Role of biogenic waste and residues as an important building block towards a successful energy transition and future bioeconomy – results of a site analysis

Abstract

<jats:p xml:lang="en">Renewable energies – especially wind and solar – have grown remarkably in recent years, but bioenergy is still the most important renewable resource worldwide and in Germany. In contrast to the situation in many other countries, bioenergy in Germany is often based on energy crops. As a result of changing political frameworks, the German bioenergy industry has to use alternative substrates as biogenic waste and residues and to implement more efficient utilization pathways. Biogenic waste and residues can cover in Germany 7 to 9% of the current total primary energy consumption. In the federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, more electricity is produced than consumed. This means that the federal state exports electricity to other German regions or abroad, assuming grid bottlenecks do not prevent this. The share of fluctuating wind and solar power is still increasing. Without stabilization by coal power plants, the electrical network could be destabilized by those sources. The presented case study of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania shows that there are opportunities to contribute to a stable network through the use of bioenergy. Besides the supply of electricity, thermal energy at different temperature levels, as well as fuels for transportation, are also provided by biomass. Around 22% of the annual energy consumption of the federal state could be covered by biogenic waste and residues (based on the technical fuel potential). The figure is currently 7.3%. This shows that there is room to extend bioenergy generation and the use of biogenic waste and residues in the bioeconomy without impacting food production.</jats:p>

Analysis of the Circular Economic Production Models and Their Approach in Agriculture and Agricultural Waste Biomass Management

“…As indicated in other studies, the prioritization of the terms “sustainability” and “sustainable development” in both models ratifies the connection between the CE and the CB as well as their common goal of harmonizing the economic, environmental, and social objectives. These two models are allies for sustainability [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 31 ].…”

“…Finally, the net about the CE CEPM incorporates the term “bioeconomy” and the word net of axis BE includes the term “circular economy”, which indicates that both models are integrated and/or complementary [ 6 , 31 ].…”

“…By observing the net developed from the keyword co-occurrence analysis ( Figure 10 ), it can be noted that the term “bioenergy” is the most relevant. In fact, 19 percent of the articles appearing focus on the use of AWB to produce renewable energy [ 31 , 37 , 44 , 45 , 174 ] ( Figure 11 ). The terms “fertilizers” and “manures” also stand out in this net, as proven by the fact that 10 percent of the articles are about the production of fertilizers from agro-industrial by-products and their use to improve the characteristics of the cultivation soil [ 175 , 176 ].…”

“…The European Union believes that a sustainable bioeconomy is the renewable segment of the CE [ 11 , 30 ]. Both models are closely linked and they are complementary, with both aimed at sustainability [ 6 , 31 ]. They share common thematic axes, i.e., biomass, bio-based products, and food waste as areas of an intervention [ 6 ].…”

“…Similarly, agricultural waste represents an important supply in the biological-based economy [ 43 ]. Many studies have shown that this type of biomass, in addition to having great energetic potential [ 23 , 31 , 44 , 45 ], can be used to manufacture a broad variety of bioproducts, chemicals, and food products [ 31 , 37 , 43 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ]. In 2013, 17 percent of the dry matter created by primary agricultural waste generated in Europe was used as raw material for the bio-based sectors and bioenergy.…”