The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)’s 1.5°C Scenario forecasts that bioenergy will contribute to over 18 percent of the total final energy consumption (TPEC) by 2050, including direct uses (16 percent) and electricity generation (2.3 percent).

To raise awareness of the significance and highlight the critical role of sustainable bioenergy in the global energy transitions, IRENA has issued a joint statement alongside the Clean Energy Ministerial Biofuture Platform Initiative, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Energy Agency (IEA), the IEA Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme (IEA Bioenergy TCP), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

Developed by a Cross-Initiative Coordination Group on Bioenergy and convened by the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP), the statement seeks to address the persistent debates about what role bioenergy should play in support of climate and development goals.

Versatile, storable, and dispatchable

Bioenergy derivatives are versatile, storable, and dispatchable, making them ideal for directly replacing fossil fuels in various sectors, including transport, power and heat production, industrial processes, and clean cooking.

They can complement other renewable sources, thus enhancing the resilience and sustainability of energy systems.

Currently, biofuels are regarded as one of the most feasible options in hard-to-abate sectors, such as aviation and shipping, which require energy-dense carriers.

We must be realistic – our decarbonization targets cannot be met without sustainable bioenergy, especially in hard-to-abate sectors. We need bioenergy to achieve net zero, and only good governance can ensure its sustainable use and practice, said Roland Roesch, Director, Innovation and Technology Centre.

Bioenergy is context-dependent

Since bioenergy sources are intricately tied to geographical, biophysical, and socio-economic factors – particularly in land-based sectors – varied feedstock options for diverse end-uses present unique energy transition pathways in different regions.

This leads to tailored decarbonization strategies that meet the specific needs of different countries.

As depicted in IRENA’s recent bioenergy reports, diverse business models and supply chains highlight the regional intricacies of bioenergy dynamics, especially in emerging markets like Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The benefits and trade-offs of bioenergy systems are context-dependent, requiring careful consideration of local needs and priorities.

When produced with energy-efficient and low-emission technologies, sustainable bioenergy contributes significantly to inclusive energy transitions, particularly in regions where other decarbonization options are either costly or unavailable.

The joint statement emphasizes the crucial role of sustainable bioenergy – derived from a variety of biomass resources – in the bioeconomy.

It can be produced from integrated systems in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and aquaculture, alongside food and bio-based products, or from biogenic waste and residue streams.

What makes bioenergy attractive is its contribution to local socio-economic growth, especially for communities whose livelihoods rely heavily on bioeconomy.

Robust governance is required

In order to maximize the benefits of sustainable bioenergy while minimizing potential risks, robust governance is required.

This includes evidence-based assessments of environmental, economic, social, and political factors, ensuring food and energy security, climate justice, biodiversity stewardship, land and water rights, and alignment with local development priorities.

Principles of nature-based solutions, such as stakeholder engagement and informed consent, are critical in this process. Recognized norms for quality and sustainability are essential for facilitating investments, fair trade, monitoring, and verification.

In summary, sustainable bioenergy plays a vital role in the global energy transitions, supporting climate and sustainable development goals.

Through good governance, bioenergy – as part of the greater bioeconomy – can contribute to addressing risks related to land and resource use, food security, natural ecosystems, and carbon stocks, while promoting equity, justice, and economic competitiveness.

The decarbonized power generated will be supplied through the local power utility AES-Ohio, the University of Dayton, which meets 100 percent of the university’s electricity needs.

This project marks a significant advancement in the University of Dayton’s commitment to sustainable energy, with the potential to reduce its carbon footprint by more than 70 percent.

By capturing wasted heat at Tallgrass’s Rockies Express Pipeline compressor station, Turboden’s solution will contribute to decarbonizing the US oil and gas sector and promote sustainable development.

There’s a growing demand for decarbonized energy, and Tallgrass is committed to identifying existing resources, such as wasted industrial heat, that can produce decarbonized power. We’re confident we’ve identified the right team for this project and look forward to working with Turboden to deliver it for the benefit of our customer, noted Justin Campbell, VP of Power and Transmission at Tallgrass.

