The paper summarizes findings of a workshop on bioenergy, and reviews the global bioenergy trade and market developments in Asia, as well as perspectives on trade in solid biofuels, trade in liquid biofuels, and trade and sustainability.
The workshop found that although potential for vast production of sustainable, low greenhouse gas (GHG) emission biofuels exists, much research is needed to achieve this goal.
June 2011: The International Energy Agency (IEA) published a report, titled “Developing Sustainable Trade in Bioenergy: Summary and Conclusions from the IEA Bioenergy ExCo65 Workshop,” which lays out perspectives on bioenergy trade, with a focus on Asia.
The paper offers an overview of the global bioenergy trade and market developments specifically in Asia, before going into detail about: trade in solid bioenergy, trade in liquid biofuels, and trade and sustainability. It concludes with the main findings of the workshop.
Among the findings: of total bioenergy produced, 8% of ethanol, 25% of biodiesel and 13% of pellet production is now traded; trade is still extremely volatile due to the inconsistency of political support schemes, although it is slowly becoming more stable; major trade barriers include tariffs and other support schemes, sustainability criteria, logistics, and phytosanitary measures; and that although potential for vast production of sustainable, low greenhouse gas (GHG) emission biofuels exists, much research is needed to achieve this goal. [Publication: ExCo65 Workshop: Developing Sustainable Trade in Bioenergy – Summary and Conclusions]