BIOMASS ENERGY IN INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES - A VIEW OF THE FUTURE

Biomass fuels currently (1994) supply around 14% of the world's energy , but most of this is in the form of traditional fuelwood, residues an d dung, which is often inefficient and can be environmentally detrimen tal. Biomass can supply heat and electricity, liquid and gaseous fuels . A number of developed countries derive a significant amount of their primary energy from biomass: USA 4%, Finland 18%, Sweden 16% and Aust ria 13%. Presently biomass energy supplies at least 2 ET year(-1) in W estern Europe which is about 4% of primary energy (54 EJ). Estimates s how a likely potential in Europe in 2050 of 9.0-13.5 EJ depending on l and areas (10% of useable land, 33 Mha), yields (10-15 oven-dry tonnes (ODt) ha(-1)), and recoverable residues (25% of harvestable). This bi omass contribution represents 17-30% of projected total energy require ments up to 2050. The relative contribution of biofuels in the future will depend on markets and incentives, on continuous research and deve lopment progress, and on environmental requirements. Land constraints are not considered significant because of the predicted surpluses in l and and food, and the near balance in wood and wood products in Europe . There is considerable potential for the modernisation of biomass fue ls to produce convenient energy carriers such as electricity, gases an d transportation fuels, whilst continuing to provide for traditional u ses of biomass; this modernisation of biomass and the industrial inves tment is already happening in many countries. When produced in an effi cient and sustainable manner, biomass energy has numerous environmenta l and social benefits compared with fossil fuels. These include improv ed land management, job creation, use of surplus agricultural land in industrialised countries, provision of modem energy carriers to rural communities of developing countries, a reduction of CO2 levels, waste control, and nutrient recycling. Greater environmental and net energy benefits can be derived from perennial and woody energy cropping than from annual arable crops which are short-term alternative feedstocks f or fuels. Agroforestry systems can play an important role in providing multiple benefits to growers and the community, besides energy. In or der to ameliorate CO2 emissions, using biomass as a substitute for fos sil fuels (complete replacement, co-firing, etc.) is more beneficial f rom social and economic perspectives than sequestering the carbon in f orests. Case studies are presented for several developed countries and the constraints involved in modernising biomass energy along with the potential for turning them into entrepreneurial opportunities are dis cussed. It is concluded that the long term impacts of biomass programm es and projects depend mainly on ensuring income generation, environme ntal sustainability, flexibility and replicability, while taking accou nt of local conditions and providing multiple benefits, which is an im portant attribute of agroforestry-type systems. Biomass for energy mus t be environmentally acceptable in order to ensure its widespread adop tion as a modern energy source. Implementation of biomass projects req uires governmental policy initiatives that will internalise the extern al economic, social and environmental costs of conventional fuel sourc es so that biomass fuels can become competitive on a 'level playing fi eld'.