From coal to biomass? Bioenergy in Poland
Dr. Mariusz Jerzy Stolarski serves as a full time professor at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland. Currently, Mariusz works in the Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture and the Centre for Bioeconomy and Renewable Energies. He performs research studies in the area of cultivation, productivity, usability of perennial industrial crops, as well as non-edible oil crops for multipurpose utilisation (industrial and energy), as an element of the circular bioeconomy. Mariusz lead the mapping of biomass value chains for improved sustainable energy use in the BSR for the BalticBiomass4Value project.
What role does bioenergy play in Poland and the Baltic Sea Region’s energy system? What are the main trends?
It should be considered that bioenergy plays the most important role among all types of renewable energy sources (RES). In 2017, bioenergy in Poland accounted for 82% of all RES, and in other BSR countries such as Sweden and Estonia, the percentage of bioenergy in the total RES utilised ranges from 55 to 96% respectively. The percentage of utilised bioenergy in RES over the last years has been slightly decreasing due to the development of other RES, especially when considering innovations in wind and sun. However, bioenergy utilisation will still play the biggest role in BSR countries.
What changes do you foresee in Poland when you consider the bioenergy sector? Which bioenergy products will be the most viable? Why?
I think that solid biofuels will still play the most important role in Poland, especially in consideration of wood (in the form of wood chips, pellets or briquettes), as well as straw in some regions. This is due to the biomass utilisation potential that currently exists in Poland. In addition, we have high hopes for the development of agricultural biogas plants due to the very large amounts of various substrates from agriculture and the agri-food industry. Bioenergy technologies can be, and already are, cost-effective, but legal and political aspects have a significant impact on profitability. In addition, it should be added that in Poland the challenge of transforming the new generation into one that utilises renewables for energy production instead of coal. I hope that in the future energy will be harnessed mainly from bioenergy produced from biomass.
There are currently many environmental, economic and social concerns regarding the biomass use for energy production. Do you foresee the implementation of restrictions (prohibitions, taxes, etc.) that would directly influence the renewable energy market uptake?
For now, not a lot of information is available considering such restrictions. In the past, there were very advanced plans to limit biomass imports from long distances, especially from outside the country. I think that due to the very large share of coal in energy production in Poland, modern bioenergy installations for the production of heat and electricity on a large, medium as well as small and individual scale will develop.
What is the main message of your current research?
The main message of my current research is that in Baltic Sea Region countries there is currently a very large potential for biomass utilisation, and a very large quantity of experience in bioenergy production. However, we must learn how to make better use of these resources, taking into account the cascading use of various biomass raw materials, especially in the context of circular bioeconomy. In addition, we must learn how improving local and international cooperation to manage these resources more rationally, will produce a better result.
Bioenergy in Lithuania: Status quo and the future
Dovile Zdanaviciene is Head of the Policy Group of the Climate Change Management in the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania. She studied Environmental Engineering and Energy Engineering / Thermal Engineering at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. Her expertise includes renewable energy and climate change mitigation, development of policy measures.
What role does bioenergy play in Lithuania and the Baltic Sea Region’s energy system? What were the main trends?
Starting last year, the national parliament adopted a new energy strategy, boosting the production and promoting the use of energy from renewable resources. In addition, the efficient use of energy as part of the national strategy has become stronger overall.
By 2030, we will already be seeing the greening of the electricity, heating and transport sectors. However, the main task is to shift to a waste based feedstock use for the production of bioenergy when considering transport because PV and wind resources are already there for the electricity production.
What changes do you foresee in Lithuania when considering the bioenergy sector? Which bioenergy products will be the most viable? Why?
We see problems regarding reaching renewable targets in the transport sector in the future. At this time we are very low in target goals for renewable fuels for transport. As an example, biomethane in transport needs an improved infrastructure, (refilling stations), vehicles (engines) and political regulations, incentives. Due to these issues, we as Ministry together with other ministries are preparing a new draft law for the parliament, in order to establish the framework boosting these new technologies.
