Title: Economic prospects of advanced biomass-based energy carriers in EU-15 up to 2050

Authors: Amela Ajanovic; Reinhard Haas

Addresses: Energy Economics Group, Vienna University of Technology, Gusshausstrasse 25-29/370-3, 1040 Vienna, Austria ' Energy Economics Group, Vienna University of Technology, Gusshausstrasse 25-29/370-3, 1040 Vienna, Austria

Abstract: Biomass-based energy carriers (BBEC) especially advanced ones such as biofuels, hydrogen and electricity from biomass are often considered to have the potential to contribute to reduction of GHG emissions. In this paper we conduct an analysis of the economic prospects and potentials of advanced BBEC in EU-15 countries up to 2050. We show which energy output from these energy carriers can be expected in the future under different conditions. The major conclusion is that in the most promising scenario by 2050 energy carriers based on biomass can provide an overall additional energy quantity of about 4,650 PJ. This equals about 7% of total final energy consumption in EU-15 in 2010.

Keywords: energy carriers; biomass; biofuels; hydrogen; energy costs; energy scenarios; energy output; GHG emissions; greenhouse gases; economic prospects; economic potential; European Union; EU-15; energy consumption.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2014.056414

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2014 Vol.13 No.1, pp.93 - 108

Received: 21 Dec 2012
Accepted: 19 Jun 2013
Published online: 24 May 2014 *

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