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Browsing Reports by Subject "Biomass energy"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Renewables-based electric cooking: climate commitments and finance
    (International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2023)
    Globally, around 2.3 billion people lacked access to clean cooking technologies and fuels in 2023. Despite substantial gains over the last decade, universal access to clean cooking may not be achieved by 2030 at the current rate of progress. The continued use of polluting fuels and inefficient cookstoves results in negative environmental, health and human livelihood externalities. Over the coming decades, as outlined in IRENA’s World Energy Transitions Outlook, the world will need to accelerate its shift to renewable cooking solutions. This will involve both cleaner bioenergy solutions (including biogas and bioethanol) and renewables-based electric cooking. Renewables-based electric cooking is essential to achieving the transition to a low-carbon economy, given that greenhouse gas emissions from cooking account for an estimated 2% of global emissions. This report assesses countries’ current access to renewables-based electric cooking in the context of their climate commitments. Only a handful countries assessed have already incorporated electric cooking into their climate commitments, with 22 countries including electric cooking in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) or Long-term low emission development strategies (LT-LEDS). Commitments toward increasing electric cooking adoption take many forms, with most countries setting qualitative targets towards promoting electric cooking. The report also highlights the importance of finance in supporting the adoption of electric cooking, and provides action plans to scale up electric cooking solutions for different country groups based on their current status.
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    Sustainable bioenergy pathways in Latin America: promoting bioenergy investment and sustainability
    (International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2024)
    Latin America, with its favourable climate, land availability and strong agricultural industry, has considerable untapped potential for biomass production. A workshop held in São Paulo in March 2023, featuring public and private sector representatives, explored this potential, focusing on Argentina, Brazil and Colombia. The workshop reviewed successful instances of the assessment and valuation of greenhouse gas reduction using biofuels; identified the need for a robust legal and regulatory framework to ensure stable market conditions and reduce investment risk; and emphasised the importance of regional cooperation to share knowledge and overcome barriers, prejudices and bottlenecks. In order to promote the bioenergy sector in the region, the workshop also recommended implementing a bioenergy market with financial incentives and support for research, technology, and infrastructure, and the subsequent progressive development and diversification of products and markets.
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    Sustainable bioenergy potential in Caribbean small island developing states
    (International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2024)
    This IRENA study on sustainable bioenergy in the Caribbean provides a holistic view of the bioenergy potential in six small island developing states in the Caribbean region – Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana. The report assesses the potential for using various feedstocks, such as sugarcane, oil palm and municipal solid waste, to produce bioenergy, taking into account the crucial balance between ecological health and socio-economic benefits in these states. The study presents a detailed assessment of the available land for bioenergy crops, estimating around 2.15 million hectares across the six countries. It highlights the opportunities for producing significant quantities of biofuels including ethanol and biodiesel, as well as the feasibility of generating bioelectricity. This is all evaluated within the context of existing technological capabilities and environmental considerations, aiming to provide a sustainable approach to energy needs while acknowledging related challenges and limitations. The report offers a nuanced perspective on the role of bioenergy in the Caribbean’s future energy landscape. It outlines the potential environmental benefits – such as reduced carbon emissions – and economic advantages, like job creation. However, it also recognises the uncertainties and challenges involved in realising this potential, emphasising the need for careful consideration and planning. The findings aim to inform and guide policy-makers and stakeholders in making informed decisions about the region’s energy future.