What it is..What it’s for..Why..

Kevin Brown30th March 2004

Bioenergy Strategy Group

What it is..

• Set up by DCMNR, SEI provide the secretariat

• Members:

Kevin Brown (Chair) Brian Motherway (Secretary)Pearse Buckley, SEI Malcolm Dawson, DARDNIKevin Healion, Tipperary Inst Paul Kellett, REIOPaul Kelly, Teagasc Joe Kennedy, WeyerhaeuserDavid Kidney, BALCAS Katherine Licken, DCMNRColm O’Bric, DAF Joe O’Carroll, CofordMicheal Young, DEHLG

What it’s for..

• ‘The primary objective of the BSG is to consider the policy options and support mechanisms available to Government to stimulate increased use of biomass for energy conversion, and to make specific recommendations for action to increase the penetration of bioenergy in Ireland.’

Scope..

• Wastes (residues from forestry and related industries, recycled wood, agricultural residues and agrifood effluents, manures, the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, etc.)

• Purpose grown energy crops including short rotation forestry, miscanthus grass, etc.

• The use of biomass as fuel for generation of both electricity and heat are within the remit of the BSG.

• The use of biomass for production of liquid biofuels (usually for transport fuels) is excluded at this time.

Outputs..

• Published report

- road map for development of bioenergy

- staged, achievable targets

- recommendations for action

Why..

• Kyoto targets – 60Mt CO2 equivalents

In 2001, emissions were 70Mt CO2• EU RES-E Directive, indicative target of 13.2% RElec

by 2010• National Climate Change Strategy – 1Mt reduction in

CO2 from RE

Why..

• ‘Increased utilisation of biomass for energy use could make a significant contribution to the reduction of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions whilst increasing security of supply in Ireland (through fuel diversity). Estimates show there to be significant indigenous resources of biomass in Ireland though current usage is low.’

• Much biomass resource is “waste”• Bioenergy means jobs

How much is there?

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

PJ/a

2001

Energy Crops

Non-organic MSW

Landfill Gas

Wet Organic Residues

Dry Agricultural Residues

Wood Residues

Practical Energy Resource

Future practical resource..

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

PJ/a

2001 2010 2020

Energy Crops

Non-organic MSW

Landfill Gas

Wet Organic Residues

Dry Agricultural Residues

Wood Residues

Why..

Bioenergy is indigenous, renewable and greenhouse gas neutral – and it can reduce waste issues and create jobs

• The indigenous resource is growing, even if we don’t stimulate it

• The 2020 practical resource is 5% of the expected primary requirement

• If all converted to electricity, 2Mt CO2 avoided

Why..

We can’t afford not to optimise the use of bioenergy

We