A sustainable energy system can only evolve as a common effort of many actors. The state has a coordinating role which is accomplished through the definition of goals of common interest, and strategies and policies to coordinate efforts in the preferred direction. The strategies and decisions of energy companies to invest are strongly influenced by the policy framework provided. Corporate decisions operate within various frameworks and define strategies which have consequences for the development of energy systems at the national and international level. These impli­cations go beyond the considerations made at national policy design which are still strong, even in the EU where efforts are being made towards policy harmonization. With increased integration of energy markets, there is also need for increased regional and global coordination, and the absence of strong commitments have been detrimental to the systems shift that are being envisaged.

We are all energy users and we play a role as a group. Users can influence tech­nology choices as both voters and users of energy services. But we should recognize that few users are interested in energy per se. The users want reliable energy services at reasonable prices and many also want sustainable development. But it is up to public and private decision makers, engineers and experts to engineer sustainable solutions and orchestrate change.

In the past few years, a number of initiatives have been launched by interna­tional organizations, national governments, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector. For example, in 2000, FAO and IEA Bioenergy signed a Memo­randum of Understanding opening for a closer collaboration around cross-sectoral activities focused on bioenergy options. This is part of efforts being made at FAO to promote cross-fertilization of work done in forestry, rural development and energy, where bioenergy takes a prominent role. Also in 2000, a new initiative was launched in the G8 meeting held in Okinawa, Japan, aimed at promoting renewables in developing countries. In 2002 in Johannesburg, energy and development were, for the first time, treated together in an effort to set common global goals for renewable energy.

This increasing interest and support certainly provides an important base for further work in the establishment of bioenergy systems. International organizations fulfil an important role in mobilizing interest, efforts and resources. Investment banks and UN organizations can contribute in assessing and disseminating infor­mation, allocating resources for demonstration projects and liaising with national organizations to design policies and projects. International organizations can help bridge information gaps between investors and technology owners, local business and policy makers to open new channels for investments and technology transfer, thus fostering also the development process.

Most of all, we have shown here that there is significant work in progress. Among the measures envisaged to deal with remaining constraints to market penetration of renewables for electricity production, including biomass, IEA suggests measures to reduce technical problems in the form of research and demonstration, policies to level the playing field for renewables by eliminating subsidies to fossil fuel alternatives and internalization of social and environmental costs of all energy forms, as well as green electricity schemes and temporary incentives to encourage investments in renewables.

We should add that research is still strongly focused on solutions in the context of industrialized countries, while more attention is needed to understand the realities and demands of developing countries and emerging economies. This should actually also be in line with commercial interests aimed at the creation of markets for new technologies. We certainly need innovation and increased efficiency of energy systems. But we also need reliability and scale and, here, the developing countries shall be good partners, particularly in bioenergy. It is time to break the mental barrier that has transformed developing countries into a world where there is large potential demand for energy but no money. Let us seriously start considering developing countries as part of the solution — a world full of renewable resources that can help create welfare. Let us realize the bioenergy potential together.

[1] Bioenergy — Realizing the Potential

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

Considering end-use only and excluding all losses.

[3] It is not dear if the NO* tax has favored biomass-based compared to fossil-based energy. The general energy tax, however, has had its major impact on the private heating market, since it does not apply on electricity production and the industry sector at large.

[4] This chapter includes results of the doctoral thesis of the author: “Fiinfzehn Jahre Biomasse — Nahwarmenetze in Osterreich” (Fifteen years of biomass district heating in Austria). Technische Universitat Wien, 1997. The thesis was written within the EU funded project Pathways from small scale experiments to sustainable regional development, EXPRESS PATH, CEC Contract No EV5V-CT92- 0086.

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[5] €=13.76 ATS.

[6] This issue was investigated in the course of the Express Path project by Kunze, G. in Cultural change and the diffusion of sustainable energy technologies. Unpublished.

[7] We refer to the 3500 km mountain range that stretches from Afghanistan in the west through Pakistan, India, China, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh to Myanmar in the east. This region is home to more than 140 million people.

[8] These values refer to a period when the exchange rate of the Brazilian currency was temporarily high. At 2002 rates, the costs are significantly lower.

[9] The method used in this study is more thoroughly described in Bernotat (2002), Bernotat and Sandberg (2002), and especially in Sandberg and Bernotat (2003).

[10] Monica Rodrigues de Souza is grateful to CNPq and CAPES for the financial support received during her work at University of Campinas — Brazil and at STS, Universiteit Utrecht, The Netherlands.

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[11] The authors wish to express their gratitude to the Energy Forum, Sri Lanka for its financial assistance to carry out this study. The help extended by the Department of Survey, Department of Forests, Sri Lanka and the Energy Conservation Fund of Sri Lanka in providing necessary data is also gratefully acknowledged.

Bioenergy — Realizing the Potential © 2005 Dr Semida Silveira Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[12] Definition of sources and types of solid biofuels through a detailed and transparent terminology of the biomass resources (i. e. the different types of forest products and residues).

‘ FAIR, Agriculture and Agro-Industry including Fisheries Programme of Research and Technological Development, was implemented under the Fourth Framework Programme of the EU (1994-1998). THERMIE, the demonstration component of the nonnuclear energy RTD Programme of the EU was implemented in the period 1995-1998.

[14] This is the period after full ripeness and the best period for harvesting corn. At this point, the water content of corn is about 14-16 per cent and the straw becomes fragile.

[15] Approximately 26.9 million Euro.

[16] The views expressed in this chapter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the World Bank.

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[17] The cerrado is the native landscape in the area of the project. The cerrado covers large extensions in Brazil and is sometimes referred to as the Brazilian type of savannah. This native forest has been traditionally used for the production of charcoal.

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[18] The laws concerned include also decree 1282, dated October 29, 1994, which states the rules for compliance with article 21 of the Brazilian forestry code (law number 4771, dated from September 15, 1965). The latter demands that the mills, freight companies and others, which are based on charcoal, fuel wood or other forestry raw materials, must keep their own plantations and explore them rationally. Supporting legislation there is normative instruction number 001, dated September 5, 1996, which provides rules on forestry reposition and law number 9605, dated February 12, 1998, which defines penalties to be applied for activities causing damage to the environment. These legal instruments are administered by 1BAMA (Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources).

[19] Electrobras and the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy, 1999. Ten-Year Expansion Plan: 1999-2008, produced by the GCPS Electric Systems Planning Coordination Group, Brazil.

[20] Of approximately 300 sugar mills in Brazil, less than half sell surplus electricity to the grid. The majority of mills produce energy solely for on-site use, which is the Business-as-Usual for the sugarcane industry.

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TJLP is the Brazilian long term interest rate.

[22] Cogerafao Setor Alcooleiro, CPFL, 1995.

[23] Programa Estruturado de Aumento da Oferta 2001-2003, Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo, Secretaria do Estado de Energia.