Biobased economy prof. dr. Tom Kuppens

Globalization and 28th February 2019 Overview

. What is a biobased economy?

. Why do we need a biobased economy?

. Is biobased always more sustainable than fossil?

. How can we realize the transition towards a biobased economy?

. What is the role of education in that transition?

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 2 What is a biobased economy? What is ? A definition ...

‘biomass’ means the biodegradable fraction of products, waste and residues from biological origin from (including vegetal and animal substances), and related industries including and , as well as the biodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal waste

Source: Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC)

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 4 28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 5 Biomass as energy source . Oldest energy source . wood and harvest residues . fuel for cooking and heating . still daily reality in large parts of the world

. Renewable energy source . replenishes itself  non-depletable

. Sustainable energy source

. CO2-neutral (see next slide)

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 6 Biomass as energy source

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 7 Biomass as energy source

short carbon cycle

carbon capture and utilization

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 8 Biomass as energy source Why does the demand for biomass as energy source increase?

. Paris Agreement (12th December 2015)

. 20/20/20 goals EU  by 2020 . 20% cut in GHG emissions (from 1990 levels)  40% by 2030 . 20% of EU energy from renewables  27% by 2030 . 20% improvement in energy efficiency

. What after 2020? EU Energy Roadmap 2050 . 80-95% cut in GHG emissions (from 1990 levels) . 55-75% of EU energy from renewables (until 97% in electricity consumption)

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 9 Biomass as energy source

Energy use in Flanders 2016 Source: Energy balance Flanders 1990-2016

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 10 Biomassa als energiebron

Gross green power production in Flanders Source: Inventory renewable energy sources Flanders 2005-2017

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 11 Biomass as energy source

Use of biomass for energy purposes in Flanders Source: Inventory renewable energy sources Flanders 2005-2017

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 12 Cascading . optimal usage . in time . in value . in function

. avoid conflicts in biomass use

. lowest priority for energy applications

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 13

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 14 Biorefinery

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 15 Biorefinery

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 16 Biorefinery

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 17 Bio-economy and biobased economy

The bio-economy includes all activities related to the production of biomass, and the ways in which the biomass and its residues can be used subsequently.

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 18 Bio-economy and biobased economy

The biobased economy (BBE) is the part of the bio-economy in which biobased materials and energy are produced and biomass is used in processes.

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 19 Biobased and

biocycle technocycle

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 20 Biobased and circular economy . Both are solutions for efficient use of resources and

. Integration of both concepts is even more powerful, i.e. . circular economy should contain a renewable dimension from the start by replacing depletable resources by renewable resources . biobased economy should be circular at the end by paying attention to the ‘end-of-life’: also materials from renewable resources are kept in the cycle by resuse, recycling, etc.

Bron: Van Buggenhout, Eva en Van Gijseghem Dirk (2016) “De Vlaamse bio- economie strategie, heden en toekomst” Departement LV 28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 21 Why do we need a biobased economy? Why a biobased economy? Vision and strategy of the Flemish government for a sustainable and competitive bio-economy by 2030

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 23 Why a biobased economy? . Answer to climate change

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 24 Why a biobased economy? . Finiteness of the fossil fuel reserves

natural gas oil coal

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 25 Why a biobased economy? . Population growth . food security . increased demand for natural fibers for clothing and living

. Safe, secured, sustainable and affordable energy (Energy Roadmap 2050) . increased role of intermittent energy sources (sun and wind) in the total energy mix . need for energy storage (e.g. biomass) . bio-energy contributes to the stability of the electricity grid

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 26 Why a biobased economy? . opportunities for in the crossborder region Flanders-Netherlands . in the next 5 years there will be around 5000 ‘biobased’ jobs and 3000 ‘circular’ jobs . BBE will have the greatest impact on the chemistry/biotech sector . both in large enterprisis in which the BBE is (slowly) included in the portfolio of activities . as well as in small enterprises who position themselves from the start as a BBE compony

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 27 Why a biobased economy?

Bron: Sustainable use of and creation of value from renewable raw materials for biobased industrial production such as biomaterials and green chemicals in Flanders (2016)

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 28 Examples . What? . valorisation of particleboard, brewer’s spent grain, ... to biochar and activated carbon

. How? .

. Business model? . Furniture manufacturers now pay 90 EUR for the disposal of one ton of particleboard waste  ACT&SORB processes this waste at a lower cost . Activated carbon yield is 33% higher compared to fresh wood feedstock  ACT&SORB can supply activated carbon at a lower price

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 29 Examples . Alternative aviation fuels . can replace up to 50% of fossil based kerosene

FT $1.15/l

HEFA $0.91/l

Kerosine $0.64/l

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 30 Examples . Products of applewood residues from Haspengouw

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 31 Examples . Co-innovation by processing of expired food from supermarkets, and pig/chicken manure . Insects for food, feed, chemistry and agriculture . low-grade biomass  high-grade for feed . chitin  keeps food in plastic foil fresh longer  wound healing + blood solidification in band aid (black soldier fly does not transmit diseases) . replacement of fish meal for (overfishing) fish

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 32 Example . Biobased PEF (polyethylene furanoate) to replace fossil PET (polyethylene terephtalate)

. better barrier for O2 and CO2

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 33 Is biobased always more sustainable than fossil? Is biobased always more sustainable than fossil? Is biomass truely environmentally friendly?

 preference for the use of locally available biomass

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 35 Is biobased always more sustainable than fossil?

