Latest news

The latest news about Biomass Research

21/05/2024 Presentation on evaluating and improving circular bioeconomies in cities and regions

European cities can become circular bioeconomy hubs, in which sustainable bio-based produced are made from biowaste. However, few cities and regions have bio-based economy strategies and projects. The HOOP project aims to further innovation in the sector by working with eight lighthouse cities and regions to implement circular processes. The projects supports cities and regions by addressing legal, financial, and technical barriers and works to unlock investments in biowaste and wastewater valorisation technologies.

In this webinar series experts from the HOOP project share learnings and best practices to help make urban circular bioeconomy projects a reality.

In this presentation, Research4Life showed research results : an inventory of biowaste and Urban Waste Sludge (UWWS) streams in eight cities and regions, from collection, to treatment, and to post-treatment utilization. The outcome of the research allows cities to evaluate current waste management and to find solutions for novel circular processes from there. Find out more about Research4Life’s outputs for the HOOP project : https://biomassresearch.eu/hoop/ and find the presentation slides on our publications page.

Biomass plays a role in the transition to a carbon-neutral economy in The Netherlands

The article, written by Sasja Hooijschuur and published in a recent issue of the Dutch journal Vakblad Energie en Duurzaamheid, examines the role of biomass in the Dutch energy mix, its primary sources, and future durability.

Biomass represents 40% of the Dutch final renewable energy consumption and is sourced primarily from waste streams. Sustainability of biomass use depends on its use as renewable energy remaining secondary to its use for primary uses (food and construction, among others), on recuperation of CO2 during combustion, and sustainability of biomass sourcing. Biomass demand will increase in the Netherlands, and is currently and predicted in the future to be a major portion of the renewable energy mix, due to affordability and versatile uses. Data in this article were sourced from the 2022 PBE report, published by Biomass Research, downloadable here: https://biomassresearch.eu/publications/

Figure sourced from the 2023 PBE report

United-States corn ethanol paper downloaded 1000 times

The 2021 Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) paper on United-States use of corn for ethanol has been downloaded from the Biomass Research website more than 1000 times! The authors examine causal interactions among corn market variables. The paper questions the causal relationship between increased US biofuel production from corn and rising corn and food prices globally which had been hypothesized in previous studies, showing that no causality was found. The paper concludes that linking U.S. corn ethanol production to large reductions in corn availability and exports, and higher global corn prices requires further research.

BIOMOB conference 2024: Debunking old biofuel issues

Recent targets for biokerosine (Sustainable Aviation Fuels) have sparked the discussion on the sustainability of biofuels. In a recent presentation, Hans Langeveld (director of Biomass Research) debunked two central issues : the food VS fuels, and indirect land use change (ILUC). Hans used UN statistics on hunger and food trade to demonstrate increased U.S. ethanol fuel production did not cause malnutrition or deforestation.

View the presentation on our publications page !