There is a wide range of plant biomass derived energy products, many of which could be exported from Russia to the EU, see figure 1 and table 1. The problem of their production has been in general solved, and different manufacturing methods have been developed, some of them being currently commercialised. Certainly, existing technologies are far from perfection and there is still much to be done to find more efficient technical solutions. However it is not the matter of prime importance, as far as the subject discussed in this paper concerned. The key point and the main barrier on the way of Russian energy bio­products to the EU consumers are evidently high costs of long-distance transportation. Therefore the main principle should be the choice of the products which have undergone deepest possible refining and which can be transported in cheapest and easiest way. Electric power produced from biofuels, best of all, responds to these requirements and is obviously the most preferable product from plant biomass for export to the EU. Electric power transmission and distribution techniques have long-term common traditions world­wide, though electric parameters standards, such as for mains frequency and voltage differ from those in Russia. Dedicated power transmission systems in compliance with EU electric power standards should be constructed. Since there is no methods for distinguishing "green” electricity produced on the basis of renewable biomass from "polluted” one that has been generated from fossil fuels, permanent inspection of bio­power suppliers will be necessary.

Gaseous biofuels such as pyrolysis gas have chemical composition more or less close to those of natural gas because their main combustible constituent is methane. Relatively high content of carbon oxides make their calorific value, lower compared with natural gas.

Pyrolysis gas can be either used locally for heat and power generation or exported using existing or dedicated pipelines (including blends with natural gas). Bio-gas has still lower calorific value and contains corrosive substances such as sulphur and nitrogen oxides. Existing Figure 1 Energy products from plant biomass.

transcontinental pipelines

made mainly of mild steel are therefore inapplicable for transportation of bio-gas. Synthesis-gas is an advanced refinery product obtained by catalysis of hydrocarbons or carbohydrates at high temperatures in presence of water vapours to achieve high contents of methane or/and hydrogen, which is extremely explosive. For above reasons, bio-gas and synthesis-gas are not recommended for long-distance transportation and have to be used locally for heat and power generation.

Liquid biofuels have essentially different physicochemical properties and their optimal transportation methods should differ, as well. Light bio-fuels (ethanol, MTBE, etc.) have the same properties as those manufactured from a hydrocarbon feedstock and can be blended into gasoline. All conventional methods of transportation can be applied to these products. Bio-diesel is a product of catalysis of fatty acids present in some plants (sunflower, soybeans, rape seed, peanut, etc.) that can be used in the form of blends with conventional diesel fuels. Traditional petroleum products transportation practice (pipelines, see or railway transport) can be applied.

Pyrolysis oils (bio-oils) are relatively new fuels manufactured by fast thermochemical treatment of plant biomass at medium temperatures. Since these products are corrosive substances, their transportation by existing mild steel pipelines is problematic. Blending with petroleum products is also a serious technical problem because of bio-oil’s hydrophilic nature, while petroleum derived liquids are hydrophobic. Till this problem is not efficiently solved, local combustion for heat and power generation seems the best way to use bio-oils today.

Solid energy bio-products. Wood pellets is one of the simplest bio-products manufactured from wastes of timber-cutting and woodworking industry. They have substantial advantages over conventional firewood (particularly, higher specific heat of combustion). Standardised performance properties such as moisture content, density and size makes the firing process controllable and therefore efficient. Wood pellets can be also a feedstock for further conversion aimed at manufacturing products briefly discussed above. Though the cost of pellets produced in Russia would be obviously much lower than in any of EU countries, it is still unclear whether their total price for the EU, of which essential part is transportation costs, complies with merchantability requirements. Profitability of their long­distance transportation is more dependent on the price of a raw-stock and energy
efficiency of the preparation technology, particularly moisture extraction operation, than that of advanced refinery products.

Charcoal has the highest calorific value of all bio-fuels. It is produced during thermochemical conversion of a plant biomass in quantities from 10% to 35%, depending on heating rate, final temperature and duration of the process. Unlike anthracites and other fossil coals used in metallurgy, charcoal does not practically contain sulphur and is therefore an effective reducing agent that can be applied for production high-grade steel and other metals. Its extraordinary high absorption capacity has been long employed in chemistry and medicine. Non-energy applications of this bio-product make its market price much higher than just a fuel and may raise the profitability of the entire production cycle of fuels from plant biomass.

Heat and hot water are normally not intended for long-distance transportation. They have to be used at a site or relatively close to it for domestic, municipal or industrial purposes thus reducing the overall cost of produced biofuels and their transportation.