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 36 Is biobased always more sustainable than fossil

https://www.pre-sustainability.com/news/bio-based-products-are-always-good-myth-or-not

Advantages

. CO2 neutral . renewable  finitness of fossil resources . reduced dependency on fossil resources

Disadvantages . fertilizers

 emissions of N2O (nitrous oxide): 298 CO2-eq.  leaching of N and P to ground and surface water . use of fossil fuels for the production of manure, transport, ... . land use change (LUC)

27/02/2019 LCA - T. Kuppens 37 Is biobased always more sustainable than fossil? . 1st, 2nd and 3rd generation

• low energy efficiency 1st • competition with food

• higher energy efficiency 2nd • use of residues and wastes

• no competition with farmland 3rd • algae

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 38 Is biobased always more sustainable than fossil? . Indirect land use change (ILUC)

. Cause? Occupation of non-agricultural land for the production of biomass (e.g. van niet- landbouwgronden voor de productie van biomassa (vb. chopping trees in rainforest)

. Consequences?

. increase of CO2 emissions . monoculture  reduced

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 39 How can we realize the transition towards a biobased economy? Transition to a biobased economy

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 41 SWOT analysis BBE in Flanders

Strength Weaknesses - Knowledge base (, process - Availability of land, technology), - Dense population, - (Modern) agriculture, - High environmental pressure, - Strength industry (food, chemistry, - Weak research valorisation, energy), - Weak participation of industry in - Logistic sector, European funding programs - Frontrunner in sorting and recycling of - Fragmented research landscape, waste.. - Extended regulation and complexity of Belgian institutional structure, - Little funding programs for valorisation of biobased applications. Opportunities Threats - Existing policy and initiatives, e.g. - Little own technology development, transversal action materials - Growing competition from cooperating management, biomass inventory, ..., European clusters without involvement - Co-operation with the Netherlands of Flanders and other pilot installations, - Entrepreneurial mindset within - Insufficient harmonization of legislation companies and policy.

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 42 Vision of the Flemish government . Five strategic goals . SD1: Development of a coherent Flemish policy supporting and facilitating a sustainable bio-economy. . SD2: Bring Flanders at the top for training and education and research and development in future-oriented bio- economy clusters. . SD3: Biomass is produced optimally and sustainably throughout the full value chain . SD4: Strengthen markets and competitiveness of bio- economy sectors in Flanders. . SD5: Make Flanders an important partner in European and international partnerships.

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 43 Transition to a biobased economy . Clear vision . not only product and process optimization . also structural changes in systems fulfilling societal functions (e.g. energy, mobility and food system) . Biomass is heterogeous  range of technologies . New supply chains . large diversity in quality (cf. contaminated verge cuttings) . large seasonal variety . Innovation of business models: co-creation . Labour market . volume of employment . content of professions and competences

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 44 What is the role of education in that transition? ? What is the role of education? . Demand for greener employment profiles by introducing sustainability within education . Market consultation: “The professional of the future of the Biobased Economy” 1. Round table discussions with experts from the BBE 2. Quantitative market consultation among enterprises 3. Focus group

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 46 Competences for the BBE

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 47 Which competences are important according to BBE firms?

. Need for multidisciplinary profiles that are capable of valorizing technological innovation . systems thinking . integration of sustainability as learning line in education (1st place in list of valorisation competences, even ranked higher than cost calculation) . do not put (business) economics in a separate course, but integrate financial feasibility within a research/design project for biobased innovations . learn to cooperate across disciplines and educational levels  relational and communication competences  improve sense of responsibility . entrepreneurial education

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 48 Learning line systems and sustainability thinking . Co-development of educational material for 1. Systems thinking . identify all relevant actors in the value chain of the biobased economy . analyze mutual relations and interdependency between all actors/stakeholders . investigate the consequences of the choices w.r.t. the BBE on existing systems (consumption, production, energy, mobility, food, ...)

2. Sustainability thinking . imrpove the positive attitude towards sustainability . development of technological solutions for societal challenges that create additional value in three domains: ecologically, socially and economically

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 49 Learning line systems and sustainability thinking

. Didactical approach for the integration of sustainability in professional behaviour

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 50 Learning line valorisation competences

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 51 Crossborder Biobased Education

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 52 More information?

www.biobasedonderwijs.eu

28/02/2019 Biobased economy - T. Kuppens 53 Vragen?

Prof. dr. Tom Kuppens Assistant professor [email protected] +32 11 26 87 55

UHasselt - CMK Environmental Economics

Academic coordinator postgraduate Biobased and Circular Economy

Website: www.cleantecheconomics.be

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