IEA Bioenergy, Task 40: Sustainble International Bioenergy Trade - Securing Supply and Demand

01.08.2008 - 31.01.2010
Assigned research project
Due to the increase in the global consumption of fossil fuels and the related rise in energy prices and greenhouse gas emissions, there is a strengthened focus on the sustainable use of biomass for energy all over the world. Although there are some sectors of the bioenergy market (e.g. biomass-, solar heating) in Austria that are developing very well, there is still a lot that has to be improved, especially if Austria wants to achieve its ambitious aims of reducing the green house gas emissions and to secure the energy supply. Besides the development of domestic biomass potentials it will be very important to develop international biomass potentials as well. Studies suggest that there are additional biomass potentials in Austria (especially agricultural biomass). These potentials could be used to serve the domestic and the international energy markets. The production of wood pellets in Austria is an example for a sector that up to now could largely benefit from exports. As targets for the reduction of green house gas emissions are very ambitious in Austria, it won¿t be possible to reach these targets with the domestic biomass potentials on their own. Therefore an increase in imports of biomass from other countries could occur in the future. Since many developing countries have a large technical potential for biomass production this could offer an opportunity to export bioenergy. However, to secure the social, ecological and economic sustainability of biomass trade and markets in the future this requires the development of criteria, project guidelines and certification systems supported by international bodies.

People

Project leader

Project personnel

Institute

Contract/collaboration

  • FFG - Österr. Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft mbH

Keywords

GermanEnglish
Biomassebiomass
Potentialepotentials

Publications