BIOEN
Motivating Questions
Alternatives to fossil fuels are a pressing need. Biomass is widely considered to be a leading option in this context. The two most important obstacles impeding bioenergy playing a large role in meeting societal energy demand are:
1. The cost of conversion technology, particularly for biofuels.
2. Uncertainty about whether such a large role is compatible with feeding the world and sustainable land use.
Over the last three years, investment in addressing the cost obstacle has increased dramatically, perhaps an order of magnitude, due to both governmental and private funding. However, concern over the feasibility and desirability of large-scale bioenergy production (obstacle 2) has also increased during this time. While it is clear that a bioenergy-intensive future involves significant challenges, the same is true of other renewable transportation alternatives. Furthermore, it is reasonable to expect that a significant fraction of transportation energy demand (e.g. for planes and likely long-haul trucks) will be met by organic fuels for the indefinite future. Hence it is imperative to look for ways to overcome challenges related to bioenergy while we also do so for other options.
The world is currently confused and uncertain with respect to the merits of bioenergy, the relative importance of fuels and electricity produced from biomass, the level and type of support bioenergy deserves, and whether we should look to bioenergy to play a prominent role in the future. In light of this, it would be tremendously valuable to know:
1. Is it physically possible for bioenergy to meet a substantial fraction of future world mobility and/or power demand while our global society also meets other important needs: feeding humanity, providing fiber, maintaining and where possible improving soil fertility, air and water quality, biodiversity and wildlife habitat, and achieving very large greenhouse gas emission reductions that are not substantially negated by land use changes?
2. If so, what would a world featuring large-scale, sustainable bioenergy look like, what challenges and benefits would such a world entail compared to other alternatives, and what directions and policies would promote beneficial production of bioenergy?