Journal of Fundamentals of Renewable Energy and Applications
Open Access

The role of bioenergy when considering the transition to a low-carbon economy

5^th World Bioenergy Congress and Expo

June 29-30, 2017 Madrid, Spain

Isabel Cabrita, Ricardo Aguiar and Ana Andrade

Directorate-General of Energy and Geology of Ministry of Economy, Portugal

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Fundam Renewable Energy Appl

Abstract :

The increase in energy demand worldwide has been a source of concern. Security of energy supply is a matter of governmental concern along with the environmental impact, namely with regard to climate change. This justifies policy implementation towards decarbonization. However, such a transformation to a low carbon-economy requires a change in the whole system. The shift to renewable resources has to ensure systemâ�?�?s sustainability where resource supply, use and distribution need to be planned in an integrated efficient manner. Bio-resources provide flexibility, given the possibility of generating energy and biofuels/bioproducts in the same manner as a petroleum-based feedstock, with the addition to providing food-chain goods. Hence, bioenergy could play a central role but needs to be controlled in an integrated manner to guarantee that the system is sustainable. Forest, agriculture and waste efficient management involve various governmental bodies and stakeholders, which leads to the need to a strong coordination procedure. Governments need to identify the potential in terms of endogenous resources and to foresee the needs to have external supply sources as well as the potential to export derived fuels, products and final energy in the context of the European free market. The complexity can be high, given the diversity related to countriesâ�?�? particular conditions and because other non-biomass energy technologies are also evolving rapidly, as well as user demand characteristics. This calls for case studies, energy systemsâ�?�? modelling and evaluation as a basis for decision taking. In addition, accelerating application of new concepts and technologies developed needs to be ensured to demonstrate their feasibility whilst continuing efforts to reduce technological costs. As direct State Aid is becoming more difficult to justify, official certification schemes, regulatory measures and R&D support can be useful as policy options. Models should include both objective parameters as subjective ones to obtain an â�?�?optimum pathâ�?.

Biography :

Email: isabel.cabrita@dgeg.pt