By Thijs ten Brinck
To organize my own thinking around hydrogen, I published the Hydrogen Ladder at the beginning of 2019. While the sentiment around hydrogen is too positive for my taste, public opinion on biomass is unqualifiedly negative.
Entire trees deprive themselves of opportunities in a forest
After persistent, sometimes downright waltz campaigns by environmental organizations, supported by activist professors, Half of the Netherlands now only thinks about biomass whole trees that go into the chopper in the US and sail to Dutch coal-fired power stations and heating networks on crude fuel oil.
Opposition parties have been cheering on the environmental movement's frame for some time. In the run-up to the 2021 elections, coalition parties D66, CU, CDA and VVD have apparently also decided that confirm of the negative frame is safer than defending one's own (!) energy policy. Cowardly and frustrating. Instead of creating guarantees for the companies that actually realize the energy transition, politicians are doing it again when it counts. opposite.
The biomass ladder: What is 'allowed' on biomass?
Energy from biomass has many forms, with varying advantages and disadvantages. Just like hydrogen, biomass can both help or harm the transition. Just like hydrogen, burning biomass is much simpler than collecting it sustainably. Just like hydrogen, biomass can be used for all kinds of things, but too scarce to be a solution for everything.
What to do with all the shades of green?
Nuanced thinking about biomass is not new, the best search term is cascade. With the elections approaching, it is especially important to regain nuance in debates surrounding biomass.
De main condition Sustainable biomass use requires that the CO2 absorption by energy crops is at least equal to the CO2 released when the biomass is burned. The biomass ladder Below is a prioritization of the use of the then available biomass. Reasoning from the final vision of the transition, in which the entire world economy may no longer emit any net CO2. For each application I mention possible alternatives, residual flows and opportunities for negative emissions.
Just like the Hydrogen ladder This piece is also emphatically not intended as a guideline. I don't have a monopoly on the truth. In the comments, explain why you think an application should be higher or lower on the ladder. What matters to me is that biomass becomes and remains a topic of discussion for the energy transition, as part of the solution. Because that is biomass.
1.Food, clothing, personal hygiene and medicines
Basic necessities such as food, clothing, soap, disinfectants and medicines are priority number 1 in terms of available biomass and agricultural land. This category is primarily dependent on fast-growing, short-cycle biomass, crops that usually (can) grow again after harvesting within the same year. Alternatives and savings opportunities: On the contrary.
The growing world population and growing prosperity will greatly increase the demand for food. Even if we manage to dampen the need for dairy and meat at the same time. Clothing, care products and medicines that are now synthesized from petroleum will soon also be dependent on renewable raw materials. And that again for a growing world population, which has more to spend. The demand for food, clothing and care products will inevitably increase sharply in the coming decades. Biogenic residual flows: Large but low-quality.
Corn stalks, potato peels, weeds, rotten apples and completely failed crops are not suitable for human consumption. Pigs, chickens and insects make nutritious calories from these remains. But they don't get everything either. The animals, just like us, also produce manure in which (energetic) value still remains. Worn T-shirts, used cooking oil, coffee grounds and toilet paper also belong to the residual flows of this category. Remains of crops, manure and sewage sludge contain a lot of water and little energy. Transporting, fermenting or drying low-energy residues requires energy. Reuse of available residual flows is not always easy and not always useful. Potential for negative emissions: Not my expertise.
By optimizing the water level and plowing organic residues, farmers can stimulate CO2 absorption into the soil. Grazing animals can also contribute to a soil that absorbs carbon. Over-fertilization, pesticides, draining of peat land, clearing of forests for agricultural land and burping cows have a negative effect on the CO2 balance of agriculture. I don't know what the proportions should ideally be.
2.Houses, bridges, newspapers, chairs, boxes and ladders
Houses, furniture and (of course) ladders contain a lot of wood. Wood is also needed for the production of paper and packaging. This category is primarily dependent on trees, which take decades to grow back. Alternatives and savings opportunities: None.
The world population is growing and wants to live more luxuriously, which means the demand for furniture and lumber is growing. Because plastics, steel and concrete are much more expensive in a CO2-neutral economy than today, the share of wood in construction and furniture production will also increase. Also high-rise buildings, bridges and wind turbines will probably have a claim on forestry in the coming years. Digitalization will limit the demand for printing somewhat, but the need for cardboard as packaging will continue to grow. The demand for wood as a raw material is increasing sharply in a CO2-neutral economy. Biogenic residual flows: Large and high-quality.
