Study «Biomass fuel - second Generation »

Migros trucks are powered by fuel produced from organic waste. Source: www.biomasseenergie.ch

Introduction

Why use fuels from biomass?
Traffic causes a substantial proportion of the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Even with more economical vehicles and higher fuel prices, it could well be a very long time before this leads to less carbon dioxide (CO2) being released into the atmosphere, because motorisation is still on the rise in countries which have up to now been “undersupplied”. It is suggested that the use of fuels obtained from biomass is one possible way of achieving more sustainable mobility. While it is true that burning such bio- or agro-fuels creates CO2, the plants from which these fuels are produced will previously have extracted CO2 from the atmosphere in order to grow. The overall CO2 balance should therefore be more favourable than is the case with fossil fuels. This balance does, however, depend heavily on the type of biomass that the fuel is produced from and which methods are used in the process.

Opportunities and risks of fuels from biomass
The use of bio- or agro-fuels should reduce the consumption of fossil energy sources and cut the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere. It is, however, becoming increasingly apparent that the positive effects are smaller than hoped. In addition, the large-scale production of “first generation” biofuels often means using plants such as maize that would be suitable for food. Nevertheless, there are widespread incentives being created to raise the proportion of biofuels in energy consumption. The “second generation” of biofuels should be more expedient. Wood, straw and vegetable waste are used as raw materials. This does not therefore compete with the production of food, and should help to achieve a better eco- and energy balance. With regard to commercial applications, however, there is still a considerable need for research and development.

Why a TA-SWISS Study on this subject?
Biofuels are now hailed as an effective solution, but there are nevertheless some doubts, because a number of production methods are still under development, and it is unclear which of these will ultimately prove most suitable for large scale production. A detailed exposition, taking current research findings into account, is therefore essential to enable these technologies to be fully assessed. In addition to questions of energy efficiency and eco-balance (effects on CO2 emissions), this will also have to consider economic and social aspects in detail and demonstrate the potential for future developments.

Aims of the study
The aim of this study is to analyse the potential and risks involved in using second generation biofuels. How can such fuels be used in Switzerland? What is their potential, taking into account sustainability criteria, and the situation in the European Union and in developing countries?

The different sources of biomass, production technologies and forms of energetic use should be compared on the basis of sustainability criteria. It should also be shown which actors are important in the respective applications.
The potential and impact of complete value-added chains of second generation biofuels should be assessed. What are the ecological, economic and social effects? How do they compare with other renewable forms of energy?
The sustainability of various different future scenarios should be examined for Switzerland from an ecological, economic and social viewpoint.
How great is the potential for energy from biomass on the national/international scale? What is the situation with regard to the cost-effectiveness of the technologies, and how much mobility can be generated thus?
Which strategies have to be followed for producing, trading and using second generation biofuels in order to guarantee the sustainability of such systems? What development mechanisms can be used to support these strategies? Recommendations must be formulated on the basis of a wide-ranging overall assessment, and directed at decision makers, especially politicians.

Results

Results of the study
Executive summary

Recommendations
Seven proposals for exploiting the potential of biofuels

Procedure

Method

The study essentially comprises four modules:

Module 1: Researching the literature and analysing the actors: the current state of knowledge on the production and use of biofuels will be explored by research of the literature. This will focus on the following elements: supply of biomass, production of biofuels, energetic utilisation, actors and development mechanisms.
Module 2: Prospective eco-balance or life cycle assessment (LCA). This will enable the value-added chain of second generation biofuels to be analysed. Its elements (cf. Module 1) will be assessed using a catalogue of criteria, from the ecological, economic and social viewpoint.
Module 3: Scenario-based analysis of future prospects. This will involve the analysis, discussion and assessment of various future scenarios. The scenarios will be developed with the actors identified, and will cover in particular the components of land use, technology and products.
Module 4: Overall assessment and recommendations. This will also consider the development mechanisms for biofuels in the EU and other globally important factors (e.g. availability of usable agricultural space) and other ways of using biomass. This should enable a comprehensive assessment of sustainable mobility.

Timetable
Commencement of project: autumn 2008 | completion: spring 2010

Downloads

Media information
On the move with wood and manure - Local biofuels for sustainable mobility
By 2030, biofuels and electro-mobility could replace 41 per cent of the fuel Switzerland needs. Hence the latest study by the Centre for Technology Assessment TA-SWISS. But it will only happen under optimum conditions and if vehicles consume an average of just four litres of fuel per 100 kilometres.

Parliamentarian information
Not currently available

Newsletter
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Summary
Journey into the green - How far can we go with second generation biofuels?
Abridged version of the TA-SWISS study «Future Perspectives of 2nd Generation Biofuels»

Study

Rainer Zah, Claudia Binder, Stefan Bringezu, Jürgen Reinhard, Alfons Schmid, Helmut Schütz.
Future Perspectives of 2nd Generation Biofuels.
TA-SWISS,Centre for Technology Assessment (ed.).
vdf Hochschulverlag AG der ETH Zürich, 2010.
ISBN 978-3-7281-3334-2
eBook and print version: www.vdf.ethz.ch

Article and Broadcast
29.06.2010, RSR La 1ère, le 12h30 (French)

21.07.210, DRS 2, Kontext - Nachhaltiger Treibstoff - mit Holz und Gülle? (German)

Events

Press Conference -
How far can we go with second generation biofuels?
Presentation of TA-SWISS' study «Future Perspectives of 2nd Generation Biofuels»
Tuesday, the 29th of June 2010, 10:00 - 11:00, Federal Palace Media Centre, Bern

Contacts

Supported by

Centre for Technology Assessment TA-SWISS
Swiss Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE
Swiss Academy of Sciences SCNAT
Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences SATW

Persons participating

TA-SWISS Project Supervisors

Dr. Adrian Rüegsegger, TA-SWISS. e-mail

Project mandataries

Dr Rainer Zah, Empa, St. Gallen (Project Leader)
Prof. Dr Claudia R. Binder, University of Zurich
Dr Stefan Bringezu, Wuppertal Institut, Germany
Dr Christoph Ritz, ProClim, Bern

Supervisory group

Dr Ruedi Jörg-Fromm, TA-SWISS Steering Committee (Chairman of support group)
Rosmarie Bär, alliance sud, Bern
Dr Marco Berg, Climate Cent Foundation, Zurich
Prof. Dr Richard Braun, BioLink, Bern
Dr Reto Burkard, Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture FOAG, Bern
Heinz Hänni, Swiss Farmers’ Union SBV, Brugg
Prof. Dr Christian Hardtke, University of Lausanne
Dr Sandra Hermle, Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE
Roger Löhrer, Touring Club Schweiz TCS, Emmen
René Longet, equiterre, Geneva
Prof. Dr Wolfgang Nentwig, University of Bern
Dr Gerhard Stucki, Balewa AG, Liestal
Dr Samuel Stucki, Paul Scherrer Institut PSI, Villigen
Dr Roland von Arx, Swiss Federal Office for the Environment FOEN; Bern

Communication

Susanne Brenner, TA-SWISS email

Links

Additional links
Not currently available

Last update: 29.07.2010 nbz