A 10 MWe ORC

The facility will feature a 10 MWe ORC system with an air-cooled condenser designed to recover wasted heat from three existing gas turbines.

Known for its high availability and flexibility, Turboden’s solution offers fully automated operations with minimal maintenance costs, while being water-free.

Beyond supporting the University of Dayton’s energy sustainability objectives, the project offers significant benefits for other potential stakeholders.

These benefits include the ability to generate and deliver decarbonized electricity through power purchase agreements (PPAs), enhanced sustainability of operations, and reduced energy consumption.

Additionally, the waste heat to power technology is eligible for various tax credits and incentives under the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

The environmental benefits of this project are profound, with an expected generation of up to 85 GWh of emission-free energy and a consequent reduction of over 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂).

This project exemplifies Turboden’s commitment to advancing sustainable energy innovation toward a cleaner, decarbonized future. The success of this project, along with numerous other projects and opportunities in North America, has led us to consider opening a U.S.-based subsidiary to enhance our operations and presence in the region, said Paolo Bertuzzi, CEO and Managing Director at Turboden.

The IUFRO World Congress is interdisciplinary and integrative in scientific content, a global forum for scientists and stakeholders to discuss technical and societal issues of forest-related research, policy-making, and management.

The opening session included a performance by folk music band Systerpolskan and folk musician Cajsa Ekstav, highlighting the cultural aspects of wood, trees, and forests. Fredrik Ingemarson, Chair of the Organizing Committee, HM King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden, Swedish Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren, John Parrota, President of IUFRO, and Maria Knutson Wedel, Vice-Chancellor, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) – the host organization – held opening remarks.

In his welcome address, HM King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden noted that the last time Sweden hosted the event was in 1929, when “my great-grandfather Gustaf V was King. Back then, the forest played a crucial role in fostering stability in rural areas, providing both economic and social security.”

The most recent forest conference was held in Brazil in 2019. The difference between boreal forests and the Amazon might seem big. But this week, many examples of similarities as well as common challenges will be discussed too. To manage forests sustainably, whether they are in boreal forests or the South, we need certain basics in place to create resilient systems. These include stable institutions like government agencies, robust markets, and solid research to help us make smart decisions supporting a greener future, HM King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden said.

HM The King also highlighted the role that conferences like IUFRO 2024 play in “building bridges between continents and people, addressing common challenges, and showcasing forest solutions for a sustainable society.”

This includes the role of “forests as carbon sinks in helping to combat climate change. Protecting and sustainably managing forests is essential to maintaining their role in capturing carbon.”

Sweden has a proud tradition of sustainable forestry. This includes family forestry, where families manage forest lands over generations. It also involves the unique right of public access, allowing everyone to enjoy the forests. Our hunting and wildlife management practices help keep ecosystems balanced and diverse, which is crucial for protecting nature. Sweden has also created a sustainable countryside through long-term ownership and collaboration among forestry stakeholders, industry, and local communities. This has created stable markets for forest products and services, making forestry a vital part of our economy, HM King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden said.

The Minister for Rural Affairs Peter Kullgren, echoed the sentiments of HM The King while emphasizing the importance of both regional and global cooperation in forestry research while Maria Knutson Wedel, Vice-Chancellor, SLU emphasized the importance of IUFRO for academia, students, and researchers.

Tree-planting ceremony

Founded in 1892, the first IUFRO congress took place in 1893. Since then, congresses have usually been held every five years in different parts of the world.

A tree-planting ceremony was held on June 23, 2024, at the Skansen Open-Air Museum in Stockholm. This event, a longstanding tradition within IUFRO, symbolized resilience and the enduring connection between generations and continents.

It also provides a platform for the host countries to showcase their regional culture and traditions related to forest and tree usage.

