The European R&D Programme (Strategy for the Future)

Abstract

In the long term, biomass will assume more and more the role of a strategic, renewable, industrial-energy source. Beyond the year 2000 agro-forestry biomass could provide the Community with an alternative energy source of the order of 10% of the EC’s needs, as well as covering 100% of its industrial timber needs (200 million m³/y). There is an urgent need to implement large biomass projects (Regional projects) to appreciate the full value of its benefits, which are mainly:

• (a) the energy contribution;

• (b) the socio-economic contribution,

• (c) the improvement of the environment.

Multi-sectoral integration of large market activities (conventional agro-industry, pulp for paper, compost from biomass) with the bio-energy sector will offer higher profitability and faster penetration of the bio-energy activities.

Among the different conversion technologies, pyrolysis appears today very promising and better suited to the implementation of large Regional integrated biomass projects. The liquid fuel so produced, real bunker oil substitution, has more strategic value.

The Commission will, in future, promote the most promising R&D activities in the following sectors:

• production of biomass and improvement of productivity;

• harvesting, transport, drying, storage;

• biochemical conversion processes;

• thermochemical conversion processes, in particular:

  • advanced pyrolysis R&D;

  • development of European modular pyrolysis unit;

  • catalytic process;

  • standard definition and pollution control;

• integrated pilot-project;

• large integrated biomass schemes.

In a very short period of time, but with a continuous effort, we succeeded in attaining a guaranteed industrial pyrolysis technology (Mannesmann-Consortium Alten) from an R&D activity. Greater improvement can be obtained in 4–8 years. This technology will constitute the basic technology for implementation of integrated agro-energy biomass schemes.