The Emerging Role of Biomass in Complementing a Renewable Energy Portfolio: A Review

Abstract

Plant materials throughout the world, i.e. biomass, can provide annually roughly 18 x 10¹⁵ Watt-hours (6.5 x 10¹³ MJ) of energy, considering just the residues from agriculture and forestry. However, at least part of that amount has higher-valued uses, including being made into durable products, thereby keeping their carbon content from contributing to global warming. This review considers circumstances under which it may be advantageous to use biomass resources, either alone or in combination with other renewable energy technologies – such as solar and wind energy – to meet society’s energy needs, especially for electricity, heating, and transportation. There is a rapidly expanding pool of published research in this area. To slow climate change, rapid maturation of the most promising technologies is needed, followed by their widespread and early implementation. Of particular interest are synergistic combinations of technologies, including the use of solar energy and biomass together in such a way as to provide hydrogen, heating, and electricity. Another need is to use biomass to make high-energy-density liquid fuels, including aviation fuels, diesel, and naphtha. Although some proposed schemes are complicated, biomass is expected to be gradually implemented as a growing component of installed renewable energy capacity in the coming years.