The growing role of biofuels - opportunities, challenges and pitfalls

This paper provides an overview of biomass production potentials, and the importance of technological development and perennial crops to utilize this potential. It examines some of the most critical issues for developing large-scale biomass for energy production, and indicates at the same time how these issues may be avoided or solved. An overview is provided of on-going developments to ensure the 'greenness' of biomass by developing safeguards, e.g. via sustainability criteria and certification schemes for bioenergy. Finally, the importance of sustainable international bioenergy trade as a major driver to develop biomass potentials is highlighted.