Suchergebnisse

The article presents the results of a survey carried out in the European Union (EU) regarding the production and use of biogas from different sources. The EU is a world leader in the field of biogas, with a production of 10,085.8 ktoe y-1 (in 2011) in terms of primary energy, accounting for about 60% of the world's production. Germany is the EU country that has made the greatest progress in this field with a production of as much as 5,067.6 ktoe y-1, of which a share of 4,414.2 ktoe y-1 results from anaerobic digestion (and co-digestion) processes of selected organic matrices. UK is the second largest producer with 1,764.8 ktoe y 1, determined for 84% by landfill biogas and the remainder by biogas produced in sewage treatment plants (sludge digestion). Italy (1,095.7 ktoe y-1) and France (349.6 ktoe y-1) follow in the list of the largest producers. The trend of biogas production, in accordance with the action lines of the EU, is characterized by a progressive increase from anaerobic digestion (and co-digestion) of selected organic matrices and a progressive decrease from landfills. Production in 2020 is estimated at 28.0 Mtoe y-1 in accordance with the EU Renewable Energy National Plans. The uses of biogas are mainly directed to the production of electricity and heat. There are, however, several cases of conversion of biogas into biomethane injected into the natural gas grids or used as biofuel in vehicles. In this last direction, worthy of note are a few north-central EU countries which have implemented an effective policy to promote the use of biomethane for public and private transport. ; O artigo apresenta os resultados de uma pesquisa realizada na União Europeia sobre a produção e utilização de biogás a partir das diferentes fontes. A União Europeia demonstra um papel de liderança mundial na área de biogás, com a sua produção de 10.085,8 ktoe ano-1 (em 2011) em termos de energia primária, respondendo por cerca de 60% da produção mundial. A Alemanha é o país europeu que tem feito os maiores progressos neste domínio, com uma produção tanto quanto 5.067,6 ktoe ano-1, dos quais uma parte de 4.414,2 ktoe ano-1 resulta dos processos de digestão anaeróbia (e co-digestão) de matrizes orgânicas selecionadas. O Reino Unido é o segundo maior produtor da Europa com uma quota de 1.764,8 ktoe ano-1, com 84% do biogás proveniente de aterros sanitários e o restante produzido em estações de tratamento de esgotos (digestão do lodo). Itália (1.095,7 ktoe ano-1) e França (349,6 ktoe ano-1) seguem na lista dos maiores produtores europeus de biogás. A tendência de produção de biogás, de acordo com as linhas de ação da UE, é caracterizada por um aumento progressivo na produção de biogás em plantas de digestão anaeróbica (e co-digestão) de matrizes orgânicas selecionadas e uma diminuição progressiva da produção de aterros sanitários, com uma estimativa de 28,0 Mtoe ano-1 a serem produzidos em 2020, de acordo com os Planos Nacionais de Energias renováveis da UE. Os usos do biogás são direcionados principalmente para a produção de eletricidade e calor. Há, no entanto, vários casos de conversão de biogás em biometano a ser injetado na rede de gás natural ou para ser usado diretamente como gás biocarburante em veículos. Esta tendência ocorre principalmente em alguns países do centro-norte da UE, que têm implementado uma política eficaz para promover o uso de biometano para transportes públicos e privados. ; The article presents the results of a survey carried out in the European Union (EU) regarding the production and use of biogas from different sources. The EU is a world leader in the field of biogas, with a production of 10,085.8 ktoe y-1 (in 2011) in terms of primary energy, accounting for about 60% of the world's production. Germany is the EU country that has made the greatest progress in this field with a production of as much as 5,067.6 ktoe y-1, of which a share of 4,414.2 ktoe y-1 results from anaerobic digestion (and co-digestion) processes of selected organic matrices. UK is the second largest producer with 1,764.8 ktoe y 1, determined for 84% by landfill biogas and the remainder by biogas produced in sewage treatment plants (sludge digestion). Italy (1,095.7 ktoe y-1) and France (349.6 ktoe y-1) follow in the list of the largest producers. The trend of biogas production, in accordance with the action lines of the EU, is characterized by a progressive increase from anaerobic digestion (and co-digestion) of selected organic matrices and a progressive decrease from landfills. Production in 2020 is estimated at 28.0 Mtoe y-1 in accordance with the EU Renewable Energy National Plans. The uses of biogas are mainly directed to the production of electricity and heat. There are, however, several cases of conversion of biogas into biomethane injected into the natural gas grids or used as biofuel in vehicles. In this last direction, worthy of note are a few north-central EU countries which have implemented an effective policy to promote the use of biomethane for public and private transport.

