Resource efficiency by cascading use of biomass

Biomass is a natural resource of particular importance. Its primary production is bound on land use and lies in conflict with a variety of potential problems, such as the competition with food and fodder production and associated land-use changes. To satisfy the needs of the world population, a more efficient and sustainable use of biomass is essential. Many experts agree that raw materials like biomass should be used several times in a cascading sequence of material uses as efficiently as possible. Furthermore, biomass should only be used energetically at the end of the materials life cycle. This principle is defined as cascading use of biomass.

The Project aims to identify and elaborate potentials of cascading use of several bio-based raw materials. On the one hand, factors of success and failure will be analysed based on practical examples from industry. On the other hand, the ecological preferences of cascading use of biomass will be examined in detail. The results will provide new insights and arguments, which help decision makers to develop a strategy for the design of target-oriented and promising policies and instruments.

The Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IFEU) is the leader of the project and cooperates with the three partners nova-Institute, Institut für ZukunftEnergieSysteme (IZES) and Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Climate.

Please find more information on the project website: www.biomassekaskaden.de

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (FKZ 3713 44 100 ).