Document Actions
Completed Projects
- Renewable Resources and Land Use
- Certification of biofuels
- Biodiesel and bioethanol in the fuel markets
- Comparison of different biofuel options
Renewable Resources and Land Use
To go beyond spread-sheet calculations and interpretation of existing studies and data, we have now started to develop – together with project partners from other institutions – an integrated modeling system that allows us to analyze the land-use competition of bioenergy production and the role of bioenergy in climate change mitigation.
The project NaRoLa (Renewable Resources and Land Use - Integration of bioenergy into a sustainable energy strategy) is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Project partners of the Kiel Institute are the Department of Environmental and Resource Economics at the University of Bonn and the Institute of Rural Studies at the Federal Agricultural Research Centre.
The aim of the project was to get a better understanding of the land use conflicts resulting from the cultivation of energy plants as well as of the economy-wide effects of bioenergy use. The main research focus is on Germany, though international economic feedback effects will be taken into account. Research questions deal with the impact of bioenergy on land use, sectoral production, factor inputs and incomes. Due consideration has been given to the environmental consequences of increased bioenergy production. It has furthermore been interesting to examine in how far bioenergy production has contribute to rural development.
To answer these questions, an integrated modeling approach has been chosen that combines the following models: The DART model of the IfW is harmonised with the regionalized agricultural and environmental information system RAUMIS, which maps in detail the German agricultural sector and its land use. A newly developed location choice model for bioenergy plants is linked to complete the integrated modeling system. The results received based on this modeling process shall then serve to formulate policy advice on the integration of bioenergy into a sustainable energy system. Here, you find more information on the NaRola project.
In this project, the research group was involved in developing an international certification system for biomass and biofuels. More information is available here. Biodiesel and bioethanol in the fuel marketsThis project analyzes the production and use of the two biofuels, biodiesel and bioethanol that are already in the German and European fuel markets. In Germany, biodiesel has a share of more than 4% of the diesel market and bioethanol as a substitute for gasoline is increasingly used as well. The aim of the project is to assess the economic impact and feedback mechanisms of the promotion and increased use of biofuels in Germany. This will be done for the agricultural sector, the biofuels industry and for the mineral oil industry. In addition climate policy aspects of the promotion of biofuels and the international competetiveness of biofuels produced in Germany will be assessed. Comparison of different biofuel optionsOne important aspect of climate and energy policies is the support for renewable energy sources. The energetic use of biomass is considered as an alternative that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and relieve the shortage of limited fossil energy sources. Moreover, the use of primary agricultural products for the production of energy shall create an alternative distribution channel and relief pressure from agricultural markets. Biofuels are one option for an energetic use of biomass. Today, two biofuels, biodiesel and bioethanol mainly produced from rape and wheat, sugar beet or sugar cane are already in the market in many countries. In Germany for example biodiesel has a market share of 4% in the diesel fuel market. In addition, further biofuels with a broader resource base are being developed. In most countries, the introduction of biofuels is heavily subsidized and national markets are strongly protected. However, production costs, production potential, ecological effects and greenhouse gas abatement costs vary considerably across countries and across the different biofuels. The project shall compare the ecological effectiveness, the efficiency, the potential and market chances and the framework conditions of the use of different biofuels and shall lead to proposals for biofuels politics. |