Search

Der Ausbau der Windenergie an Land verursacht räumliche Zielkonflikte, etwa zwischen der Minimierung von Stromsystemkosten, dem Anwohnerund Naturschutz oder der interregionalen Gerechtigkeit. Wo in Deutschland in welchem Umfang zukünftig Windräder installiert werden sollten, um die Energiewendeziele zu erreichen, hängt daher maßgeblich davon ab, wie diese Kriterien gewichtet werden. Die vorliegende Studie verdeutlicht mithilfe eines Planspiels, dass es unter Expertinnen und Experten keine allgemein akzeptierte Rangfolge von Kriterien für die räumliche Verteilung des Windenergieausbaus an Land gibt. Die Ergebnisse des Planspiels zeigen zudem, dass alle Expertinnen und Experten Gerechtigkeit bei der interregionalen Verteilung des Windenergieausbaus als wichtig erachten. Es bestehen jedoch unterschiedliche Vorstellungen darüber, wie genau interregionale Gerechtigkeit zu verstehen ist. Die Studienergebnisse unterstreichen einmal mehr die Wichtigkeit transparenter und partizipativer Verfahren für Standortentscheidungen bei der Windenergie an Land. The deployment of onshore wind energy involves spatial trade-offs, e. g. between the minimisation of energy system costs, the mitigation ofimpacts on humans and biodiversity, and interregional equity concerns. The weighting of these criteria is decisive to determine where wind turbines should be installed in the future to attain Germany's energy transition targets. The results of a simulation game played with experts illustrate that there is no unanimously agreed ranking of criteria to guide the spatial allocation of onshore wind energy. Experts agreed that interregional equity concerns should matter for the spatial allocation of wind turbines. However, they also revealed quite different understandings of what constitutes a spatially equitable interregional allocation. These results underpin once more the importance of transparent and participatory decision-making for onshore wind turbine siting decisions.

The deployment of onshore wind power involves spatial sustainability trade-offs, e.g., between the minimization of energy system costs, the mitigation of impacts on humans and biodiversity, and interregional equity concerns. We analyze challenges arising for decision-making if wind power generation capacity has to be allocated spatially in the presence of such trade-offs. The analysis is based on a participatory multi-criteria analysis that involved stakeholders in Germany. Stakeholders were asked to play a serious game during which they had to allocate wind power generation capacity to German states. The results of the serious game illustrate that there is no unanimously agreed ranking of sustainability criteria among the participating stakeholders. They disagreed not only on the weights of different criteria but also their definition and measurement. Group discussions further revealed that interregional equity concerns mattered when generation capacity was allocated to states. Yet, stakeholders used quite different concepts of interregional equity, including approaches of both distributional and commutative justice. The results support the importance of transparent, multi-level and participatory approaches to take decisions on the spatial allocation of wind power generation capacity.

The deployment of onshore wind power involves spatial sustainability trade-offs, e.g., between the minimization of energy system costs, the mitigation of impacts on humans and biodiversity, and equity concerns. We analyze challenges arising for decision-making if wind power generation capacity has to be allocated spatially in the presence of such trade-offs. The analysis is based on a game developed for and played by stakeholders in Germany. The results of the game illustrate that there is no unanimously agreed ranking of sustainability criteria among the participating stakeholders. They disagreed not only on the weights of different criteria but also their definition and measurement. Group discussions further revealed that equity concerns mattered for spatial allocation. Yet, stakeholders used quite different concepts of equity. The results support the importance of transparent, multi-level and participatory approaches to take decisions on the spatial allocation of wind power generation capacity.

The expansion of renewable energy technologies, accompanied by an increasingly decentralized supply structure, raises many research questions regarding the structure, dimension, and impacts of the electricity supply network. In this context, information on renewable energy plants, particularly their spatial distribution and key parameters—e.g., installed capacity, total size, and required space—are more and more important for public decision makers and different scientific domains, such as energy system analysis and impact assessment. The dataset described in this paper covers the spatial distribution, installed capacity, and commissioning year of wind turbines, photovoltaic field systems, and bio- and river hydro power plants in Germany. Collected from different online sources and authorities, the data have been thoroughly cross-checked, cleaned, and merged to generate validated and complete datasets. The paper concludes with notes on the practical use of the dataset in an environmental impact monitoring framework and other potential research or policy settings.