We applaud Skansen for their unwavering commitment to forests. This tree-planting ceremony not only celebrated our rich forestry heritage but also paved the way for future generations to appreciate and protect our natural environment. The Skansen venue was the perfect setting for this ceremony, commented Fredrik Ingemarson, Chair of the Organizing Committee.

Oaks and pines

Two oaks and two pines were ceremoniously planted, representing the rich forest culture of northern Europe.

The event featured a renowned choir “Allmänna sången” performance and included speeches from dignitaries representing the City of Stockholm, IUFRO, and Sweden.

We are proud to host this historic event. It not only highlights the importance of our forests but also strengthens the bond between diverse cultures and communities, said Yvonne Nordlind, CMO of Skansen expressing her pride in hosting the event.

The 27^th IUFRO World Congress is set to take place in Nairobi, Kenya.

The study will determine the optimal size of a recovery system that would be the most energy-efficient combined with the bioproduct mill, as well as the cooling and logistical requirements of the system.

The goal is to use the electricity, heat, and steam generated in the bioproduct mill as efficiently as possible so that no waste heat is generated.

This work follows on from the carbon capture study launched in 2023. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture using an amine solution is an existing proven technology that has been used for decades around the world.

However, combining this technology with a pulp or bioproduct mill is progressive.

After the investigation with ANDRITZ, the project will proceed to the pilot phase in Metsä Group’s mill area in Rauma in 2025.

Wood-based CO₂ to replace fossil raw materials

If carbon capture proves viable, a new high-volume wood-based raw material will emerge for the forest industry.

Our goal at Metsä Group is to process northern wood into increasingly valuable products. If implemented, carbon dioxide capture would open up opportunities for a significant new chemical industry in Finland and boost the Finnish hydrogen economy, said Sari Pajari-Sederholm, EVP Strategy at Metsä Group.

Metsä Group generates about 12 million tonnes of wood-based CO₂ annually, which could be used as a raw material for fossil substitutes as the related technology and markets develop.

For example, renewable hydrogen and wood-based CO₂ could be used to produce synthetic methane and methanol which in turn could be used as raw materials in the chemical industry.

The investigation by ANDRITZ and Metsä Group is pioneering work in carbon dioxide capture and the first step towards the production of renewable fuels from wood-based carbon dioxide. Efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions are increasing the demand for renewable fuels, which can be met by the side streams from bioproduct mills, said Klaus Bärnthaler, VP of Sales and Business Development, Carbon Capture at ANDRITZ.

The FY24 CLIMR Lab Call is the largest amount of funding yet and represents coordinated investments from the largest set of DOE program offices.

Announced in November 2023, the FY24 TCF Base CLIMR lab call invited proposals from National Laboratories to advance energy technologies and strengthen existing practices.

The TCF was established by Congress through the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and reauthorized by the Energy Act of 2020 to promote promising energy technologies. The selected projects will simplify commercialization processes, accelerate the development of existing promising technologies, and kickstart the development of new energy solutions.

OTT coordinates the TCF and strengthens DOE’s commercialization partnerships. OTT collaborated with fourteen DOE program offices for the FY2024 CLIMR lab call, including the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO).

BETO-funded CLIMR projects included:

• Decarbonizing and improving the profitability of organic waste treatment through an innovative process and value chain with lead laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory;
• Integrated processing and hydrothermal pretreatment of corn stover into a second-generation ethanol facility with lead laboratory, Idaho National Laboratory (INL), and partner laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Following completion, bp will have the capacity to produce around 50,000 barrels a day of ethanol equivalent from sugarcane. The company operates with an integrated business model that covers the entire production chain through to sales of ethanol and sugar.

At closing, which is expected to happen in the fourth quarter of 2024, bp will own 100 percent of the business.

We are pleased with the way the business is operating and the great work the team has done to become a leader in sugar and bioenergy since we created this joint venture with bp. However, this business is not core to Bunge’s long-term strategy and this transaction will allow us to focus and invest in our core businesses while also further strengthening our balance sheet. bp has been a valued partner to Bunge, and we wish them and the team continued success, commented Greg Heckman, CEO at Bunge.

