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By 2030, biomass energy will meet 20% of global energy demand
IRENA report highlights the important role that biomass energy will play in the near future, satisfying 20% of the world's energy needs and drastically reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.
Biomass energy may soon increase to nearly 60% in the renewable energy mix globally available, therefore meeting 20% of the world's energy needs by 2030. This is what emerges from IRENA report, an international agency for renewable energy, promoting actions that facilitate the transition of its Member States towards a sustainable future.
The "Global Bioenergy Supply and Demand Projections for the Year 2030" examines the biomass potential in world regions and with different technologies for a rapid and sustainable increase of this renewable resource, considered as vital by the organization itself, now oriented towards its doubling within the renewables mix. By 2030, in fact, as the survey points out, the energy derived from biomass could cover about 1/5 of the world energy consumption.
According to the Director of Innovation and Technology at IRENA, Mr. Dolf Gielen, "Sustainable bioenergy has the potential to be a game-changer in the global energy mix", and also "Sustainably sourced biomass, such as residues, and the use of more efficient technology and processes can shift biomass energy production from traditional to modern and sustainable forms, simultaneously reducing air pollution and saving lives".
The use of this energy source, biomass precisely, would drastically reduce global CO2 emissions and slow down the pace of deforestation.
How is that possible? Just reusing agricultural residues and waste and sustainable forestry products, currently already converted to biomass, respectively, for a 40% (the former) and 30% (the latter). If these percentages will be maintained or enhanced in the future, deforestation may probably stop, the waste of agricultural land and drinking water reduced, as well as the harmful CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, limited to 450ppm path, which is the target appointed to hold 2°C increase in global warming.
The increasing global interest towards this renewable resource is also shown by a recent survey published by Arpa Umbria in Italy, on four biomass power plants within the region. The study shows how emissions of harmful gases (mainly PM10 and NOX), due to the combustion of biomass, are rather insignificant, as far as permitted by law, that is, unlike more common fuels in use.
This certainly bods well for the future of renewable energy and the planet itself, but it must be accompanied by the world’s population adaptation to the benefits guaranteed by this resource: by 2030, the research states, instead of using 2/3 of the energy produced from biomass for heating or cooking, as it does now, a great amount will also be destined to energy production and transport.
The "Global Bioenergy Supply and Demand Projections for the Year 2030" examines the biomass potential in world regions and with different technologies for a rapid and sustainable increase of this renewable resource, considered as vital by the organization itself, now oriented towards its doubling within the renewables mix. By 2030, in fact, as the survey points out, the energy derived from biomass could cover about 1/5 of the world energy consumption.
According to the Director of Innovation and Technology at IRENA, Mr. Dolf Gielen, "Sustainable bioenergy has the potential to be a game-changer in the global energy mix", and also "Sustainably sourced biomass, such as residues, and the use of more efficient technology and processes can shift biomass energy production from traditional to modern and sustainable forms, simultaneously reducing air pollution and saving lives".
The use of this energy source, biomass precisely, would drastically reduce global CO2 emissions and slow down the pace of deforestation.
How is that possible? Just reusing agricultural residues and waste and sustainable forestry products, currently already converted to biomass, respectively, for a 40% (the former) and 30% (the latter). If these percentages will be maintained or enhanced in the future, deforestation may probably stop, the waste of agricultural land and drinking water reduced, as well as the harmful CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, limited to 450ppm path, which is the target appointed to hold 2°C increase in global warming.
The increasing global interest towards this renewable resource is also shown by a recent survey published by Arpa Umbria in Italy, on four biomass power plants within the region. The study shows how emissions of harmful gases (mainly PM10 and NOX), due to the combustion of biomass, are rather insignificant, as far as permitted by law, that is, unlike more common fuels in use.
This certainly bods well for the future of renewable energy and the planet itself, but it must be accompanied by the world’s population adaptation to the benefits guaranteed by this resource: by 2030, the research states, instead of using 2/3 of the energy produced from biomass for heating or cooking, as it does now, a great amount will also be destined to energy production and transport.