Where there is mincing, there are chips. Residual wood, sawdust, branches and sometimes (there they are!) even very crooked trees are unsuitable for sawing out a house or ladder and the demand for paper, cardboard, chipboard and wood fiber insulation is not infinite. Furniture and houses also wear out, and paper and cardboard are not infinitely recyclable. The forestry, wood and paper industry and the end use of wood products produce residual flows with a relatively high energy density. Potential for negative emissions: High.
If you cut down a plot of trees and turn it into homes and furniture, the CO2 absorbed by the trees is stored in those homes and furniture. A house or a good cupboard lasts longer than it takes to grow new trees on the same plot. The use of wood as a raw material or building material therefore leads to less CO2 in the air.
3.Plastics, paint, lubricants and insulation
In a CO2-neutral economy, natural gas and oil are no longer the obvious raw materials for plastics, coatings, lubricants and insulation materials. Biogenic fats and oils are very popular, but basically all biomass flows are eligible as alternative input for petrochemicals. Alternatives and savings opportunities: Moderate.
For many applications of plastics, wood, cardboard, ceramics and metals are a good alternative in a CO2-neutral world. However, the consumption of coatings, lubricants and insulation will increase as the global economy grows. Where hydrocarbons remain necessary, synthesis from hydrogen and CO2 (taken directly from the atmosphere) is an option. Biomass as the main source of renewable carbon is still more obvious. Biogenic residual flows: Small but high-quality.
Producing specific hydrocarbons from biomass is complex and energy-intensive. Recycling will be more attractive in an economy with no net CO2 emissions than it is now. Recycling requires energy input, but this can be energy from less scarce sources, such as wind energy, hydropower or nuclear energy. Potential for negative emissions: High.
When refining biomass into petrochemical products, CO2 is released that can be captured and stored.
Because the use of biomass as a raw material must grow, are automatically there too larger residual flows available for bioenergy. All the following categories concern biomass combustion. VThere is no longer any biogenic residual flows after incineration.
4.Peppers, soft drinks, fire brigade, dry ice and heat pumps
Greenhouse horticulture needs CO2 as fertilizer for peppers and tomatoes, Coca-Cola and Pepsi use CO2 for their bubbles and CO2 can be used for fire extinguishers, refrigerated transports and as a refrigerant in air conditioners and heat pumps. Combustion of biomass is the most obvious source of climate-neutral CO2. Alternatives and savings opportunities: Moderate.
These are not sectors that will shrink in the coming decades, but they remain relatively small consumers. The only alternative source of renewable CO2 is CO2 extracted from the air. Electricity and heat from biomass are also useful in horticulture and industry. Combustion then triples in value. Potential for negative emissions: None.
In the current fossil economy, reuse of CO2 counts as negative emissions, because it replaces CO2 from a fossil source. However, we belch the CO2 from peppers and cola back into the atmosphere. The CO2 from fire extinguishers, dry ice and heat pumps also eventually evaporates. In the CO2-neutral economy, renewable CO2 will soon be the only CO2 that is still allowed.
5.Production of green hydrogen or 'golden' hydrogen
All biomass can be gasified into hydrogen and CO2. The hydrogen can then be used for the production of fertilizer, steel and (process) heat or for powering power stations, aircraft or cars. Alternatives and savings opportunities: see Hydrogen ladder.
The same opportunities and objections apply to hydrogen from biomass as to the use of any form of emission-free hydrogen. Read more about hydrogen: The Hydrogen Ladder: What is 'allowed' for hydrogen?.Potential for negative emissions: Huge.
When gasifying biomass into hydrogen, the CO2 that is also created is relatively easy to capture and store in empty gas fields or aquifers. This is how it arises golden hydrogen. Perhaps the best hydrogen available.
