
References 53
Chapter 4: Flexible Power Generation from Solid Biofuels 56
4.1 Introduction 56
4.2 Thermo-chemical Conversion Processes 57
4.3 Power Generation Technologies 58
4.3.1 Technologies Based on Steam Cycles 59
4.3.2 Technologies Based on Chemical Conversion 61
4.3.3 Technologies Based on Sensible Heat Conversion 62
4.4 Concepts for Power Generation from Solid Biomass 63
4.5 State of the Art 65
4.6 Options for Flexible Power Generation in Existing Plants 66
4.6.1 Increasing Flexibility of Plant Equipment 67
4.6.2 Storage of Intermediate Energy Carriers 67
4.7 New Concepts for Flexible Power Generation from Solid Biofuels 68
4.7.1 General Aspects 68
4.7.2 Improvement of Technologically Available Concepts 69
Combustion and EFGT 69
Gasification and Gas Turbine 69
4.7.3 New Concepts 69
Gasification and Fuel Cells 70
Hybrid IGCC 70
Synthetic Fuel Production 70
4.8 Conclusions 70
References 72
Chapter 5: Flexible Power Generation from Biogas 74
5.1 Introduction 74
5.2 Technologies for Generating Power from Gaseous Biofuels 75
5.2.1 Biochemical Conversion Process 76
Type of Substrate and Substrate Supply 76
Types of Conversion Process 78
5.2.2 Biogas Storage and Utilization 78
Options for Gas Storage Within the Process 78
Gas Conversion/Utilization Technologies 78
5.2.3 Substrate Availability for Power Generation from Biogas 81
Plants Based on Energy Crops 81
Manure, Industrial Wastes and Byproducts 81
5.3 State of the Art 82
5.4 Options for Flexible Power Generation in Existing Plants 83
5.4.1 Critical Components Within the Production Chain 87
5.5 New Concepts for Flexible Power Generation from Biogas 87
5.6 Conclusion 88
References 88
Chapter 6: Flexible Heat Provision from Biomass 90
6.1 Introduction 91
6.2 Heat Supply from Biomass: An Overview and Clarification of “Flexibility” 91
6.3 Technologies for Heat Provision from Solid Biomass 94
6.3.1 Type of Biomass and Biomass Quality 94
6.3.2 Biomass Conversion Technology (Heat Generator) 96
6.3.3 Plant Concept/Operation Concept 97
6.3.4 Heat Storage on Site 99
6.3.5 Type of Heat Utilization 101
6.4 State of the Art 102
6.5 Options to Improve Flexible Heat Provision in Existing Plants 103
6.6 New Concepts for Improved Flexible Heat Generation from Solid Biomass Fuels 107
6.7 Conclusions 110
References 111
Chapter 7: Liquid and Gaseous Biofuels for the Transport Sector 113
7.1 Introduction 113
7.2 Technologies 114
7.3 Concepts and State of the Art 115
7.4 Options for Flexible Production of Liquid and Gaseous Biofuels 116
7.4.1 Approaches for Existing Concepts 120
7.4.2 Approaches for New Concepts 121
7.5 General Economic and Environmental Aspects 123
7.6 Conclusion 124
References 125
Chapter 8: Intermediate Biofuels to Support a Flexible Application of Biomass 127
8.1 Introduction 128
8.2 Advanced Solid Biofuels 129
8.2.1 Densified Solid Biofuels 130
Raw Material 130
Process 130
Energy Balance 131
Cost Range 132
Stage of Development 132
8.2.2 Torrefied Fuels 132
Raw Material 132
Process 133
Energy Balance 133
Cost Range 134
Stage of Development 134
8.2.3 Hydrothermal Carbonised Fuels 134
Raw Material 135
Process 135
Energy Balance 136
Stage of Development 137
8.3 Biomethane 137
8.3.1 Bio-based Synthetic Natural Gas Bio-SNG 137
Raw Material 137
Process 137
Stage of Development 139
8.3.2 Biomethane from Upgrading of Biogas 139
Raw Material 139
Process 139
Cost Range 141
Stage of Development 141
8.4 Contributing to a Flexible Energy Supply 142
8.4.1 Flexibility Through Solid Fuels 142
8.4.2 Flexibility Through Biomethane 143
8.5 Conclusion 144
References 145
Chapter 9: The Potential of Flexible Power Generation from Biomass: A Case Study for a German Region 147
9.1 Introduction 148
9.2 Long-Term Potential for Flexible Bioenergy Generation 148
9.2.1 Potential and Sector-Wise Distribution Under the Scenarios 149
9.2.2 Flexible Power Generation Options Under the Scenarios 151
9.3 Regional Aspects of Bioenergy 152
9.4 Complementing Variable Renewable Energies with Flexible Bioenergy 154
9.4.1 Model Description 155
9.4.2 Results 158
9.4.3 Discussion 161
9.5 Conclusion 163
References 165
Chapter 10: Conclusion and Outlook 166
10.1 Main Insights and Lessons Learnt from This Book 167
10.1.1 Smart Bioenergy in a Nutshell 167
10.1.2 Improving Technologies and Concepts for a More Flexible Bioenergy Provision 168
10.1.3 From Plant Optimization Towards the Optimization of the Overall Energy System 170
10.1.4 Advanced Bioenergy Carriers for Efficient Flexible Provision 172
10.1.5 The Importance of a Sustainable Feedstock Base 172
10.1.6 Future Demands 174
10.2 The Way Forward: Actions Required 176
10.2.1 Policymakers 176
10.2.2 Academia 178
10.2.3 Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) 179
10.2.4 Business 179
10.3 Closing Remarks: A Vision of the Future Renewable Energy Supply: Smart Bioenergy and a Bio-based Economy 180
References 182
Index 183