Fræðaþing landbúnaðarins - 06.02.2004, Qupperneq 124

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Economic Viability and Environmental Security for Rural Areas
from Increasing Renewable Energy-Use Based on Biomass Resources
Ragnhildur Sigurðardóttir1’2, Kristiina A. Vogt2’3, Daniel J. Vogt2’3, Toral Patel-
Weynand2, Michael Andreu2’3, Robert Edmonds3, Kevin Hodgson3
1 Umhverfisrannsóknir ehf, Selfoss, Iceland, 2CAPE Intemational, Mukilteo, WA, USA,
3 College of Forest Resources, University ofWashington, Seattle, WA, USA
Abstract
Integration of renewable biomass resources with energy production has the potential
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while contributing to economic stability and
environmental security for rural areas. In Iceland developing decentralized energy
production systems, where biomass is converted to methanol for use as a fuel source
for hydrogen fuel cells, could increase the energy security in remote areas and provide
new economic opportunities for the rural communities at large. These systems could
be especially beneficial in situations where there are active farm forestry programs,
substantial conversions of agricultural fields for energy crops (e.g. willow
plantations), and where there is a surplus production of agricultural wastes.
Rationales for Renewable Resource Uses
Considerable attention is being paid to developing technology platforms using
bioenergy systems to solve many global environmental problems. Bioenergy systems
also have the potential to develop new economic options to produce sustainable rural
communities when multiple outcomes are simultaneously desired from the same
landscape (e.g., conservation vs. development, resource extractive based jobs vs.
resource service jobs, etc) (Kurz et al. 2002, FAO 2001, FAO 2003, IPCC 2003,
Najam 2003). The use of biomass to produce bioenergy is gaining stature in
achieving sustainable development intemationally. The Directorate General for
Energy of the European Commission in 1999 produced a report that suggested that
bioenergy from renewable resources has significant potential for creating new jobs,
higher employment rates in the renewable energy sector at a lower investment cost
(Domac 2002). The Commission has set the target of doubling the share of
renewables in their energy supply quota from 6 to 12%, between 2000 and 2010 to
meet their sustainability targets to fulfill the Kyoto Protocol (CEC 2000). Biomass
transformation for energy production is an important component of the strategy as the
Commission focuses on more environmentally friendly options (CEC 2000). As an
added benefit, renewable energy production systems help in minimizing negative
impacts on human/ecosystem health (see Table 1, Smil 2001, AMI 2003, Dynamotive
2003, Fenn et al. 2003, Methanex 2003).
Biomass as an Energy Resource
Bioenergy can be produced from a variety of biomass producing sources, including
agricultural and forest residues, and energy crops (e.g. willow plantations). Biomass
consists of the biodegradeable fraction of products, waste and residues from
agriculture (including vegetative and animal substances) forestry and related
industries, as well as the biodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal waste.
J