Research project CP/53 (Research action CP)
Context
A series of recent international and EU policy initiatives will have a strong impact on the Belgian energy picture on the short to medium term. For instance, the EU directive on the promotion of the use of bio-fuels or other renewable fuels for transport (2003/30/CE), demands from the member states that they ensure that a minimum proportion of liquid bio-fuels and other renewable fuels are placed on their markets. In line with these policy initiatives, several regional and federal policy measures have been implemented. As a consequence, bio-energy routes are investigated by many investors, policy makers and energy companies, and a real take-off is expected in the next few years. Hence, the time is right to start gaining sufficient insight to allow policy makers to optimize this market tendency i.e. to maximize energy, environmental and socio-economic aspects.
Project description
Objectives
The overall objective is to analyze the ecological, micro-economic and socio-economic sustainability of the most promising large scale biomass routes in Belgium. The project will include:
- a full assessment on short and medium term possibilities on bio-fuels for the transport sector;
- a comparison of the potential and sustainability of the chains in Belgium versus imported biomass, liquid bio-fuels or intermediate products;
- comparison of liquid bio-fuel chains with bio-CHP and bio-electricity chains.
Methodology
A. Literature survey and selection of relevant bio-fuel chains
Bio-fuel chains consist of production, logistics, conversion and end use. Since there are many possible biomass feed stocks, logistical steps, conversion routes and types of end use systems, in theory there is a very wide range of different bio-fuel chains. A selection of relevant bio-fuel chains under Belgian circumstances will be made, based on resource, import, demand and existing industrial and agricultural infrastructures. In addition the technological development of the chains will be taken into account to identify short term (2005-2010) possibilities and medium term perspectives (2020).
B. Technological analysis of the selected bio-fuel chains
Production. An assessment will be made of the biomass production potential in Belgium. Since it is also the objective of this research to compare internal production with imports, the analysis will be extended with a full literature overview on the biomass potential in the EU and the global biomass potential. This will supply information on the question whether there is enough biomass available in the EU and in the world to supply the quantities demanded in the short, the medium and the long term in Belgium.
Logistics. Biomass transportation represents an important step to consider in terms of energy requirements, environmental impact and cost. Existing figures from literature will be applied to the Belgian conditions for transport means (water, road, rail) and types of biomass considered.
Conversion technology. A key issue when using biomass for energy purposes is its ‘global energy usage’ or ‘global efficiency’. Main aim is to supply detailed data on costs, material use and emissions for the selected conversion technologies.
C. Quantitative sustainability assessment
For the environmental sustainability, a full life-cycle assessment (LCA) will be performed on the selected bio-fuel chains according to the ISO 14040 standard. For the micro-economic sustainability, a full bio-energy chain cost overview will be generated. For the socio-economic sustainability, an analysis of socio-economic impacts (employment, GDP, needed imports, country trade balance) will be performed.
D. Broad qualitative assessment of sustainability of biomass import
Beside the quantitative sustainability assessment, there are more relevant aspects under the broad umbrella of sustainability that will be assessed regarding the import of biomass i.e. competition on land between food and bio-fuel production, economic impact in exporting country, amongst others.
Interaction between the different partners
All three partners in the project will contribute to most of the tasks and will therefore work in close collaboration. VUB will coordinate the project and focus on bio-CHP and bio-power chains and the assessment of biomass conversion into final energy carriers. UCL will coordinate the selection of relevant liquid bio-fuel chains and will assess the biomass potential in Belgium and biomass logistics and micro-economic sustainability. 3E will coordinate the literature survey, perform the LCA studies for environmental sustainability, the socio-economic sustainability studies and coordinate the overall integration of the obtained results.
Expected results and/or products
The results will be structured into a multi-criteria overview in which both quantitative and non quantitative data will be compared. Conclusions will be presented on the economic, ecological and social sustainability of bio-fuels in Belgium, including a comparison of this option with bio-heat and power.
The project team envisages the following dissemination strategies:
- the organization of an open workshop to present and discuss the obtained results with Belgian actors in the field;
- a continuous interaction with concerned policy makers by making intermediate presentations to members of platforms with an important role in policy preparation (VALBIOM, FRDO, Biomassa platform);
- website of the project.
Partners
Activities
VUB
- Department of Mechanical Engineering
- Externally firing (of biomass) in GT plants
- Biomass combustion and gasification
- CHP and micro turbines
- Advanced cycle analysis (pinch analysis, exergy analysis)
UCL - ECOP
- Maize: growth models, environmental impact
- Buckwheat: physiology
- Potato: stress resistance
- Liquid bio-fuels: system analysis
- Willows: environmental impact, system analysis
3E nv
- Photovoltaic solar energy
- Active solar thermal energy
- Wind power
- Hydro power
- Energy in buildings
- Energy and environmental policy
Contact Information
Co-ordinator
Jacques De Ruyck
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Vakgroep Werktuigkunde
Pleinlaan 2
B-1050 Brussel
+32 (0)2 629 23 93
+32 (0)2 629 28 65
jdruyck@vub.ac.be
http://werk.vub.ac.be
Partners
Jean-Marc Jossart
Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL)
Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Grandes Cultures (ECOP)
Place Croix du Sud 2, bte11
B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
Tel: +32 (0)10 47 34 55
Fax: +32 (0)10 47 47 45
jossart@ecop.ucl.ac.be
http://www.ecop.ucl.ac.be/ecoz/
Geert Palmers
3E nv
Verenigingsstraat 39
B-1000 Brussel
Tel: +32 (0)2 217 58 68
Fax: +32 (0)2 219 79 89
geert.palmers@3E.be
http://www.3E.be
Users Committee
- Lieven Van Lieshout Ministry of Flemish Region - Department of Natural Resources and Energy
- Serge Switten Ministry of Walloon Region, DGTRE
- Yves Schenkel VALBIOM, non profit organization for the promotion of non-food uses of biomass
- Frank Snijders ODE Vlaanderen, non profit organization for the promotion of renewable energy in Flemish Region
- Michel Huart APERE, non profit organization for the promotion of renewable energy in Walloon and Brussels Capital Region
- Peter Van Acker OVAM
Liquid biofuels in Belgium in a global bio-energy context : final report
Brussels : Belgian Science Policy, 2006 (SP1662)
[To download]
[To order]
Liquid biofuels in Belgium in a global bio-energy context : annex I & J
Brussels : Belgian Science Policy, 2006 (SP1663)
[To download]
Vloeibare biobrandstoffen in een globale context van bio-energie in België : samenvatting
Brussel : Federaal Wetenschapsbeleid, 2006 (SP1664)
[To download]
Biocarburants liquides dans un contexte global de bio-énergie en Belgique : résumé
Bruxelles : Politique scientifique fédérale, 2006 (SP1665)
[To download]
Liquid biofuels in Belgium in a global bio-energy context : summary
Brussels : Belgian Science Policy, 2006 (SP1666)
[To download]
