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

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.