Strategies for the Mobilization and Deployment of Local Low-Value, Heterogeneous Biomass Resources for a Circular Bioeconomy
Schipfer, Fabian; Pfeiffer, Alexandra; Hoefnagels, Ric
(2022) Energies, volume 15, issue 2, pp. 1 - 20
(Article)
Abstract
With the Bioeconomy Strategy, Europe aims to strengthen and boost biobased sectors. Therefore, investments in and markets of biobased value chains have to be unlocked and local bioeconomies across Europe have to be deployed. Compliance with environmental and social sustainability goals is on top of the agenda. The current biomass
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provision structures are unfit to take on the diversity of biomass residues and their respective supply chains and cannot ensure the sustainability of feedstock supply in an ecological, social and economical fashion. Therefore, we have to address the research question on feasible strategies for mobilizing and deploying local, low-value and heterogeneous biomass resources. We are building upon the work of the IEA Bioenergy Task40 scientists and their expertise on international bioenergy trade and the current provision of bioenergy and cluster mobilization measures into three assessment levels; the legislative framework, technological innovation and market creation. The challenges and opportunity of the three assessment levels point towards a common denominator: The quantification of the systemic value of strengthening the potentially last remaining primary economic sectors, forestry, agriculture and aquaculture, is missing. With the eroding importance of other primary economic sectors, including fossil fuel extraction and minerals mining, the time is now to assess and act upon the value of the supply-side of a circular bioeconomy. This value includes the support the Bioeconomy can provide to structurally vulnerable regions by creating meaningful jobs and activities in and strengthening the resource democratic significance of rural areas.
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Keywords: Bioeconomy strategy, Commoditization, Market, Policy, Regional development, Residues, Technology, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Fuel Technology, Energy Engineering and Power Technology, Energy (miscellaneous), Control and Optimization, Electrical and Electronic Engineering
ISSN: 1996-1073
Publisher: MDPI AG
Note: Funding Information: Furthermore, local bioeconomy development is supported for coastal (e.g., Blue Bio-economy grants), urban (Urban Circular Bieoconomy Strategy funding) and rural areas (in national CAP strategic plans). The strategy also aims at piloting carbon farming initiatives to “make carbon sequestration and emission reduction a profitable farming/forestry activity”. Finally, E.U. Bioeconomy policy support facilities (via the BIOEAST initiative) and a European Bioeconomy Forum for M.S. is initiated. Furthermore, and under the Green Deal, the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM), including the Just Transition Fund (JTF), the InvestEU “Just Transition” scheme, and the European Investment Bank (EIB) public sector loan facility will provide support to “reduce regional disparities and to address structural changes in the E.U.” related to the transition towards climate neutrality. In addition, the public–private partnership for circular bioeconomy R&D&D (now CBE JU, former bio-based industries joint undertaking—BBI JU) with potential impacts on biomass mobilization has to be mentioned as an essential tool to foster innovation in regions to mobilize biomass for a circular bioeconomy. Funding Information: 1 Intelligent Energy Europe, 2 European Funds for Regional Development, 3 Innovation & Environment Regions of Europe Sharing Solutions, 4 7th Framework Program for Research of the European Commission, 5 Horizon2020 Funding Program of the European Commission Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
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