Biomass & Bioenergy 2009, submitted.

Abstract

Biomass is designated to play a key role in achieving a sustainable energy system in the future. In this context, it is commonly of great interest to gain more insight on the potential availability of energy crops and biomass residues, whereof residues form a substantial, but currently largely under-exploited resource base. Previously, the research strongly concentrated on projecting the potentials of energy crops, thereby sometimes only briefly touching biomass residues. In contrast to energy crops, the utilisation of residues is much less affected by negative perceptions and its use is widely accepted to be in line with various sustainability criteria. Therefore, the research of efficient utilisation strategies for biomass residues represents political interest nowadays. Thus, quantifying the potential resource would be the first step of realising this goal.