This second and final monetization event of Bunge’s ownership in the business is expected to yield net proceeds close to US$800 million, depending on the timing of closing and customary closing adjustments.

Closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals.

J.P. Morgan is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Bunge, and Tauil & Chequer Advogados associated with Mayer Brown, is acting as legal counsel.

Grow bioenergy in Brazil

According to bp, the enterprise value of the stake to be acquired is approximately US$1.4 billion.

The acquisition will result in the consolidation of 100 percent of the venture’s financial results, including net debt of approximately US$0.5 billion and lease obligations of approximately US$0.7 billion.

The acquisition meets bp’s expected returns threshold for bioenergy of more than 15 percent and is fully accommodated within bp’s disciplined financial framework, including CAPEX targets of around US$16 billion in each of 2024 and 2025.

bp says that it believes ownership will also “offer the potential to unlock further growth opportunities in the region and to develop new platforms for bioenergy such as next-generation ethanol, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and biogas.”

bp Bunge Bioenergia is widely recognized as a leader in the industry. I am excited by the opportunity for bp to now add further value from our trading and technology capabilities. bp was an early entrant into the bioenergy business in Brazil and we look forward to continuing to grow and develop here, said Emma Delaney, EVP of Customers and Products at bp.

Focusing biofuel development plans

In parallel to this acquisition, bp is scaling back plans for the development of new SAF and renewable diesel projects at its existing sites, pausing planning for two potential projects while continuing to assess three for progression.

This is aligned with bp’s drive to simplify its portfolio, focusing on value and returns.

The bp Bunge Bioenergia acquisition and focus on key biofuel production projects are expected to support the continuing growth of bp’s strategic bioenergy business which includes both biofuels and biogas.

They contribute to bp’s unchanged 2025 targets of delivering around US$2 billion EBITDA from bioenergy and US$3-4 billion across all its transition growth engines.

Focusing our plans to develop new biofuel projects is also driven by value. Taken together, these changes can enable us to deliver the growth and returns we expect from biofuels, but in a simpler, more focused way. This is fully in line with bp’s priorities of driving focus into the business and growing shareholder returns, ended Emma Delaney.

The recently signed agreement to design a biogas plant at Perstorp’s industrial park is a step towards the goal.

The plant’s capacity is planned to be 130 GWh of biomethane aka renewable natural gas (RNG) and 17,000 tonnes of liquid carbon dioxide (LCO₂) per year and is expected to be completed in 2027.

Biogas is an important piece of the puzzle in Perstorp’s efforts to switch to renewable and recycled raw materials, so contributing to increased production of this important raw material is something we are very happy about. We believe that biogas production in Sweden needs to be increased fivefold to satisfy the industry’s needs, and this initiative is a step on the way, said Michael Cronqvist, Site Manager at Perstorp.

The planning process is considering the possibility of connecting the plant to the gas grid to distribute the gas to western Sweden and northern Europe.

We are very pleased to be able to take another step towards our long-term goal and have the opportunity to contribute to the green transition within the industry sector. Perstorp is a pioneer within the Swedish industrial sector as an advocate for biogas, and we are proud to be able to take the next step in this project, said Michael Wallis Olausson, VP of Growth at Biokraft.

The plant will use approximately 300,000 tonnes of substrate per year, of which a large majority is manure and other residues from agriculture and the food industry.

The same amount of processed biofertilizer will also leave the plant and go back to agriculture, where it can supplement or replace fossil fertilizer and contribute to the green transition.

New site

Previously, the biogas plant in Perstorp was planned for another site, however, after positive dialogues with both residents, the municipality, and Perstorp, this possibility within Perstorp’s industrial park was identified.

