Semida Silveira

17.1. BEYOND THE BARRIERS TO BIOENERGY UTILIZATION

Bioenergy is the most important renewable energy source used in the world today. It took time for this to be fully recognized which is reflected in the fact that, only recently, efforts have been made to capture its importance in official statistics. Countries in different parts of the world have become more aware of the biomass potential they possess and the ways in which it can be used to satisfy modern energy needs and promote development. As a result, the status of bioenergy as an alterna­tive solution to meet energy demand and mitigate climate change has improved.

We can be optimistic and say that we have reached a turning point. But we should not be too optimistic as to believe that the future of biomass is given. Though we have many scenarios that capture the biomass potential and indicate the importance it can reach, we still lack a road map to take us there. Despite all the identified advantages, bioenergy utilization has increased at a modest rate. Renewable energy technologies are not competing on a level playing field due to subsidies to con­ventional technologies, and disregard of negative impacts of fossil-fuel-based energy.

In this book, we have looked into ways through which the bioenergy potential can be realized. We have seen how countries at different levels of development and with different endowments can find ways to benefit from local biomass resources for both energy provision and sustainable development. Biomass resources can be enhanced through action in forestry and agriculture. Energy-related activities can not only provide complementary income but can also improve the competitiveness of estab­lished activities in these sectors. We have looked into policies, technologies and creative ways to foster collaboration among countries towards the implementation of global and local social and environmental agendas. Concrete examples of bioenergy utilization and continued activities of research and development help to understand and disseminate bioenergy solutions, improving technical expertise, managerial practices and markets.

This chapter finalizes the book with some reflections about issues that need further exploration and research in the short and medium run, and which are

223 Bioenergy — Realizing the Potential

© 2005 Dr Semida Silveira Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

necessary in the process of promoting bioenergy globally. The discussion on trade­offs in the next section brings considerations related to environmental conservation, on the one hand, and development and social equity, on the other hand. How can these considerations be more constructively linked when dealing with energy-related goals and the application of sustainability principles? In the following section, the integration of systems discussed in previous chapters is further explored in the context of markets. Finally, we end with a reflection on the link between the local and the global solutions, and the role that developing countries may play in global bioenergy solutions.