Creating Markets for Renewable Energy Technologies EU RES Technology Marketing Campaign

Creating Markets for Renewable Energy Technologies EU RES Technology Marketing Campaign

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, largely in response to uncertain fuel supply and efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emis- sions, bioethanol (along with biodiesel) has become one of the most promising biofuels today and is con-sidered as the only feasible short to medium term alternative to fossil transport fuels in Europe and in the wider world. The current EU commitment under Directive 2003/30/EC on the promotion of biofuels for transport set a target of 5.75% for all transport fuels by 2010. The recent European Commission renewable energy roadmap has now increased this to 10% by 2020.

There is great political and media attention now focu-sed on biofuels and the issues related to food securi-ty, food prices, effects on biodiversity and perceived CO2 emission advantages over fossil fuels. Provided that farmers and plant operators adopt sustainable energy crop production, thoughtful management and planning as well as sourcing (where available) ener-gy needs for bioethanol production from waste plant residues, then there should be no negative environ- mental effect. On the other hand job creation and the development of rural economies is an important benefit of biofuel production. The problems of food prices and market changes cannot easily be conclu- ded to be due to one factor. For example the price of oil can affect prices for biofuels. The global market price of sugar has a known impact on the price and production level of bioethanol.

Bioethanol is seen as a good fuel alternative because the source crops can be grown renewably and in most climates around the world. In addition the use of bioethanol contributes to reducing CO2 emissions. This is achieved because in the growing phase of the source crop, CO2 is absorbed by the plant and oxy- gen is released in the same volume that CO2 is pro-duced during the combustion of the fuel. This creates an obvious advantage over fossil fuels which only emit CO2 as well as other poisonous emissions. In the 1970s, Brazil and the USA started mass production of bioethanol - grown from sugarcane and corn respec-tively. Smaller scale production started more recen-tly in Spain, France and Sweden mostly from wheat and sugar beet.

In recent years the concept of the bio-refinery has emerged, whereby one integrates biomass conver- sion processes and technology to produce a variety of products including fuels, power, chemicals and feed for cattle. In this manner one can take advantage of the natural differences in the chemical and structural composition of the biomass feed stocks.

The Commission document "An EU Strategy for Biofuels" reports on this concept of the "bio-refine-ry" within the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and it will give it high priority support. The RESTMAC project ("Creating Markets for Renewable Energy Technologies EU - RES Technology Marketing Campaign") aims to develop and employ a compre- hensive and well thought-out thematic approach to encourage the uptake of selected RES technologies in the market. In the framework of RESTMAC project, this brochure will present information about the pro- duction of bio-ethanol and its co-products, but will also focus the use of bioethanol and it’s development in Europe.

Download full seminar papers At
http://www.enjineer.com/forum