Perstorp municipality is a very suitable place to build a biogas plant. It is close to northern Europe, has good road connections, and is located in a landscape where there is good access to manure and organic waste from surrounding farms. In the dialogues we had prior to the design of our original site, Perstorp’s industrial park was highlighted as an opportunity and we are happy about that today. Now we have the opportunity to build a larger facility with better scalability and significantly better infrastructure. We have the residents of Perstorp to thank for that, ended Michael Wallis Olausson.

Addressing this issue, a research team at North Carolina State University investigated a potential new textile recycling method.

Led by Dr Sonja Salmon, and funded by EREF, the research has been presented in a Grant Report entitled “Converting Textile Waste to Pumpable Slurry for Biogas Production“.

Deploy enzymatic hydrolysis

By focusing on the transformation of common textile materials like cotton and polyester/cotton blends into biogas through enzymatic hydrolysis, the research delves into a novel approach that not only aims to mitigate the environmental impact of textile waste but also contributes to the generation of sustainable energy resources.

Enzymatic hydrolysis is a biochemical process where enzymes are used to break down complex molecules into simpler ones through the addition of water.

In the context of this research, enzymatic hydrolysis specifically refers to the use of cellulase enzymes to decompose the cellulose in cotton textiles.

By employing enzymatic hydrolysis, the research team successfully separated cotton fibers from polyester fibers and created a pumpable slurry that could be used for biogas production.

Dr. Salmon’s team focused on various cotton and cotton blend textiles, which were processed in different forms to simulate real-world waste.

Effect of dyes and fabric treatments

One of the primary variables studied was the effect of different dye treatments on the hydrolysis process and how they affected the breakdown of cotton fibers into pumpable slurries.

Cotton fabrics were treated with different types of fiber-reactive dyes known for their complex molecular structures that can hinder enzyme activity.

In addition to dyes, the team also explored the impact of other fabric treatments, particularly durable press finishes.

These finishes, commonly applied to textiles to reduce wrinkling, involve the use of cross-linking agents that can significantly impede the enzymatic degradation of cotton.

They assessed the effectiveness of enzymatic hydrolysis in breaking down these chemically treated fibers and explored various pre-treatment methods to enhance the process.

The outcomes demonstrated the necessity of adapting the enzymatic treatment to accommodate the chemical complexity introduced by dyes and finishes.

Several promising findings

The project yielded several promising findings, most notably the capability to convert both dyed and undyed cotton fabrics into slurries under mild conditions (pH 5 and 50°C) within 24 hours.

When tested in lab-scale anaerobic digesters by co-PI Dr. Doug Call’s team, the cotton fiber fragment (CFF) slurries did ultimately produce biogas, although methane production was lower than expected potentially due to a non-acclimated microbial sludge consortium.

This suggests that the method could be viable with more research.

Researchers were able to cleanly separate cotton from cotton blends and synthetic fibers, thereby isolating pure synthetic fibers suitable for recycling.

This not only underscores the efficiency of the process but also its potential to contribute to sustainable textile management.

Another important aspect of the research, led by co-PI Dr Nelson Vinueza, was understanding the fate of dyes and chemicals in the process. The findings indicated that increased enzyme treatments led to higher concentrations of dye-related compounds in the slurries.

However, these levels did not significantly impact the efficiency of the anaerobic digestion process, suggesting the presence of dyes and chemicals will not impede the bioconversion process.

While the initial project’s value proposition focused on biogas generation, a preliminary feasibility assessment suggested that savings from diverting waste from landfills, combined with the value of recycled synthetic fibers or potential value from CFFs, could offer a commercially favorable opportunity for the enzymatic fiber separation process.

Complex problems like textile waste require creative and multidisciplinary solutions. We appreciate the support by EREF that allowed us to form such a team and make tangible progress on new ways to approach solid waste management, said Dr Sonja Salmon.

The implications of this research suggest that future PCTW could be managed by using enzymes to degrade organic fabrics, and the products of that process could be used to generate energy or other manufacturing inputs, and then recover the synthetic fibers for recycling.

This could represent a positive step toward both managing textile waste and generating renewable energy.

