Bioenergy - Biomass and Food Security

Bioenergy

Bioenergy is one of the renewable energy sources in the world and globally it contributes to 10% of the world primary energy supply. Biomass is any organic matter that contain energy produced by photosynthesis. Biomass energy exists in plants and is transferred to animals and their waste through the food chain. As such, biomass energy sources are food crops, wood products, agriculture and forest residues, aquatic plants (oil-rich algae), the organic matter of wastes and even the gases from landfills (methane). Due to its low cost and abundancy, biomass is widely used in developing countries mostly for cooking and heating purposes. The use of biomass energy ranges from fuel for transportation, power production and bioproducts. (IEA, 2015)

The term biofuels is refers to biomass such as corn grain or soybeans that is converted to liquid fuel used for transportation. Biopower results from the combustion of wood chips, corn and some other types of waste to generate heat or the conversion to liquid or gaseous fuels to generate electricity. Bioproducts such as plastic, solvents and even fertilizers are produced when biomass is converted into chemicals that are usually made from petroleum.  (NREL, 2014)

In 2010, biomass use reached 56 EJ, divided as 62% in residential and commercial buildings sector, 15% in industries, 9% transportation, 8% for power and district heating sector. Among all biomass consumptions, the use of liquid biomass in the transport sector experienced the largest growth rate, 5.4% annual growth between the years 1990 and 2000 and a majorly increased annual rate of 19.2% between the years 2000 and 2010(IRENA 2014).

As per the IRENA Global Renewable Energy Roadmap (RE Map 2030), Bioenergy has the potential to contribute to up to 60% of the global renewable energy supply by 2030. (IRENA, 2014) As a matter of fact, as per the International Energy Agency (IEA), biofuels can greatly decrease CO2 emissions resulting from the transportation sector and can play an important role in improving energy security if it is produced sustainably. (IEA, 2015) In addition, the use of bioenergy could further grow in developing countries with advanced technologies for cooking, producing heat and supplying off-grid biomass electricity.