Thinking global, acting local

The biomass case in Lluçanès

INDEX

Agenda 21Agenda 21

World Mayors Summit on Climate ChangeWorld Mayors Summit on Climate Change

Biomass as an Alternative Biomass as an Alternative

Biomass Project in LlucanésBiomass Project in Llucanés

Agenda 21

““Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, organizations of the United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups in every area in Governments, and Major Groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment.”which human impacts on the environment.”

Adopted by 178 governments at the Conference Adopted by 178 governments at the Conference of Rio 1992of Rio 1992

Top-down approachTop-down approach

Agenda 21

Made of 115 different and specific programs to Made of 115 different and specific programs to facilitate the transition towards Sustainable facilitate the transition towards Sustainable Development => every aspects of modern life Development => every aspects of modern life (education, housing, energy, population,…)(education, housing, energy, population,…)

Reflects a global consensus and political Reflects a global consensus and political commitment at the highest level on commitment at the highest level on development and environment cooperation development and environment cooperation (United Nations)(United Nations)

138 mayors in 43 countries signed a 138 mayors in 43 countries signed a voluntaryvoluntary pact to reduce pact to reduce greenhouse emissionsgreenhouse emissions

The majors comprised to act against The majors comprised to act against climate change throughclimate change through

Water managementWater management

Using waste as an ecological Using waste as an ecological alternativealternative

Promoting reforestationPromoting reforestation

Modernization of public transportationModernization of public transportation

Use of technology Use of technology

Biomass as an alternative What is it?

Biomass is a biological material delivered from Biomass is a biological material delivered from living or recently living organisms. living or recently living organisms.

Applys for animal and vegetable materials.Applys for animal and vegetable materials.

It’s carbon based and is composed by a It’s carbon based and is composed by a mixture of molecules that contain hydrogen, it mixture of molecules that contain hydrogen, it usually includes atoms of oxygen and other usually includes atoms of oxygen and other materials.materials.

Biomass is regenerative organic material that Biomass is regenerative organic material that can be used to produce energy.can be used to produce energy.

Biomass as an alternative Energy from biomass?Biomass can be converted in energy in the form of heat Biomass can be converted in energy in the form of heat or electricity, or in the form of fuels such as biofuel or or electricity, or in the form of fuels such as biofuel or combustible biogas. combustible biogas.

The conversion process is based in the photosyntesis that The conversion process is based in the photosyntesis that happens within biomasses for their organic constitution. happens within biomasses for their organic constitution. Carbon dioxide and water are converted into gloucose Carbon dioxide and water are converted into gloucose and oxygen gas through the imput of energy.and oxygen gas through the imput of energy.

Many types of conversion: thermal, chemical, Many types of conversion: thermal, chemical, biochemical.biochemical.

Energy from biomass?

Biomass as an alternative

Biomass as an alternative Where does it come from?

Aquatic and terrestian vegetation, residues from Aquatic and terrestian vegetation, residues from foresty or agriculture, animal waste and municipal foresty or agriculture, animal waste and municipal waste. waste.

Crops, wood, manure, land fill gases and alcohol fuels. Crops, wood, manure, land fill gases and alcohol fuels.

Ethanol is one of the biggest examples of biomass Ethanol is one of the biggest examples of biomass fuel. fuel.

The most sustainable ones are: The most sustainable ones are: crops that don’t crops that don’t compete with food crops, crops residues such as compete with food crops, crops residues such as wheat straw and corn stover, sustainably-harvested wheat straw and corn stover, sustainably-harvested wood and forest resudues and clean municipal and wood and forest resudues and clean municipal and industrial wastes. industrial wastes.

Biomass as an alternative What about CO2 emissions?The converting process of biomass, at least the most common The converting process of biomass, at least the most common

ones, produces air pollution.ones, produces air pollution.

The carbon from biomass is realeased in the atmosphere in the The carbon from biomass is realeased in the atmosphere in the form of CO2form of CO2

Buut….Buut….

Burning fossil fuel releases carbon dioxide that was captured Burning fossil fuel releases carbon dioxide that was captured during photosynthesis literally millions of years ago. As it is burned, during photosynthesis literally millions of years ago. As it is burned, carbon dioxide is released as a new greenhouse gas, a ‘new’ carbon dioxide is released as a new greenhouse gas, a ‘new’ carbon dioxide. Biomass fuel, on the other hand, releases carbon carbon dioxide. Biomass fuel, on the other hand, releases carbon dioxide that was recently captured during photosynthesis and it dioxide that was recently captured during photosynthesis and it tends to equal itself outtends to equal itself out..

Biomass cycle

Biomass as an alternative

An ongoing projectBiomass in Lluçanès

Biomass Project in Lluçanès

ContextContext

The territory covers 13 The territory covers 13 municipalities. municipalities.

8.200 inhabitants. 8.200 inhabitants.

The project has been The project has been led by the Service of led by the Service of Rural Development Rural Development since 2005. since 2005.

Biomass boiler in Saint Boi, Lluçanes

Biomass Project in Lluçanès

ObjectivesObjectives

Promote the biomass in Promote the biomass in the territory as a local the territory as a local source of renewable source of renewable energy. energy.

Dynamize the Forest Dynamize the Forest Sector to produce Sector to produce biomass. biomass.

Biomass boiler in Saint Boi, Lluçanes

Biomass Project in LlucanésDifficultiesDifficulties

General unknowledge of this kind of energy.General unknowledge of this kind of energy.

Biofuels market is not consolidated.Biofuels market is not consolidated.

Lack of trained people: arquitects, installers, Lack of trained people: arquitects, installers, technicians…technicians…

Profitability Profitability

Poor support of the administration.Poor support of the administration.

Biomass Project in Llucanés

Articles Articles

Visits Visits

BrochuresBrochures

InterviewsInterviews

Information days Information days

ConferencesConferences

Discussions Discussions

Consultancies about biomass Consultancies about biomass boilers to private and public boilers to private and public organizations, owners of forest organizations, owners of forest companies and people in companies and people in general. general.

Creation of the Asociación de Creation of the Asociación de Propietarios Forestales de LlucanPropietarios Forestales de Llucan

In order to face the difficulties, the Service of Rural Development has implemented different ways to promote the Biomass:

Biomass Project in LlucanésToday they have: Today they have:

9 installed boilers in municipal buildings: economic savings 9 installed boilers in municipal buildings: economic savings of 25% and 67% in comparison to the gas oil. of 25% and 67% in comparison to the gas oil.

COCO2 2 annualannual reductionreduction: 3.400 ton. : 3.400 ton.

More More than 40 boilers in the territory.than 40 boilers in the territory.

More than 2MWh of power installed.More than 2MWh of power installed.

Renewables energies promotion in the educational Renewables energies promotion in the educational community. community.

Biomass Project in LluçanèsOpportunities Opportunities

Biomass potential in the Biomass potential in the territory.territory.

Wastes increase in value.Wastes increase in value.

Economical and social benefits.Economical and social benefits.

Renewable energies market is Renewable energies market is growing. growing.

WeaknessesWeaknesses

The price of wood is decreasing.The price of wood is decreasing.

Unknowledge of technology. Unknowledge of technology.

High level of initial investment in High level of initial investment in boilers.boilers.

Lack of demand.Lack of demand.

Lack of credit facilities. Lack of credit facilities.

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