In 2015, the difference in installed biomass electricity capacity between Asia and Europe was more than 6.000 megawatts, but in just one year, that figure was reduced to 1.500 megawatts. According to the report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) entitled Renewable capacity statistics 2017, Europe had 36.954 MW while Asia reached 35.249 MW of installed biomass electricity. This dramatic change in less than 12 months indicates the growing importance of Asia in the field of renewable energies, especially with regard to biomass.
Europe continues to lead the way in installing large projects, with countries such as England and Denmark developing huge biomass plants with leading names such as MGT Power y Hofor, respectively. It is in these projects that much of the investment within the European region is concentrated. However, the constant expansion in Asia is undeniable and more and more countries on this continent are betting on biomass as a key source of clean energy.
Evolution of investment in biomass at global level
In terms of investment, the report Global Renewable Energy Investment Trends 2017 Biofuels were also seen in a significant decline, down 37% in 2016 compared to the previous year, reaching $2.200 billion. However, biomass remained remarkably stable, with investment of $6.800 billion, reflecting investor confidence in this type of energy despite fluctuations in other sectors.
The success of biomass can be attributed, among other things, to its versatility and its ability to use organic waste in both rural and urban areas. Countries such as Brazil, which have been able to integrate their sugar industry with the valorisation of sugarcane bagasse, are clear examples of how this technology can be capitalised on to generate electricity efficiently.
Two emblematic projects in the field of biomass are: Tees in England and that of Amager in Denmark. The Tees plant, with a capacity of 299 MW, has become a benchmark for renewable energy in the United Kingdom. The Amager plant, with 150 MW in Denmark, is key to the Nordic country's energy transition towards a greener system.
Asia takes the lead in biomass growth
Despite Europe's leadership in many renewable energy sectors, Asia has proven to be at the forefront of biomass installation. In just one year, Asia has drastically reduced the gap with Europe in terms of biomass power capacity. According to IRENA's 2017 report, of the 8.623 MW installed worldwide in 2016, 6.000 MW were in Asia, while Europe added only 1.500 MW. This spectacular growth in Asia reflects its importance in the global renewable energy landscape.
Countries like India have been the main drivers of this growth. In 2016, India went from 5.605 MW to 9.185 MW, a significant increase that makes the country one of the biomass giants globally. This expansion is not only an example of how Asian countries are embracing clean energy, but also puts India alongside powerhouses like Germany in terms of installed biomass capacity.
The expansion of biomass in India is also opening up new opportunities for employment and rural development, as many biomass plants take advantage of local agricultural waste, providing a secondary source of income for farmers and rural communities.
The situation in China and other leading countries
China, the Asian giant, is also making giant strides in biomass adoption. With an installed biomass capacity of 12.140 MW, China ranks as the country with the third largest biomass infrastructure, behind only Brazil and the United States. However, despite its impressive figures, biomass growth in the United States has been much slower, adding just 3 MW in 2016. This indicates a stagnation of the US market that dates back to 2013.
What sets China apart is its ability to integrate biomass into its massive energy grid, often using the energy generated to power its vast rural areas, which still rely on fossil fuels. In addition, China has put in place numerous tax incentive and subsidy policies to encourage the construction of biomass plants in different provinces.
Brazil, on the other hand, has a close relationship between biomass and its sugar industry. The valorisation of sugarcane bagasse, a by-product of sugar production, has allowed the country to be a leader in the generation of electricity from biomass. Brazil has an installed biomass capacity of 14.179 MW, which places it as the second country in the world in this sector.
Sweden, Germany and the United Kingdom: leaders in Europe
In Europe, countries such as Sweden, Germany and the United Kingdom continue to be leaders in installed biomass capacity. Sweden, for example, with 4.893 MW, has managed to efficiently integrate biomass into its district heating network, allowing it to achieve one of the highest percentages of renewable energy in its energy matrix.
The UK, which has seen remarkable growth in recent years, reached 5.000 MW in 2016. This is partly due to the conversion of old coal plants to biomass, which has allowed the country to reduce its carbon emissions and move towards its decarbonisation goals for 2050.
As for Germany, although it is the fourth country in terms of installed biomass capacity worldwide, with 9.336 MW, more than half of this capacity comes from biogas. This technology has been key in the country's energy mix, allowing the valorisation of a large amount of organic waste from agriculture and livestock.
However, in other European countries, the situation is less promising. For example, in Spain, biomass electricity has stagnated for three years, with an installed capacity of around 1.018 MW. The end of subsidies for new installations has been one of the key factors in this slowdown, leaving solar and wind energy as the main technologies on which investments are being focused.
The expansion of off-grid renewable energy
An interesting aspect highlighted in the 2017 IRENA report is the growth of off-grid renewable energy. This term refers to the generation of electricity in rural or isolated areas that are not connected to large electricity distribution networks. These types of energy solutions, especially those using bioenergy, have reached 2.800 MW by the end of 2016.
About 40% of this energy was generated by solar installations, while 10% came from hydroelectric sources. The remainder came from various forms of bioenergy, underlining the importance of biomass in these rural areas. These installations have provided clean energy to approximately 60 million households, benefiting some 300 million people.
These types of energy solutions are especially useful in developing countries, where electricity infrastructure is limited. Access to biomass allows communities far from urban centers to generate their own electricity by using local organic waste, reducing their dependence on fossil fuels and improving their quality of life.
Projects such as the one developed in India, where more than 50.000 small generators are operating in rural areas, are demonstrating how biomass can be a key tool to improve access to energy in remote communities.
Biomass in Guadalajara: a promising local project
In the field of biomass in Spain, Guadalajara is emerging as a benchmark for local biomass projects. The creation of a biomass heating network in the city could supply thermal energy to around 6.000 residents. This project, managed by the company Biomass Resources (Rebi), is part of a larger network that already operates in cities such as Soria and Valladolid.
During the presentation of the Local Strategy to Mitigate Climate Change, the mayor of Guadalajara, Antonio Román, highlighted the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the residential sector. Biomass is presented as a viable option to reduce conventional energy consumption, especially in areas where the climate and infrastructure favor this type of solution.
These types of initiatives are essential to promote the use of cleaner energy sources at the local level, which not only contributes to reducing emissions but also creates jobs and reduces dependence on fossil fuels.
As we can see, biomass remains a key element in the efforts to expand renewable energy globally. In both Europe and Asia, biomass growth has been notable, and although there are challenges to overcome, especially in some countries, it is undeniable that this form of energy is gaining relevance in the transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy system.