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Modern bioenergy sources are often viewed as important components of a low-carbon, energy-secure future.
By reducing dependence on imported fuel and providing new employment opportunities, bioenergy production has the potential to stimulate local economies in developing countries. And yet, given the diversity of biomass resources, options, markets and scales, a better understanding of how well different bioenergy project types can provide sustainable development is needed.
This analysis evaluated how the potential for sustainable development benefits differs across 12 bioenergy project types, in order to help identify which project types are best positioned to provide such benefits. It systematically examines the benefits claimed in project design documents for 76 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) bioenergy projects in India, Brazil and Sub-Saharan Africa.
The claimed sustainable-development benefits differ as widely among bioenergy project types as among all other CDM project types. Among CDM bioenergy projects, those that rely on on-farm residues claim to offer the greatest number of benefits, while those that rely on industrial forestry residues claim the fewest.
Improved sustainability assessment of biomass energy project types, benefitting from on-the-ground post-implementation evaluations, is needed to guide priority-setting for international mitigation finance and CDM reform efforts.
Download the paper (PDF, 735kb)
Note: A revised, peer-reviewed version of this paper has been published in the journal Climate and Development.
About SEI Working Papers:
The SEI working paper series aims to expand and accelerate the availability of our research, stimulate discussion, and elicit feedback. SEI working papers are work in progress and typically contain preliminary research, analysis, findings, and recommendations.
Many SEI working papers are drafts that will be subsequently revised for a refereed journal or book. Other papers share timely and innovative knowledge that we consider valuable and policy-relevant, but which may not be intended for later publication.
Feature / SEI was invited to share research insights with the International Development Association and Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Feature / A recent SEI workshop in Ghana revealed insights into overcoming investment barriers in African renewable energy.
Feature / These policy briefs are a contribution to T20 India, an "idea bank" designed to inform and inspire policy discussions at this year's G20 Summit.
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