Title:
Impacts of the German Biomass Policy on the Electricity Production from Solid Biofuels
Author(s):
Sauter, P., Billig, E., Witt, J.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
By 2020, 35% of the German electricity production shall be covered by renewable energy (currently about 20%). To achieve this objective, the federal government passed the Renewable Energy Act (EEG). Currently, solid biomass plays an important role by having a share of 9% of renewable electricity production while providing combined heat and power (CHP). Since the enactment of the EEG in 2000, the number, as well as the installed capacity of biomass CHP-plants increased more than tenfold. During the first two versions of the EEG (EEG 2000 and EEG 2004) mainly larger biomass CHP-plants were installed. Later on (EEG 2009), progressively smaller biomass CHP-plants were built. This is due to the increasing scarcity of fuel wood as well as technological advances in power generation of medium and small biomass CHP-plants - initially in the use of ORC turbines and most recently in the development of thermochemical gasifiers with gas engine attached. Altogether, in 2011 German biomass CHP-plants produced 9.6 TWhel electricity, financially supported by the EEG. Therefore, more than 7.8 million tbone dry wood was used (except the fuel which is used in CHP-plants of the pulp and paper industry). It is expected, that mostly small heat-operated biomass CHP-plants will be installed and other types of biomass, such as straw, will be used in the future more often.
Keywords:
electricity, forest residues, solid biofuels, waste wood, combined heat and power plants (CHP), EEG
Topic:
Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability
Subtopic:
Biomass strategies and policies
Event:
20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
5DO.10.3
Pages:
2162 - 2165
ISBN:
978-88-89407-54-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/20thEUBCE2012-5DO.10.3
Price:
FREE
