Bioenergy for the urban environment

Abstract: At the present time the use of bioenergy within larger municipalities in North America is limited, but a variety of technologies do exist to generate heat, electricity and transportation fuels from biomass, which can provide for the energy requirements of cities. One of the most efficient bioenergy options for cities is combined heat and power, which generates both electricity and heat simultaneously. Planning for bioenergy in a city requires consideration of a number of important variables. The first step is an assessment of available biomass resources within an area. Biomass extraction must be evaluated against socio-economic, logistical and environmental criteria, as well as greenhouse gas balances and appropriate technology. These criteria allow decision makers to select the most suitable biomass resources and energy conversion technologies. Numerous examples of successful bioenergy applications already exist in cities, suggesting that bioenergy can be a part of sustainable urban energy supply.

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