This new operation marks Qualitas Energy’s reentry into the Spanish market and represents its first venture into renewable natural gas (RNG) investment within the country.

A 1 TWh per annum RNG project pipeline

At EUR 2.4 billion, Qualitas Energy Fund V stands as the largest private equity fund in Spain and one of the most significant in renewable energy across Europe.

The initial projects have already entered preliminary approval stages and are anticipated to become operational between 2027 and 2028.

Collectively, these projects are set to deliver a production volume of approximately 1 TWh per year, equivalent to the average annual natural gas consumption of over 120,000 households, significantly reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.

Álvaro Pérez has been appointed as Director of Renewable Gases to lead this new business venture.

With over 15 years of industry experience, he brings valuable expertise to the company and will be backed by a team of seasoned professionals with deep expertise in the development, design, and construction of renewable energy assets.

Complement UK RNG project portfolio

In 2022, Qualitas Energy acquired a controlling stake in Acorn Bioenergy, a British company specializing in the production of RNG and biogenic CO₂ through the upgrading of biogas generated in anaerobic digestion (AD) facilities.

Currently, Acorn Bioenergy has a portfolio of 14 AD projects, with construction already underway for two of them.

Once fully commissioned Acorn Bioenergy is expected to become a leading RNG and green-CO₂ platform in the UK.

Qualitas Energy is also exploring investment opportunities in RNG across other regions where it has business operations.

The production and consumption of pellets stagnated worldwide, breaking a two-decade-long trend of uninterrupted growth.

After years of continued growth, 2023 marks the first instance in which the global pellet market underwent a slight contraction. These are not happy news for the sector, said Pablo Rodero, President of the European Pellet Council (EPC) adding that the report “helps market actors understand the underlying causes, allowing them to adapt.”

Europe remains the largest producer and consumer

Despite slight contractions in the market, the European Union (EU) remains the world’s largest pellet producer and consumer. It produces 44 percent of the world’s pellets and consumes 50 percent.

The report finds that the challenges facing the European pellet industry are threefold: higher input prices, falling industrial demand, and a record-warm winter.

Electricity, a key cost for pellet production, remains more expensive following the energy crisis leading to elevated pellet prices.

Higher pellet prices and a volatile energy market have caused power-only producers to significantly scale back on production.

Finally, record-high temperatures during the winter reduced the need for heating, decreasing the demand for pellets.

Growth in residential- and commercial heating

Despite the challenges, the use of pellets for heating in the residential market remained strong.

In 2023 the share of residential and commercial consumption of pellets reached 59 percent, the highest in a decade.

Pellet heating is a good option for households, especially in rural areas rich in biomass with lower connections to the energy system.

Biomass heating reduces heat-related electricity demand at the time of year when renewable electricity production is often lower and less efficient.

By reducing the load on the electricity grid, bioenergy can complement electrification, lower electricity needs, increase energy efficiency, and safeguard the EU’s energy future.

For us as an association, it is now particularly important to reaffirm the image of pellet heating as a reliable, clean, sustainable, and especially price-stable source of heat and to work towards a secure regulatory environment, said Doris Stiksl, CEO of Propellet Austria commenting on the report.

Call for “wise implementation” of the Green Deal

Bioenergy Europe highlights that to fight climate change and increase Europe’s energy autonomy, “the new EU leadership needs to ensure a wise implementation of the Green Deal while continuing to replace fossil fuel with renewables such as bioenergy from wood pellets.”

To that end, Bioenergy Europe has put together three proposals for the new EU leadership “3 Steps Towards the Energy Transition”. The European bioenergy sector is ready to scale up and push forward for a more sustainable, affordable, and innovative EU.

Despite significant progress, our industry’s growth is being stunted by the EU’s continued dependence on fossil fuels. It is imperative that we accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources to stabilize energy prices and combat climate change effectively, commented Jean-Marc Jossart, Secretary General of Bioenergy Europe.