In the context of transformative energy policy frameworks, such as the German “Energiewende”, state and federal agencies, regulators, and country planners need reliable data on the energy system infrastructure to make substantiated decisions about line routing and extension. The decision-making processes are accompanied by interdisciplinary research efforts in the areas of energy system planning and modelling, economic viability, and environmental impact, e.g., visual amenity or potential impacts on species. Proved data on the spatial distribution of the electricity transmission and distribution network can inform these efforts, in particular when combined with key technological parameters, like installed capacity, total size, and required space. Without these data, adequate assessments of potential impacts, e.g., the collision of birds with overhead lines, are not possible. However, no such comprehensive dataset exists for Germany. The dataset produced in this paper is based on open-source data using OpenStreetMap (OSM). It covers the spatial distribution of overhead power lines and underground cables of Germany, combined with the attributes needed for adequate environmental impact assessment of overhead lines, such as voltage levels, route length, and circuit lengths. Furthermore, the dataset is validated by different publicly available statistics provided by the German Federal Grid Agency and official spatial data of the Federal Office of Cartography and Geodesy

Cascading, or cascade use, is concept that has many different definitions, but a common theme is a sequential use of resources for different purposes. The cascading concept was first presented in the early 1990s but has become an intensively debated topic primarily in the most recent decade. In the available literature on cascading of wood, there are few studies that discuss policy implementation. As this is currently heavily debated, there is an important gap here that we aim to fill. In this paper, we (a) critically review the conceptual history of cascading and (b) highlight the complexities involved in its implementation in policy frameworks. Originally, cascading was discussed as a broad framework for how society better should manage natural resource flows. In more recent debates on woody biomass however, cascading is often presented as simply a hierarchy, wherein material use of wood should hold priority over energy use of wood. This is partly based on an idea that certain forms of wood utilization are inherently more valuable than others, an assumption that becomes problematic when implemented in policy. In reality, how and for what a certain wood resource is used varies with time and place and historical examples of implementation of hierarchical policy frameworks indicate a high risk of unwanted consequences, such as unstable policy structures and tendencies toward a negotiation economy. Cascading of woody biomass can have benefits from both an economical and environmental perspective. However, cascading systems should emerge bottom-up, not be imposed top-down through politically determined hierarchies.

Techno-economic variables for advanced biofuels produced from lignocellulosic biomass have been scrutinized and combined with a newly developed transparent model for simulating the competitiveness between conventional and advanced biofuels for road transport in the medium to long term in Germany. The influence of learning effects and feedstock cost developments has been highlighted, including also gaseous fuels. Thorough sensitivity analyses were undertaken. Previously reported cost assumptions for advanced biofuels were found to have been too optimistic. The most cost-competitive biofuels for most of the time period remained conventional biodiesel and bioethanol, but the costs of these options and biomethane and Synthetic Natural Gas (bio-SNG) converged in the medium term and thus other factors will play a decisive role for market developments of biofuels. Feedstock cost uncertainties for the future remain a challenge for long-term planning, and low-cost short-rotation coppice may change the picture more than any other parameter. Of the advanced biofuels, bio-SNG was found significantly more cost-competitive and resource efficient than Fischer-Tropsch-diesel and lignocellulose-based ethanol, but still requiring a dedicated long-term policy. The results and the large sensitivities of biofuel competitiveness stress the need for more data transparency and for thorough sensitivity analyses of the results in similar system studies.

