When it comes to socio-political decisions and defining targets, it is important to be able to assess the availability of biomass within a geographical entity at a given time, which is usually in the future. Biomass potential studies are usually developed to serve this purpose. These use scenario-based approaches to calculate the biomass potential.
Countless biomass potential studies have been published in recent years, but the results of these studies sometimes differ by as much as a factor of 10, even if the geographical reference is the same. This poses a risk in terms of ambitious political objectives, because although biomass is a renewable resource, it is a scarce commodity due to limited agricultural and forestry land. There is also competition for space with the food and animal foodstuff sector, which limits the areas available for non-food use (for ethical reasons).
ifeu has conducted a series of studies on global, national and regional biomass potentials. During the BEE project, ifeu was responsible for the analysis of published biomass potential studies.
Contact
Guido Reinhardt
PhD Mathematician, Chemist, Biologist
Scientific Director
+49 (0)6221 4767 31
guido.reinhardt@ifeu.de
Nils Rettenmaier
Dipl. Geoecology
+49 (0) 6221 4767 24
nils.rettenmaier@ifeu.de
SYMBIOSIS
SYstemic Mobilisation for Joint Biodiversity and Infrastructure
SYMBIOSIS aims to integrate biodiversity throughout the life cycle of railway infrastructure projects and to promote a holistic approach.
NABIS - Scientific monitoring of the implementation plan for the National Bioeconomy Strategy
Technical support in the creation of the biomass strategy
Bioeconomy does not lead to an improvement in sustainability per se. The availability of biomass as a renewable raw material is limited. How can its use be prioritised according to sustainable…
PyroMar
What could new sustainable ways of producing diesel and heavy fuel oil look like? What are the new raw materials? Pyromar is about producing “defossilised”, low-sulphur maritime bunker fuels from…
Long-term Scenarios for the Transformation of the Energy System in Germany (Long-term Scenarios III)
Will the future energy system be based on electricity, hydrogen or other synthetic fuels? The course is being set today. The scenarios are calculated in high resolution using a complex modelling…
UNRAVEL
Unique Refinery Approach to Valorise European Lignocellulosics
The UNRAVEL project aims to develop advanced pre-treatment, separation and conversion technologies for complex lignocellulosic biomass. The technology relies on pre-extraction, fractionation using…
BioMates
Reliable Bio-based Refinery Intermediates
The four-year project aims at manufacturing intermediate products made from wood-like or stalk-like non-food biomass, e.g. from agricultural residues and perennial grasses, which are suitable for…
COSMOS
COSMOS aims at reducing the dependence on imported coconut and palm kernel oils and fatty acids and on castor oil as sources for medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA, C10–C14) and medium-chain polymer…
Long-term and climate protection scenarios for the transformation of the energy system in Germany
Commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), the projects Long-term Scenarios and Strategies for the Expansion of Renewable Energy in Germany and Effects of…
Biomass Energy Europe (BEE)
BEE project concentrates on harmonising the biomass resource assessments in Europe and its neighbouring countries.
Ecologically Optimized Extension of Renewable Energy Utilization in Germany
The objective of the research project is to develop a strategy for an ‘ecologically optimised’ expansion of renewable energies in Germany. Based on a detailed life cycle assessment, in a first step…
Sustainable Biomass Potentials in the German State of Baden-Württemberg
While the energetic use of biomass is a positive development, the recent rapid increase of biomass production may also have negative impacts on soil, water and nature protection.
Publications
H. Fehrenbach, J. Giegrich, S. Köppen, B. Wern, J. Pertagnol, F. Baur, K. Hünecke, G. Dehoust, W. Bulach, K. Wiegmann:
BioRest - Verfügbarkeit und Nutzungsoptionen biogener Abfall- und Reststoffe im Energiesystem (Strom-, Wärme- und Verkehrssektor) (BioRest - Availability and utilisation options of biogenic waste and residual materials in the energy system (electricity, heat and transport sectors)). Study commissioned by the German Federal Environment Agency (together with IZES and Öko-Institut). UBA Texte 115/2019, Dessau-Roßlau, 2019.
G. Reinhardt & N. Rettenmaier:
Biomass potential analysis. In: R. Diaz-Chavez & Y. Evans: Social and Policy Assessment of the COSMOS Chain. Report within the project (COSMOS), funded by the European Commission, London, 2019.