There are currently many environmental, economic and social concerns regarding the biomass use for energy production. Do you foresee the implementation of restrictions (prohibitions, taxes, etc.) that would directly influence the renewable energy market uptake?
Indeed, the environmental, economic and social pillars have already been tackled by EU policies and their national implementations. These regulations set the sustainability criteria for the used biomass. In fact, the EU has defined sustainability criteria for biofuels and liquid biofuels in the 2009 Renewable Energies Directive (2009/28/EC) with respect to the protection of climate and biodiversity. Sustainability criteria could be summarised as “no production areas” (e.g. biomass cannot be produced on primary forest, peatlands, wetlands or high biodiversity lands, etc.). Additionally, the RED (2009/28/EC) includes the national overall targets for the share of energy from renewable sources and the rules for calculating GHG impacts producing biomass. Furthermore, sustainability criteria are still being improved through voluntary schemes.
Full report on the analysis of market outlook and future viability of different bioenergy products and value chains in the Baltic Sea Region energy system can be found here.
1# Newsletter BalticBiomass4Value
Dear readers,
welcome to the first BalticBiomass4Value project newsletter!
In this edition of the newsletter you will find information about the scope and objectives of the project, as well as about the project consortium. In every edition we will introduce some of the project partners.
We also keep you informed about up-coming events in the Baltic Sea Region.
We hope you enjoy reading!
In order to download the 1st newsletter press here.
For questions regarding the newsletter, please contact: D.PiedraGarcia@fnr.de
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What are the long-term prospects of bioenergy sector in the Baltic Sea Region?
Dr. Erik Trømborg is a professor of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. His expertise includes forest and energy sector analyses, renewable energy with emphasis on biomass supply. Erik led the analysis of market outlook and future viability of different bioenergy products and value chains in the Baltic Sea Region energy system for the BalticBiomass4Value project. He answered some questions concerning the results of this analysis and the long-term prospects of bioenergy sector in the Baltic Sea Region.
What role does bioenergy play in the Baltic Sea Region energy system?
The use of biomass has become increasingly important, especially the use of biogas and biofuels in the transport sector. There are however differences between countries.
What changes you forecast in the Baltic Sea Region bioenergy sector? Which bioenergy uses will be the most viable in the future?
The heat market is often forgotten in the renewable energy discussions, but represents about 50% of the energy consumption. Increased use of biomass in district heating and CHP plants is an efficient way to reduce GHG emissions and increase the renewable energy shares. There are also good opportunities to install modern wood and pellets stoves in central heating systems and, by extension, to reduce emissions and local air pollution. In a longer perspective, more biomass will be used for biofuels and green chemicals, but wood chips and biogas will play an important role for a secure supply whilst peak loads in the heat and power sector.
Are there significant differences between countries within the Baltic Sea Region in terms of current and forecasted bioenergy use?
Yes, there are significant differences. Latvia, for instance, utilizes more municipal waste and wood chips than its neighbours Estonia and Lithuania. Sweden and Norway have significant higher shares of biofuels in transport than the other countries in the Baltic Sea Region.
There are environmental, economic and social concerns regarding the extensive biomass use for energy production. Do you foresee the introduction of restrictions (prohibitions, taxes, etc.) that would influence your forecasts?
Better utilization of waste, by-products from forest industries, agricultural residues as well as low grade round wood and harvest residues from sustainable forestry represent the main opportunities for more bioenergy production. My concern is rather too few restrictions on fossil fuels and too few incentives for bioenergy.
How could your analysis be useful for different stakeholders in the Baltic Sea Region?
I think policy makers, local communities and the business sector should sit down and discuss the opportunities for increased use of bioenergy. The heat market needs both small scale and large scale solutions that can replace fossil based heating. Furthermore, local based biomass resources’ use can help the regional value chain and development.
Full report on the analysis of market outlook and future viability of different bioenergy products and value chains in the Baltic Sea Region energy system can be found here.
