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According to the American Web-based journal Biofuel Digest, 13 American countries, 12 Asia-
Pacific countries, 11 African countries, the European Union countries and two other European countries have all adopted regulations requiring the use of biofuels. World demand will be dominated by Europe, the United States, China and Brazil.35
The European Union’s goal is for 20% of its total energy consumption should come from renewable sources by 2020, including 10% in the transportation sector.36 The current target is for
all fossil fuels sold to contain 5.75% of biofuel. In 2013, it was proposed that the portion of biofuels used as raw materials in food resources should be limited to 6%.
European Union member countries also have their own “domestic” requirements for biofuel use. One country – Italy – is aiming to require the use of 0.6% of second-generation fuels by 2018. Stimulated by these targets, the industrial pellet markets in the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany are currently undergoing strong growth.
In the United States, the Clean Power Plan (2014) is designed to reduce GHG in the electricity generating process. This could have repercussions for the bioenergy market. Already, most American states (30) have a regulated target for electricity generated from renewable resources (the Renewable Portfolio Standard) and seven others have voluntary targets. Wind energy, solar energy, geothermics, biomass, biogas and municipal waste are all qualified as renewable sources. The United States has also adopted the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which sets requirements for mixing of different types of biofuels in the country’s transportation fuels. The ultimate goal of the RFS is for 36 billion gallons (136 billion litres) of biofuels to be used by 2022. Until then, if technology development matures, 16 billion litres should be available from cellulosic sources. Corn ethanol will be limited to 15 billion litres annually.
Eleven American states have chosen instead to adopt biofuel use requirements for their own territories,37 and some have used the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) mechanism.
In Canada, Environment Canada has introduced a regulation requiring importers and producers of automobile fuel to include 5% and 2% of renewable content respectively in gasoline and diesel fuel.
In recent years, all the provinces to the west of Québec, from Ontario to British Columbia, have adopted requirements for the use of renewable content in gasoline and diesel fuel sold within their territories.38
35LANE, Jim (2013), Biofuels Digest, Biofuels mandates around the world: 2014. [Online]
biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2013/12/31/biofuels-mandates-around-the-world-2014/ (Consulted on January 15, 2015).
36EUROPEAN COMMISSION, [Online] Csis.org/ (Consulted on January 15, 2015).
37CENTER FOR CLIMATE AND ENERGY SOLUTIONS, Biofuels: Incentives and Mandates. [Online]
http://www.c2es.org/us-states-regions/policy-maps/biofuels (Consulted on January 16, 2015).
BOX 6
SCANDINAVIAN INITIATIVES
In Sweden, bioenergy accounts for nearly 30% of the energy portfolio, and 85% is derived from the forests. Since fossil fuels have virtually been eliminated from electricity and heat generating processes, transportation is Sweden’s biggest challenge in terms of greenhouse gas reduction. In 2009, the country, with 9.5 million inhabitants, set itself the goal of ensuring that 10% of all energy used for transportation in 2020 would come from renewable sources. It achieved its goal in 2012. Sweden aims to have a vehicle fleet that is completely independent of fossil fuels by 2030, and to be a carbon neutral country by 2050. Biogas accounts for a significant percentage of the renewable energies used for transportation in recent years.
The government has taken several steps to support bioenergy supply and demand:
Renewable fuels are exempt from tax, and the renewable fuel mixture requirements have been compulsory since 2014.
Service stations selling more than 1 million litres must offer replacement fuels.
The most important signal sent by Sweden is undoubtedly its Carbon Tax, which has been applicable since 1991. In 2012, it was 118 €/tonne!
The high cost and shortage of biofuel supplies is forcing Sweden to invest in research and development. Economic development is one of its strategic goals.
As for Norway, which has 5 million inhabitants, its aim is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% from their 1990 levels by 2020, and to become carbon neutral by 2050, if its example is followed by other countries. Norway’s energy profile is similar to that of Québec. Roughly 99% of its electricity is generated hydraulically, and this renewable energy is used massively in buildings. Fossil energy is prohibited in residential buildings. As is the case for Québec, transportation in Norway still uses mostly fossil fuels.
A transportation agency has been set up in Norway to reduce GHG emissions from the transportation sector. A 5% renewable content has been mandatory in all fuel since 2009, and may be increased to 10% in the future.
As is the case in Québec, biomass accounts for 10% of the country’s total energy use. Norway is seeking to increase the portion of renewable energy in its total energy consumption to 67.5% by 2020 (up from 60% in 2005), despite the fact that it is the world’s third-largest exporter of petroleum.
Norway also relies extensively on research and development to achieve its ambitious goals. Second-generation fuels and biogas from farms and the municipal sector may be good solutions.
Sources :
GOVERNMENT OF SWEDEN (2014), Energy Use in Sweden. [En ligne] [sweden.se/society/energy-use-in-sweden] (Consulted on January 30, 2015).
INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY (2013), Energy Policy of IEA Countries – Sweden - 2013 Review. 182 p. INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY (2011), Energy Policy of IEA Countries – Norway - 2011 Review. 146 p.
BOX 7
THE EXAMPLE OF GÖTEBORG ENERGI IN SWEDEN
Göteborg Energi is a public municipal company in the energy field. Its project, GoBiGas, produces renewable natural gas on a commercial scale. Residual forest biomass is gasified and the syngas obtained as a result is methanized catalytically. The renewable natural gas is distributed via Sweden’s natural gas distribution grid. In Phase 2, the factory will produce electricity and the residual heat will be used to fuel an urban heating network. Göteborg Energi aims to produce enough renewable gas to power 100,000 vehicles in 2020. The city has 50 of the country’s 100 natural gas stations. The country as a whole has 40,000 gas-powered vehicles.
Source: GOBIGAS – GÖTEBORG ENERGI, Biogas production with good performance [Online] [gobigas.goteborgenergi.se/En/Biogas_through_gasification] (Consulted on January 15, 2015).
The MERN’s Biomass Heating Support Program has supported roughly 40 biomass conversion projects in Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, replacing approximately 2 million litres of fuel oil per year.
Until quite recently, projects to convert from fossil fuels to residual forest biomass could also obtain financial assistance under a MERN residual forest biomass energy conversion program.
Biomethane
Natural gas
Natural gas grid
Industrial customers Cogenerating and urban heating Road transportation