Bioenergy

The term bioenergy refers to the energy produced using solid, liquid and gaseous biomass products. Hence, one might reffers to biomass as a renewable energy source, based on number of products of plant and animal origin. Biomass is the biodegradable fraction of products, waste / by-products and residues from agriculture (including substances of animal and plant origin), wood industry, as well as the biodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal waste.It can be directly converted to energy by combustion and thus producing steam for heating in industry and households and gaining energy in smaller thermal power plants. Alcohol fermentation is so far the most advanced chemical conversion of biomass. Biogas is the result of fermentation without presence of oxygen consists of methane and carbon and can be used as fuel, and other modern procedures of energy biomass include pyrolysis, gasification and getting hydrogen.

Therefore, biomass products can be classified in three groups:

  -   Robust - wood, bark, wood waste, leaves - in various forms, mainly fine-grained (chips, granules) or compacted (pellets, briquettes) in order to simplify manipulation;

   -  Biofuels - various oils or alcohols, as substitutes for conventional liquid fuels, especially suitable for use in existing internal combustion engines - biodiesel, ethanol;

  - Biogas - a byproduct of the decomposition of organic matter, usually on rubbish dumps, large dunghill on farms, etc.

The main advantage of biomass compared to fossil fuels is less harmful emissions and less waste waters. Additional advantages are also disposal and recovery of waste and residues from agriculture, forestry and timber industry, reducing imports of energy, investment in agriculture and undeveloped areas and increase the security of energy supply. It is anticipated that by mid-century, contribution of biomass in energy consumption wil bee between 30 and 40 percent. For instance, in 1998 from the use of biomass, Sweden and Finland obtained 18% and 10% energy, respectively.

Biogas

In last decade, one might notice trend of continuous increas in number of biogas plants. At this very moment, there are more than 3000 plants in Europe, with more than 500 garbage disposals which are valorizing biogas. Annual production of these plants is well above 2500 ktoe (Kilotonne of Oil Equivalent), and that is about 5% of the total energy produced from biomass in Europe. United Kingdom is a leading manufacturer of useful energy from biomass with more than 900 ktoe or 39% of European production. This energy is obtained from more than 400 plants.

In 2000, Germany produced approximately 525 ktoe, and today Germany holds second place in Europe. In Germany, the greatest progress biogas gained from agriculture. On third place is France with 167 ktoe per year. The aim of the European Union is 15 Mtoe (Megatonne of Oil Equivalent) of annual biogas production, thus to achieve the required annual growth of at least 30%.

Biofuels

Biofuels are made up of two distinct sectors: ethanol and biodiesel. Ethanol is used as an additive to gasoline engines, and biodiesel as diesel engines. Some motors permit using the pure ethanol or biodiesel, but it is limited by state regulations.

The amount of ethanol produced per year has increased from 47,500 tons in 1993 to 191,000 tons in 2000. The main producer of this fuel is France with 91,000 tons produced in 2000. Spain is in second place with 80,000 tons. Next is Sweden with 20,000 tons. Biodiesel production has increased even more. From 55,000 tons in 1992 rose to 700,000 tons in 2000. And in this field, France is leading with 47%, or more thna 350,000 tons. Germany holds second place with more than 250,000 tons. In the EU, only three more countries produce biodiesel fuels: Italy, Austria and Belgium.

Energy of Wood

In the European Union, aproximately 60% of primary energy from renewable energy comes from wood. That large part is comes from traditional exploitation of forest potentials. France produces most primary energy from wood. In the year 2000, almost 10 Mtoe of energy was obtained in this way. Sweden (8.3 Mtoe) and Finland (7.5 Mtoe) also significantly use energy from wood. Although thermal consumption (heating households, heating water) represents main part of energy, part of wood energy is converted in electricity. In 1999, the European Union thus produced nearly 17.5 TWh of electricity.