By 2030, world demand for energy will increase by more than 50% compared to 2000 and, according to International Energy Agency estimates, fossil fuels will cover more than 80% of the increase in energy demand and will lead to an increase in global CO2 emissions of approximately 55% compared to the current level. These are some of the elements that emerged today during the international workshop organized by the Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP), in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of the Environment and the Forum Das Americas.
Bioenergy contributes about 11% of primary energy and represents 80% of renewable sources globally. The commitments made in recent years by many countries to achieve mandatory quotas of biofuels in their energy portfolio between 2010 and 2020 (European Union, USA, Canada, Brazil, China, Colombia, Malaysia, Thailand) make it essential to develop new technologies for production of second and third generation biofuels, capable of ensuring the compatibility of biofuels with food and environmental safety.
It is foreseeable that, by 2020, "second generation" bioethanol and biodiesel derived from cellulosic biomass will be available (dedicated non-food agricultural production, rice husks, sugar cane bagasse, agricultural residues, municipal solid waste). Furthermore, the prospects for the development of biofuels from the CO2 fertilization of algae are good
”The obligations established at Community level – said Corrado Clini, president of GBEP and director general of the Ministry of the Environment – are stringent and to respect them Italy will find itself in the position of having to buy 90% of biofuels abroad to satisfy the question. The alternative to buying could be investing in countries which, like Africa, have great prospects in terms of production. We have the know-how to develop the technology, as demonstrated by the Eni-Novamont collaboration agreements, the ongoing research and experiments on the use of algae and, last but not least, also the commitment of private individuals such as those of the Mossi&Ghisolfi Group which has the construction of the first plant in the world for the production of second generation bioethanol has begun in the Vercelli area. It takes 'only' the will of the institutions”.