Cascade use or “cascading” of woody biomass is increasingly being discussed as a keyprinciple upon which to base efficient utilization of wood, especially in the European Union (EU).Cascading does not have one universal definition, although a common theme is that “materialuse of wood should be prioritized over energy use of wood”, which forms the basis for ouranalysis herein. This working paper aims to inform the debate on cascading through an analysisof the terminology around cascading, and a review of how the concept is framed andimplemented in policies of the EU and selected member states. We also discuss potentialimplications on international bioenergy markets from implementation of the cascading principle.In recent years, the cascading concept has been emphasized in EU Bioeconomy Strategy, theEU Circular Economy Package and the EU Forest Strategy. As of September 2015, thecascading principle is also part of EU legislation as part of the so-called "iLUC Directive” thatlargely governs the role of biofuels in the EU’s climate change mitigation policies up until 2020.However, the terminology surrounding cascading is fragmented in both the research literatureand among EU policy documents. There is no clear consensus on a clear and precise definitionof what cascading actually entails. Absence of coherent terminology in legislative documents islikely to be a cause for problems and we want to stress the importance of developing a cleardefinition of cascading if it is to be included in future legislative processes.We analyze the consequences of potential implementation of the cascading principle by lookingat both historical cases of similar policies and current examples from Europe and NorthAmerica. Conclusions from the cases suggest that there are clear risks that policyimplementation of the cascading principle results in complicated legislative processes,especially pertaining to reaching agreement on the set of wood assortments that can be usedfor material purposes an

Bioenergy is an important renewable energy carrier with uncertainties in future development due to sustainability issues. Its further development requires a robust bioenergy strategy on a national level. To provide these strategy elements, we developed a dedicated approach, which includes a new modeling framework, an impact assessment and stakeholder involvement. Demonstrating the approach on the example of Germany, four bioenergy utilization scenarios for a period up to 2050 have been assessed using seven indicators that cover aspects from local infrastructure to global food security. The devised strategy elements address the national and international feedstock supply, promising fields of utilization and appropriate frame conditions. The results coherently address a wide range of policy fields, something which has not been possible in the past.

Air transport is a developing business sector, with rapidly increasing rates in transport loads and fuel demand. Aircraft emissions are impacting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and hence inducing climate change. Decarbonization in the aviation sector is being addressed by international airline organizations (eg, IATA), and in different policies as well. Biojet fuels can contribute to this goal substantially in the short- and medium-term because they can be applied as drop-in fuels without major changes in infrastructure or aircraft engines. Technical standards for certain biojet fuels have successfully been established during the last several years. On the other hand, biojet fuel implementation needs policy adoption and instruments – that is, by considering the GHG emission reduction of renewable fuels in taxation, Emissions Trading System or quotas, or blending mandates. Additionally, sustainability of biojet fuels along the whole value chain needs to be reflected and assured by appropriate certification standards and schemes. During the last few years, experience from the application of biofuels has been gained; biojet fuel certification can be built upon this. The restricted land availability and the related environmental effects demand a coherent monitoring system for the market implementation of biojet fuels. This is in conjunction with long-term support for research and development on sustainable feedstock provisions, efficient conversion technologies, and integration of biojet fuels in overall concepts of an efficient and mainly renewable energy supply in the future. Due to the internationality of the sector, a coherent international biojet fuel policy is strongly recommended to realize the intended GHG emission reduction in the aviation sector.

Bioenergy policies affect both the environment and biomass availability for food, feed, and fiber on a national and international scale. To support policy makers, knowledge and methods from different scientific disciplines in the form of integrated assessments is necessary. Therefore we developed the MILESTONES framework which models the links between the national bioenergy system and the global land-use system as an integrated modeling approach. It builds on a set of three well-tested models (MAGNET, LandSHIFT and BENSIM). The prototype's functionality was demonstrated by assessing the environmental impacts of future German bioenergy strategies on a global level and along the entire biomass provision chain. The results from the case study show that, on the one hand, German bioenergy strategies have little effect on international market prices, but on the other hand land-use policies on an international level strongly influence the environmental performance of any German bioenergy strategy.

Vor dem Hintergrund weltweiter Trends wird sich auch weiterhin zunehmend die Energieversorgung umstellen müssen. Bioenergie ist derzeit und gilt hierbei auch zukünftig als ein wichtiges Element erneuerbarer Energieversorgung. Der Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über die globale energetische Biomassenutzung. Am Beispiel verschiedener Teilaspekte von Bioenergiebereitstellungsketten werden Einblicke in technische, logistische und organisatorische Spannungsfelder der Bioenergie gegeben. Globale Trends, aber auch nationalunterschiedliche, politische Rahmenbedingungen oder auch die lokalen Gegebenheiten werden zukünftig die Prioritäten, Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Biomassenutzung bestimmen. Mit Ausblicken auf weiter zu erforschenden und umzusetzenden Synergieeffekten werden im Beitrag die wichtigsten Eckpunkte für eine integrierte Bioenergiebereitstellung abgeleitet.

