European Biomass Demand to Grow 44% by 2020
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Renewable energy policy in Europe will generate an increase in lignocellulosic biomass demand of 44% between 2010 and 2020, according to a new report by RISI, Brussels, Belgium. The European Biomass Review, which covers the EU27 countries combined with Norway and Switzerland, reports that the increased use of biomass will be driven principally from the energy sector, but also from the industrial and residential sectors.
The key to the future development of European biomass markets resides in the region's supply potential and how well it can mobilize new sources of supply, such as forest residues, agricultural residues, and energy crops, the report notes. Three scenarios for the mobilization of new supply sources by 2020 are included for each region, and a cost-curve analysis for each region and each scenario illustrates the implications for biomass pricing and imports.
While technologies such as wind, solar, and geothermal are developing rapidly, lignocellulosic biomass is currently the largest renewable energy source (RES) and remains attractive due to its relative abundance and reliable supply, according to the study.
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