3rd project meeting successfully held in Tartu
On 10th and 11th of October 2019, the BalticBiomass4Value project held a successful meeting at the Estonian University of Life Sciences in Tartu. In the course of this 3rd project meeting, members of the project consortium presented around 30 good practice business cases and discussed about the framework and methodology for sustainable development and dissemination of business models and cases in the Baltic Sea Region.
Additionally, two Estonian enterprises were visited as demonstration of best business case examples. Biometaan Ltd. (http://baltibiometaan.ee/en/) and Mangeni PM Ltd. in the Kõo, Viljandi County, act in concert to use dairy production residues as a feedstock for biomethane production. Ahto Oja is a bioenergy and renewable energy expert and one of the managers of the enterprises. He presented the process fermenting cow manure into biomethane and the synergy of the both companies. Whilst he was tanking up his own car he said happily: “There is the manure and here is the fuel!”.
More best practice examples will be collected during the coming months. Therefore, if you want your enterprise to be part of our support, please contact us here.
Key factors of success in developing sustainable bioeconomy
On 26th September 2019, just several days after the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York, the Science, Policy and Business Forum "Bioeconomy Development Strategies: How to Strengthen the Connection between Economy, Society and the Environment?" was held in Kaunas (Lithuania) as a part of the 9th International Scientific Conference "Rural Development 2019: Research and Innovation for Bioeconomy".
In the event that gathered more than 200 scientists and practitioners from 28 countries, representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture and Energy of the Republic of Lithuania, the Danish Symbiosis Center, the AUGA group and the Lithuanian Biotechnology Association together with other participants discussed opportunities to develop sustainable bioeconomy. Three key factors of success were highlighted:
1. Raising public awareness about environmental benefits of sustainable bioeconomy solutions, establishing and implementing social contracts between producers and consumers;
2. Developing cooperation between different sectors and organisations to form required set of competences and ensure circularity in production processes;
3. Attracting new entrepreneurs to innovate and revitalise traditional bioeconomy sectors.
Full video of the discussion can be found here.
Photos: Vytautas Magnus University
First modelling results discussed in Vilnius
On 18th – 19th June 2019, the BalticBiomass4Value project consortium met in Vilnius (Lithuania) to discuss results of the modelling of bioenergy consumption and biomass potential in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR).
Results of the Analysis of Market Outlook and Future Viability of Different Bioenergy Products and Value Chains in the BSR Energy System were presented by prof. dr. Erik Trømborg from the Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences. Results of this analysis reveal historical developments of bioenergy consumption in the BSR and its drivers, as well as provide forecasts of future biomass use for energy production in countries within the region.
Also, preliminary results of the Mapping of Biomass Value Chains for Improved Sustainable Energy Use in the BSR were presented by prof. dr. Mariusz Jerzy Stolarski from the Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture and the Centre for Bioeconomy and Renewable Energies of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (Poland). This analysis shows biomass production capacities in the BSR countries and gives estimates of the potential of different biological resources (straw, manure, etc.) to be used for energy purposes in these countries.
Photos: Diego Piedra Garcia
Project kick-off meeting in Kaunas
On 28 February – 1 March 2019, representatives of the BalticBiomass4Value project partners and associated organisations gathered in Kaunas (Lithuania) to kick-start the project.
The BalticBiomass4Value project brought an opportunity to build the transnational partnership representing 8 countries of the Baltic Sea Region to support the replacement of fossil fuels with renewable biomass based energy sources and to promote innovative circular bioeconomy production approaches. The Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme allowed the Baltic-Nordic network of organisations from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden and Norway working together in other sustainable bioeconomy development initiatives to start cooperation with relevant institutions from Germany, Poland and the Russian Federation.
The triple helix model of innovation is firmly established in the BalticBiomass4Value project, since the partnership includes academic and research institutions, sectoral agencies, competence centres, business associations and utility companies, national and regional public authorities.
Photos: Deimena Montvydaitė
