Energy > Solid biofuels

Lignocellulosic biomass can provide fuel for building and industrial heating systems, and even for power production using cogeneration or pyrolysis units. This resource can be found in the byproducts of agri-industrial processing (wood, straw, hulls, pulp, etc.) or in purpose-grown crops (woody or grassy plants). The economic and energy balance sheets of agricultural and agri-industrial processing chains can be enhanced by marketing byproducts as valuable commodities. Dedicated crops, such as as short-rotation coppices (SRC) and annual grassy plants (fibrous sorghum) are also potential sources of biofuel, and could be planted on unused lands, helping to mitigate the greenhouse effect. AGRICE supports the development of the biofuels chain through feasibility studies and work to improve energy production processes.

As an example, a realistic goal-- substituting lignocellulosic biomass for 100,000 TOE of fossil fuels-- would require 28,000 hectares of short-rotation and energy crops with an annual yield of 10 tonnes of dry matter per hectare.

But fuelwood continues to be the primary solid lignocellulosic biofuel used in France. Overall consumption is in excess of 9 million TOE, comprising 1.2 MTOE used in building and industrial heating, and over 8 MTOE used to heat single-family residences. The development of agricultural solid biofuels should go hand in hand with that of fuelwood.

To this end ADEME is pursuing a fuelwood development programme focusing on building and industrial heating. Some 450 building-wide boiler systems are in use in collective-use buildings (community buildings, multifamily residences), displacing 150,000 TOE of fossil fuels yearly.