Global bioenergy: problems and prospects. (11th May 2007)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moriarty, Patrick; Honnery, Damon
• Is Part Of: International journal of global energy issues. Volume 27:Number 2(2007)
• Page Start: 231
• Page End: 249
• Publication Date: 2007-05-11
• Subjects: bioenergy potential -- carbon cycle -- climate change analysis -- electricity generation -- energy analysis -- earth system analysis -- future uncertainty -- transport fuels -- liquid fuels -- biofuels -- woody biomass -- renewable energy -- water availability; Power resources -- Periodicals; 333.79
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-7118

Abstract

This paper explores the future global potential for bioenergy. We use energy analysis, and more generally climate change effects, as our criteria for evaluation. Since widespread use of new bioenergy is probably decades away, our evaluation attempts to take into account likely future conditions. Previous research displays large variations in estimates of both energy ratio and technical potential. We find that some feedstocks for bioenergy are already attractive from both a monetary and climate change perspective. But for energy plantations, water availability, rather than land availability, will drastically limit the scope for energy crops, and thus for bioenergy overall.