Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Reports
URL https://task44.ieabioenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2021/03/IEA-Task-44-report-Expectation-and-implementation-of-flexible-bioenergy-in-different-countries-1.pdf
Title (Primary) Expectation and implementation of flexible bioenergy in different countries
Author Thrän, D.; Schering, K.; Schmieder, U.; Andersson, K.; Deane, P.; Dotzauer, M.; Hannula, I.; Hennig, C.; Höftberger, E.; Kiel, J.; Kranzl, L.; Kroon, P.; Lange, N.; Nielsen, M.P.; Norbeck, K.; Philbrook, A.; Rowe, I.; Schildhauer, T.; Schipfer, F.; Siikavirta, H.; Similä, L.; Talluri, G.
Source Titel IEA Bioenergy Task 44
Year 2021
Department BIOENERGIE
Page To 129
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Abstract Flexible bioenergy – as defined in IEA Bioenergy Task 44 - is a bioenergy system that can provide multiple services and benefits to the energy system under varying operating conditions and/or loads.

This report compares eleven OECD members in their status and expectation on flexible bioenergy. This includes Australia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States of America.

The actual role of bioenergy in the different countries strongly varies between sectors and countries, from only some percent up to more than 30% of the final energy demand. The heating and cooling sector is of major relevance today, and the expectation of varying renewable energies in the electricity sector lead to additional demand for flexibility. However, the power sector has a major impact in the perception of energy transition. While most of the countries are still in the decision making for climate neutral energy provision systems towards 2050 at the latest, the consideration of flexible bioenergy is still in an early stage.


Dedicated chances for flexible bioenergy are seen in the substitution of fossil fuels, in support of the energy transition providing flexible electricity, and also in different energy system services such as biofuels provision, renewable heat implementation as well as carbon capture and utilisation options and the reduction of grid operation costs. Even though all surveyed countries are OECD members, the status, policy frame and examples are heterogeneous and give different priorities to short term flexible bioenergy and multiproduct systems and longer-term flexibility services as well. Thus, even under the consideration of the phase of system transformation towards fluctuating renewables, as proposed by IEA (https://www.iea.org/topics/system-integration-of-renewables), we still see different expectations between the countries.

To introduce flexible bioenergy there is no blue print at the table. However, most of the countries mentioned best practice examples. Hence, as a first area of action we propose a better mapping and promotion of best practices, as there is a wide variety of options to use biomass in different sectors (https://task44.ieabioenergy.com/best-practices/). Additionally, the countries see the need to encourage demonstration in pilot plants, which requires support by renewable energy research and implementation actions.


Technological barriers are not seen to be a major challenge, but an economic feasible integration of the technologies in the overall energy system. Coherent policy support to integrate flexible bioenergy in the energy system is considered as necessary. To unlock the potential benefits, we propose a stronger link between flexible bioenergy and other options for flexibility, such as demand side management, energy storage, power-to-X and also green hydrogen.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=24456
Thrän, D., Schering, K., Schmieder, U., Andersson, K., Deane, P., Dotzauer, M., Hannula, I., Hennig, C., Höftberger, E., Kiel, J., Kranzl, L., Kroon, P., Lange, N., Nielsen, M.P., Norbeck, K., Philbrook, A., Rowe, I., Schildhauer, T., Schipfer, F., Siikavirta, H., Similä, L., Talluri, G. (2021):
Expectation and implementation of flexible bioenergy in different countries
IEA Bioenergy Task 44
IEA Bioenergy, 129 pp.