The Use of Biomass to Produce Electricity

The use of biomass to produce electricity has received much less attention than biofuels in the EU and the US. However, the production of bioelectricity has been increasing, especially in Europe. Bioelectricity has an advantage over some other renewable sources, such as wind or solar, in maintaining the ability of generators to respond more easily to fluctuating electricity demand. However, with current prices for other primary fuels there is limited availability of biomass supplies at prices generators are willing to pay. Bioelectricity production is influenced by policies for promoting the use of renewable energy and other policies, such as those relating to greenhouse gas emissions. Various incentive schemes are in place in the EU and US, such as feed-in tariffs that guarantee favourable purchase prices for renewables, and Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) requiring that renewables constitute minimum percentages of electricity generation or Green Certificates which promote the use of renewables. The future development of bioelectricity will be determined by the form and magnitude of policy incentives and by prices for fossil fuels. Feedstock availability will only be assured if there are coordinated efforts at regional and local levels to develop the transportation and other infrastructure needed to create well-functioning biomass markets.