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Table 5 Gap Analysis of the DECC/BEIS 2050 Calculator Pathways Analysis [21]

From: Bioenergy utilization for a low carbon future in the UK: the evaluation of some alternative scenarios and projections

Salient Issue

Strengths

Limitations

Land Availability

Widespread uptake of second generation feedstocks.

Projected increases in yields for energy and food crops are a critical factor in achieving bioenergy land use targets.

Land use change

 

Positive and negative effects of land use change are not elaborated.

Assumed to balance out giving net zero effects - an oversimplification.

  

No consideration of potential for land use changes outside the UK, despite considerable pressure on domestic land use.

Socio-economic factors

Underlying assumptions make allowances for the impact of increased energy crop deployment and their social implications.

 
 

Recognises the need for financial incentives for suppliers (e.g., farmers) uptake.

Assumed that farmers are incentivised to develop bioenergy, athough discussion is limited.

Conversion Technologies

Detailed coverage of conversion technologies, future developments, and levels of influence on scenarios.

 

Bioenergy Imports

Attempt made to model bioenergy available for international trade.

Assumes imports are ‘carbon zero’ – major oversimplification leading to unreliable estimates of ‘greenhouse gas’ (GHG) savings. Simplification even more drastic when considering large volumes of imports under the DECC 2050 Pathways.

 

Recognises the need for sustainability criteria regulating imports.

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