Die Transformation des Energiesystems von fossilen zu erneuerbaren Energieträgern ist ein erklärtes politisches Ziel. Aus dieser Absichtserklärung ergibt sich die Frage der konkreten Umsetzung. Welche Rolle kann dabei die Bioenergie übernehmen?

This publication focusses on the status of biomethane (which includes upgraded biogas and bio-SNG)production, grid injection and use in different IEA countries. It also illustrates the options and needs for the development of biomethane supply strategies with the focus on improved trade. Further, an overview of expected future development of the biomethane sector is given.As part of the study, results from a dedicated questionnaire were assessed to get an insight into the opportunities and barriers for biogas and biomethane in the market in a number of countries. This study has been compiled as a joint effort by experts from the Task 37 and 40 of the IEA Bioenergy Implementing Agreement.

Biomethane is a promising renewable energy carrier, scoring very well in terms of sustainability, and with great potential in the transformation of the fossil fuel based energy market to a renewable based one. In a joint IEA Bioenergy study a group of scientists examined the state of the art, as well as the development of the biomethane market in selected IEA member countries. Due to its similar properties, biomethane can be used as a substitute for natural gas and benefits from the existing infrastructure and applications. Nevertheless, biomethane is far from market penetration. Within this study a survey was performed with the aim to represent the current market situation of biomethane. A questionnaire was distributed to stakeholders within the participating member countries in the study; around 100 replies were received. A common conclusion is the missing policy framework, acceptance and support which hinder further market development. Further, according to the results of the questionnaire, a reliable and sufficient support for biomethane and the implementation of a biomethane standard would open opportunities and lead to a stable market.

The increasing demand for biomass for the production of bioenergy is generating land-use conflicts. These conflicts might be solved through spatial segregation of food/feed and energy producing areas by continuing producing food on established and productive agricultural land while growing dedicated energy crops on so called “surplus” land. Ambiguity in the definition and characterization of surplus land as well as uncertainty in assessments of land availability and of future bioenergy potentials is causing confusion about the prospects and the environmental and socio-economic implications of bioenergy development in those areas. The high level of uncertainty is due to environmental, economic and social constraints not yet taken into account and to the potentials offered by those novel crops and their production methods not being fully exploited. This paper provides a scientific background in support of a reassessment of land available for bioenergy production by clarifying the terminology, identifying constraints and options for an efficient bioenergy-use of surplus land and providing policy recommendations for resolving conflicting land-use demands. A serious approach to factoring in the constraints, combined with creativity in utilizing the options provided, in our opinion, would lead to a more sustainable and efficient development of the bioenergy sector. Unless the sustainability challenge is mastered, the interdependent policy objectives of mitigating climate change, obtaining independence from fossil fuels, feeding and fuelling a growing human world population and maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services will not be met. Despite the advanced developments of bioenergy, we still see regional solutions for designing and establishing sustainable bioenergy production systems with optimized production resulting in social, economic and ecological benefits. Where bioenergy production has been identified as the most suitable option to overco

Growing conflicts in land use, food production and nature conservation in terms of increasing energy crop production arise. Therefore it is essential to develop alternative land resources, such as urban brownfields, considered as every previously used and now unused area. The main focus is the investigation of options to produce biomass on urban brownfields for energy recovery, assuming that there is no foreseeable demand for a certain unused, idle site or its reuse would be unprofitable. In particular this approach contributes to provide bioenergy sources in a local context close to the consumer, to implement a sustainable development with improvement of urban sites and it reduces our dependency on fossil fuels. It has been demonstrated with this research project that biomass production for energy recovery on brownfields has a reasonable potential for the – at least temporary – use of brownfields in cities and urban regions, especially if there have been prepared regional or municipal energy supply concepts. Even temporary biomass production will contribute to an initial use, as sites will be optically upgraded and economically improved and site management costs will be partly reduced. Demonstration projects will be a good opportunity to verify the potential, along with public relations to communicate the experiences.