Publisher : Springer, Cham
Place of publication :
Publication year : 2017
Thematic : Reducing Emissions from Deforestration and Forest Degradation
Language : English
Note
The combustion of fossil fuels drive the steady increase in greenhouse gases (GHG) and global temperatures observed in recent decades. The realization of adverse effects of increase in GHG emissions on the environment, the desire to limit atmospheric CO2 concentration at 450 ppm or lower and limit global temperature increase to ≤2 °C, combined with increasing energy needs have made the quest for sustainable and environmentally benign sources of energy for industrial economies and consumer societies a high priority since 1980s. To limit atmospheric CO2 concentration at 450 ppm, a total CO2 emission reduction of 50–85% is required by 2050. As a result, there are a renewed interests in carbon-neutral or carbon-negative renewable energy sources. Among the renewable energy sources, biofuels are considered as an attractive fuel sources for replacing fossil fuels. Bioenergy is important for many sectors and mitigation perspectives as well as from the perspective of developmental goals such as energy security and rural development. It is argued that increasing the contribution of biofuels will reduce the GHG emission by reducing the carbon intensity of the transport sector and addressing energy security concerns. In addition to global climate change threat, interests in biofuels are enhanced by growing global energy demand and diminishing crude oil supply. However, there is concern about the existing interlink between biomass , bioenergy, land use, food supply, water use, and biodiversity. The first generation biofuels primarily produced from food crops feedstock are unsustainable due to the potential stress their production places on food, feed and fiber production. The second and third generation biofuels produced from abundant biomass and algae respectively are seen as the attractive solution to limitations of the first generation biofuels and also have higher potential for GHG emission mitigation. Yet, the practicalities of deployment of bioenergy at a large scale are mired in controversies over the potential resource conflicts that might occur, particularly over land, water and biodiversity. Additionally, a number of technical huddles must be overcome before their true potential can fully be realized and evaluated. This chapter summarizes the current knowledge of biofuels , the potential role in mitigating GHG emission, societal dilemma in large scale biofuel production, current assumptions on which global bioenergy resource estimates are predicted and future directions of biofuels research with the emphasis on assessments informed by empirical studies.
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Keywords : portfolio
Encoded by : Pauline Carmel Joy Eje
