Cited by 203Bioenergy crop production and managementBioeconomy and Sustainability DevelopmentForest Biomass Utilization and Management

The economic potential of bioenergy for climate change mitigation with special attention given to implications for the land system

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Popp, Alexander, Dietrich, Jan Philipp, Lotze-Campen, Hermann, Klein, David, Bauer, Nico, Krause, Michael, Beringer, Tim, Gerten, Dieter +1 more·2011·Environmental Research Letters

Abstract

Biomass from cellulosic bioenergy crops is expected to play a substantial role in future energy systems, especially if climate policy aims at stabilizing greenhouse gas concentration at low levels. However, the potential of bioenergy for climate change mitigation remains unclear due to large uncertainties about future agricultural yield improvements and land availability for biomass plantations. This letter, by applying a modelling framework with detailed economic representation of the land and energy sector, explores the cost-effective contribution of bioenergy to a low-carbon transition, paying special attention to implications for the land system. In this modelling framework, bioenergy competes directly with other energy technology options on the basis of costs, including implicit costs due to biophysical constraints on land and water availability. As a result, we find that bioenergy from specialized grassy and woody bioenergy crops, such as Miscanthus or poplar, can contribute approximately 100 EJ in 2055 and up to 300 EJ of primary energy in 2095. Protecting natural forests decreases biomass availability for energy production in the medium, but not in the long run. Reducing the land available for agricultural use can partially be compensated for by means of higher rates of technological change in agriculture. In addition, our trade-off analysis indicates that forest protection combined with large-scale cultivation of dedicated bioenergy is likely to affect bioenergy potentials, but also to increase global food prices and increase water scarcity. Therefore, integrated policies for energy, land use and water management are needed.

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Crossref · 10.1088/1748-9326/6/3/034017

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  • In the scenario without forest conservation, biomass from dedicated bioenergy crops will contribute 25% to the total global demand for primary energy carriers.

    “For this specific scenario, biomass from dedicated bioenergy crops will contribute 25% to the total global demand for primary energy carriers.”
  • The amount of bioenergy supplied is reduced to about 70 EJ in 2055 and 270 EJ in 2095 in the scenario with 100% forest conservation.

    “The amount of bioenergy supplied is reduced to about 70 EJ in 2055 and 270 EJ in 2095 in the scenario with 100% forest conservation [27].”
  • In the scenario without forest conservation, bioenergy demand increases up to about 300 EJ in 2095 with a demand of about 100 EJ in 2055.

    “In the scenario without forest conservation, bioenergy demand increases up to about 300 EJ in 2095 with a demand of about 100 EJ in 2055.”
  • The food price index rises most strongly in Europe (22%) and in the Newly Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (16%) until 2095 if climate change mitigation is taken into account and all suitable land is available for land expansion.

    “The food price index rises most strongly in Europe (22%) and in the the Newly Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (16%) until 2095 if climate change mitigation is taken into account and all suitable land is available for land expansion.”
  • In the scenario without forest conservation, cultivation of dedicated bioenergy crops increases total cropland to 1830 million ha, but forest exclusion limits total cropland to 1520 million ha in 2095.

    “In the scenario without forest conservation, cultivation of dedicated bioenergy crops increases total cropland to 1830 million ha, but forest exclusion limits total cropland to 1520 million ha in 2095.”

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Authors
Popp, A., Dietrich, J. P., Lotze-Campen, H., Klein, D., Bauer, N., Krause, M., Beringer, T., Gerten, D., & Edenhofer, O.
Affiliations
  • Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (DE)
  • Technische Universität Berlin (DE)
Venue
Environmental Research Letters
Published
2011-07-01
Volume
6
Issue
3
Pages
034017
ISSN
1748-9326 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2168143993
Cited by
203
References
49
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 14
FWCI
39.59
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Environmental Research Letters (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DepositOnce (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Publication Database PIK (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Technische Universität Berlin – Universitätsbibliothek (cc-by)
Funders
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Agronomy and Crop Science › Bioenergy crop production and management
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › General Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Bioeconomy and Sustainability Development
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Mechanics of Materials › Forest Biomass Utilization and Management
Keywords
bioenergy, climate change mitigation, land use, land availability, agricultural yields, forest protection, Miscanthus, poplar, water scarcity, food prices, low-carbon transition, energy policy, bioenergy potential

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