EUBCE 2024 - Ralf PECENKA - Biomass Potentials, Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Required Process Chains for Biomass from Rewetted Peatland

Biomass Potentials, Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Required Process Chains for Biomass from Rewetted Peatland

Short Introductive summary

Rewetting of drained peatlands to reduce GHG emissions is an issue that affects many European countries and an agricultural area of more than 50 million hectares in the EU until 2045. This not only poses enormous challenges for agriculture, but also offers great potential for the production of biomass, as these areas can no longer be used for food production in the near future. Since 2020, the Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB) investigates together with 14 industrial partners from different branches the opportunities to use grass-like biomass from peatland as alternative raw material for products, which are currently mainly produced from wood, wood fibres, mischanthus or maize. Until now, most promising options are to produce fibres for pulp, paper, cardboards and insulation or using the biomass for substitution of peat or as substrate for biogas production. The application potential in these areas and the regional cultivation areas required for this were determined and the technical and economic requirements analysed in detail. Results of this analysis as well as the next steps for putting these new value chains into pratice will be presented.

R. Peenka, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy, Potsdam, GERMANY
C. Lühr, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy, Potsdam, GERMANY
M. Heiermann, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy, Potsdam, GERMANY