Sustainable Production of renewable resources

Presentation by Josef Göppel at the European conference
"Fuelling the Future" on March 2007 in Nuremberg

Biomass can contribute a lot more to Europe's energy supply than it does today. The technically useable potential is 10% of the primary energy consumption in Germany. This is twice as much compared to todays share of 5,3%. The German Association for Landcare (DVL) supports a sustainable development of renewable energies.

It gets more and more important to consider Ecological boundaries, the further the biomass usage gets to its maximum potential. The cultivation of energy corps has to be balanced with the production of energy, food and the protection of nature. Extensive monoculture, increased use of pesticides, genetic engineering and clearing of natural woodlands endanger the peoples support for renewable energies.

For heating, electricity and transport - biomass can be used in a whole variety of ways. It should be applied only where it produces the highest energy output. Political incentives have to lead that way.

Electricity generation from biomass has been pushed forward successfully by the German Renewable-Energy-Law. After a heated initial phase, subsidy adjustments, as for example a landscape factor, are necessary.

The compulsory addition of biofuels to fuels in Europe has to consider regional small and medium sized businesses in the supply lines. In the heading sector, the use of renewable energies has to be improved. Only 6.2% of the heating supply comes from renewable sources. However the energetic yield is at its maximum when biofuels can be directly converted into heat.

Energy crops bring added values to rural areas. Their cultivation must not fall behind today's production standards for food.

Sustainable Production of renewable resources (PDF)