Relative Greenhouse Gas Abatement Cost Competitiveness of Biofuels in Germany

Markus Millinger, Kathleen Meisel, Maik Budzinski and Daniela Thrän
Additional contact information
Markus Millinger: Department of Bioenergy, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Kathleen Meisel: Department of Bioenergy Systems, Deutsches Biomasseforschungszentrum gemeinnützige GmbH—DBFZ, Torgauer Straße 116, 04347 Leipzig, Germany
Maik Budzinski: Department of Bioenergy, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Daniela Thrän: Department of Bioenergy, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Permoserstraße 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 3, 1-23

Abstract: Transport biofuels derived from biogenic material are used for substituting fossil fuels, thereby abating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Numerous competing conversion options exist to produce biofuels, with differing GHG emissions and costs. In this paper, the analysis and modeling of the long-term development of GHG abatement and relative GHG abatement cost competitiveness between crop-based biofuels in Germany are carried out. Presently dominant conventional biofuels and advanced liquid biofuels were found not to be competitive compared to the substantially higher yielding options available: sugar beet-based ethanol for the short- to medium-term least-cost option and substitute natural gas (SNG) for the medium to long term. The competitiveness of SNG was found to depend highly on the emissions development of the power mix. Silage maize-based biomethane was found competitive on a land area basis, but not on an energetic basis. Due to land limitations, as well as cost and GHG uncertainty, a stronger focus on the land use of crop-based biofuels should be laid out in policy.

Keywords: biofuels; greenhouse gas; GHG; abatement cost; modeling; competition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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