6.Storage of CO2 with energy as a by-product (BECCS)
Because global climate policy has failed, negative emissions are necessary later this century. Burning biomass for electricity and/or heat and capturing the CO2 at the chimney (Bio Energy Carbon Capture and Storage, BECCS) leads to negative emissions. Given the relatively limited success of climate policy so far, it is almost certain that we will have to grow and burn entire plots of forest, purely for negative emissions. Alternatives and savings opportunities: Major
The sooner the world implements serious climate policy, the smaller the number of (whole) trees we will have to grow, shred and burn to keep warming within safe limits. Potential for negative emissions: Huge.
The purpose of BECCS is to correct a dangerous concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. The electricity and heat is a welcome side issue.
All the following categories concern combustion of biomass without CO2 capture. There are therefore no negative emissions.
7.Intercontinental aviation and shipping
As an energy carrier for long-distance flights and heavy maritime transport, liquid fuels will probably continue to play a leading role, given their energy density, which is difficult to match. Biomass can provide liquid fuels. Alternatives and savings opportunities: Major
Fly will in a CO2 neutral global economy probably less common are than today. In this CO2-neutral situation, bulk transport of oil, natural gas and coal between the continents is also completely eliminated. Local production of renewable energy, food and goods will further reduce the demand for liquid transportation fuels. An alternative to biofuels are synthetic fuels made from hydrogen and captured CO2.
8. Peak supply of heat and/or electricity
Some biomass is released everywhere and transporting (low-quality) biomass is often not worthwhile. Decentralized thermal power stations – which only step in when wind and solar power, geothermal or residual heat are insufficient – can make good use of this biomass. A wood-burning stove for homes in rural areas also fits into this category. Alternatives and savings opportunities: Substantial
Batteries, demand response, heat buffers, hydropower and hydrogen are good alternatives for the peak supply of heat and electricity and make it possible to save the scarce local biomass for when it is really needed.
9.Continuous supply of steam or process heat
For remote small to medium-sized factories - with access to low-quality biomass - CO2 capture and storage is not worthwhile. Continuous combustion of biomass may be appropriate here. Alternatives and savings opportunities: Substantial
Solar boilers with heat buffers, electric heating on wind or hydropower and small nuclear reactors can also be an excellent alternative to a biomass boiler in remote areas.
10.Road transport, construction equipment and mobility
Biofuel could offer a solution in the long term for all current consumers of petrol and diesel. The disadvantages remain the low efficiency, noise and harmful emissions that are inherent to combustion engines. Alternatives and savings opportunities: Huge
A hydrogen battery or fuel cell will almost always be more attractive for this category than a combustion engine.
11.Continuous supply to the heating network and/or electricity network
Combustion of biomass as a main source of heat and/or power can be profitable in niches. Alternatives and savings opportunities: Huge
The bulk of heat and electricity production will not come from combustion in the CO2-neutral future. For times when combustion is necessary, hydrogen or BECCS is more attractive.
12.Decoration and coziness
A bouquet of cut flowers flown in from a far country in a vase or a good fire in a fire basket on a warm summer evening will certainly remain fun in the future. Just like today, it remains pure waste from an energetic perspective. Alternatives and savings opportunities: None
Enjoy, but arrange and stoke in moderation.
The biomass ladder is now practically upside down
Anyone who knows the current consumption of biomass knows that the largest flows go to the applications at the bottom of the ladder. Food, furniture and paper are still doing well, but other than that most biomass goes to power stations, heating networks and road mobility. Exactly the applications where biomass (in my opinion) cannot or will not play a major sustainable role, in a global economy that is struggling with a scarcity of biomass and agricultural land.
Save for the future
It will take some time before aviation accepts pure biokerosene as a safe fuel. It will take years before biorefinery plays a serious role in the industry. It takes even longer for biomass via CO2 storage contributes to negative emissions. Such applications first require large-scale, reliable deliveries.
Suboptimal applications of biomass, such as heating networks and blending into diesel, help build the crucial biomass supply networks. When electricity production is clean, heating networks switch to electrode boilers. Then today's main boiler serves as a backup for the winter peak. Petrol and diesel cars are already on the decline. The biofuels that are now distributed via filling stations will soon be used for aviation and shipping.
Within the already complex energy transition, the application of biomass will go through several more transitions. Difficult to explain to an audience that screams bloody murder about entire trees in coal-fired power stations. Yet I sincerely hope that serious political parties will still take up the challenge. The energy transition depends on it.
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