The production of biofuels is strongly supported all over the world as a renewable energy source for reducing dependence on the unstable oil market. Bioethanol, the main biofuel produced in the world, is widely used to power vehicles in both the USA and Brazil, but concerns exist in both places regarding its sustainability. In Brazil, it is produced from a by product of the sugar cane industry, while in the USA it is manufactured from food crops. The production of biogas and biodiesel is growing rapidly, but neither has outpaced the production of bioethanol. The European Union (EU) is greatly interested in this issue, and in 2011 adopted an extensive strategy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions related to transport by 60% by the year 2050. In order to achieve this result, the current European transportation system must be transformed. This ambitious goal will require the implementation of complex measures including the reduction of fossil fuels in favor of renewable fuels. This program has various options regarding the development of biofuels (e. g., biogas, bioethanol and biodiesel) and their related technologies, which are still on trial (mainly regarding the bioethanol production), and must also analyze their sustainability from a social and economic standpoint. The paper discusses the use of biofuels for transport in the European setting, and shows that their sustainability may result in relevant negative social effects due mainly to the use of land for energy crops (e.g., change of food price and world food shortage). ; A produção de biocombustíveis é fortemente reconhecida em todo o mundo como uma fonte de energia renovável para reduzir a dependência do mercado instável do petróleo. Bioetanol, o principal biocombustível produzido no mundo, é largamente utilizado para a mobilidade no Brasil, e também nos EUA, mas com diferenças de sustentabilidade, porque no Brasil ele é produzido a partir de um subproduto da indústria de cana-de-açúcar, enquanto nos EUA é fabricado com culturas alimentares. Biogás e biodiesel estão crescendo rapidamente, mesmo que em um nível muito menor do que o bioetanol. A União Europeia (UE) observa este assunto com grande interesse e, há dois anos, adoptou uma ampla estratégia para reduzir em 60% as emissões de dióxido de carbono no setor de transporte, até o ano 2050. A fim de alcançar esse resultado, será necessária a transformação do atual sistema europeu de transportes. A ambiciosa meta implicará em medidas complexas, incluindo a limitação do uso de combustíveis fósseis em favor de combustíveis renováveis. Este programa abre várias possibilidades de desenvolvimento dos biocombustíveis (ou seja, biogás, bioetanol e biodiesel). Para concretizar este avanço, é preciso se desenvolver tecnologias de nova geração em fase de experimentação (principalmente para a produção de bioetanol a partir de resíduos florestais), bem como a análise da sustentabilidade econômica e social desta nova fonte de combustível. Este artigo trata da utilização de biocombustíveis nos transportes no cenário europeu e mostra que a produção de biocombustíveis pode aumentar efeitos sociais negativos relevantes, principalmente ligados ao uso da terra para culturas energéticas em vez de alimentos com efeitos sobre o preço de mercado e da escassez mundial de alimentos. ; The production of biofuels is strongly supported all over the world as a renewable energy source for reducing dependence on the unstable oil market. Bioethanol, the main biofuel produced in the world, is widely used to power vehicles in both the USA and Brazil, but concerns exist in both places regarding its sustainability. In Brazil, it is produced from a by product of the sugar cane industry, while in the USA it is manufactured from food crops. The production of biogas and biodiesel is growing rapidly, but neither has outpaced the production of bioethanol. The European Union (EU) is greatly interested in this issue, and in 2011 adopted an extensive strategy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions related to transport by 60% by the year 2050. In order to achieve this result, the current European transportation system must be transformed. This ambitious goal will require the implementation of complex measures including the reduction of fossil fuels in favor of renewable fuels. This program has various options regarding the development of biofuels (e. g., biogas, bioethanol and biodiesel) and their related technologies, which are still on trial (mainly regarding the bioethanol production), and must also analyze their sustainability from a social and economic standpoint. The paper discusses the use of biofuels for transport in the European setting, and shows that their sustainability may result in relevant negative social effects due mainly to the use of land for energy crops (e.g., change of food price and world food shortage).