Modern bioenergy in the European Union

The achievement of the proposed bioenergy objectives and targets for the E.U. (210 M. TOE/year approximate to 12% total gross energy consumption by the year 2010) are indeed very challenging. At present, the contribution of bioenergy is 44 M. TOE/year (similar to 3% of the total consumption). Furthermore, a significant export volume of E.U. bioenergy technology is expected as high as 6 billion ECU/year (year 2010) with the creation of many new industrial manufacturing SMEs (150-200) and about 200,000 direct and indirect new jobs. The recommended high level of bioenergy activity in the E.U, will also open many additional job opportunities (similar to 2 million in a longer term) with specific investment of about 150,000 - 230,000 ECU/job. The consequent CO2 reduction is estimated at 255 million ton/year in the year 2010. The most promising markets are: the heat, with a contribution of 75 M. TOE/year is estimated the power generation, with a contribution of 230 TWh/y bioethanol/biomethanol (similar to 7 million TOE/year). (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.