N. Rettenmaier:
Biomassepotenzial. In: B. Pfluger et al.: Langfristszenarien für die Transformation des Energiesystems in Deutschland - Modul 1: Hintergrund, Szenarioarchitektur und übergeordnete Rahmenparameter. Studie im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Energie (zusammen mit Fraunhofer ISI und Consentec GmbH), Karlsruhe/Aachen/Heidelberg, 2017
D. Thrän, O. Arendt, J. Ponitka, J. Braun, M. Millinger, V. Wolf, M. Banse, R. Schaldach, J. Schüngel, S. Gärtner, N. Rettenmaier, K. Hünecke, K. Hennenberg, B. Wern, F. Baur, U. Fritsche, H.-W. Gress:
Meilensteine 2030 - Elemente und Meilensteine für die Entwicklung einer tragfähigen und nachhaltigen Bioenergiestrategie. Schriftenreihe des Förderprogramms „Energetische Biomassenutzung“ Band 18, Leipzig, 2014
N. Rettenmaier:
Biomasseproduktion: Ökologische Grenzen und Bedeutung der Landwirtschaft. Sitzung der BAG Landwirtschaft (Bündnis‘90/Die Grünen), Berlin, 10. Oktober 2014.
N. Rettenmaier:
Herausforderungen bei der Ermittlung von Biomassepotenzialen. 2. Forum Rohstoffe / Raw Materials Forum, Evonik-Campus, Essen, 11. September 2012.
N. Rettenmaier:
Biomass resource assessments – results, differences and harmonization. 20th BASF Forum on Renewable Resources, Ludwigshafen, 21. Mai 2012.
N. Rettenmaier:
Biomassepotenzialstudien: Ergebnisse, Unterschiede und Wege zur Harmonisierung. „Potenziale in der Biomassenutzung“ – 3. Energiekolloquium der Chemie-Gesellschaften (DECHEMA), Frankfurt/M., 19 Januar 2012.
N. Rettenmaier, S. Köppen, A. Schorb et al.:
Status of Biomass Resource Assessments – Version 3. Bericht im Rahmen des Projektes „Biomass Energy Europe“ (BEE), gefördert durch die Europäische Kommission, Heidelberg, 2010.
W. Peters, Z. Hagen, S. Schicketanz, A. Vetter, J. Beck, K. Gödeke, G. Reinhardt, N. Rettenmaier, S. Gärtner:
Flächeneffektive Bioenergieerzeugung aus Naturschutzsicht. Studie im Auftrag des Bundesamts für Naturschutz (zusammen mit Peters Umweltplanung / Bosch & Partner GmbH und Thüringer Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft), Berlin/Dornburg/Heidelberg, 2010 (in German).
N. Feldwisch, T. Lendvaczky, N. Rettenmaier, S. Häfele, S. Köppen, D. Meyer-Marquart:
Agro-Energieerzeugung in der Region Stuttgart – Chancen und Risiken. Studie im Auftrag des Verbands Region Stuttgart (zusammen mit Ingenieurbüro Feldwisch und Büro für Umwelt- und Regionalentwicklung). Schriftenreihe Verband Region Stuttgart Juni 2010 / Nummer 28, Stuttgart, 2010 (in German).
S. Bringezu, H. Schütz, P. Schepelmann, U. Lange, J. von Geibler, K. Bienge, K. Kristof, K. Arnold, F. Merten, S. Ramesohl, M. Fischedick, P. Borelbach, S. Kabasci, C. Michels, G.A. Reinhardt, S. Gärtner, N. Rettenmaier, J. Münch:
Optionen einer nachhaltigen Flächennutzung und Ressourcenschutzstrategien unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der nachhaltigen Versorgung mit nachwachsenden Rohstoffen. Studie im Auftrag des Umweltbundesamts (zusammen mit Wuppertal Institut und Fraunhofer UMSICHT). UBA Texte 34/2009, Dessau-Roßlau, 2009 (in German).
G. Reinhardt, A. Detzel, S. Gärtner, N. Rettenmaier, M. Krüger:
Biomass as a ressource for the chemical industry: Key findings of an ifeu study and coclusions of the VCI. Study sponsored by the Fachvereinigung Organische Chemie in the VCI, Heidelberg, 2007.
G.A. Reinhardt, K. Scheurlen (IUS), S.O. Gärtner:
Nachhaltige Biomassepotenziale in Baden-Württemberg, Kurzgutachten. Gutachten gefördert durch den BUND-Landesverband Baden-Württemberg, Heidelberg 2005 (in German).
J. Nitsch, W. Krewitt, M. Nast, P. Viebahn, S. Gärtner, M. Pehnt, G. Reinhardt, R. Schmidt, A. Uihlein, C. Barthel, M. Fischedick, F. Merten:
Ökologisch optimierter Ausbau der Nutzung erneuerbarer Energien in Deutschland. Studie im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit (zusammen mit DLR Stuttgart und Wuppertal Institut), Stuttgart/Heidelberg/Wuppertal, 2004 (in German).