| Title |
Sustainable global energy supply based on lignocellulosic biomass from afforestation of degraded areas
|
|---|---|
| Published in |
The Science of Nature, December 2008
|
| DOI | 10.1007/s00114-008-0479-4 |
| Pubmed ID | |
| Authors |
Jürgen O. Metzger, Aloys Hüttermann |
| Abstract |
An important aspect of present global energy scenarios is the assumption that the amount of biomass that can be grown on the available area is so limited that a scenario based on biomass as the major source of energy should be unrealistic. We have been investigating the question whether a Biomass Scenario may be realistic. We found that the global energy demand projected by the International Energy Agency in the Reference Scenario for the year 2030 could be provided sustainably and economically primarily from lignocellulosic biomass grown on areas which have been degraded by human activities in historical times. Moreover, other renewable energies will contribute to the energy mix. There would be no competition with increasing food demand for existing arable land. Afforestation of degraded areas and investment for energy and fuel usage of the biomass are not more expensive than investment in energy infrastructure necessary up to 2030 assumed in the fossil energy based Reference Scenario, probably much cheaper considering the additional advantages such as stopping the increase of and even slowly reducing the CO(2) content of the atmosphere, soil, and water conservation and desertification control. Most importantly, investment for a Biomass Scenario would be actually sustainable, in contrast to investment in energy-supply infrastructure of the Reference Scenario. Methods of afforestation of degraded areas, cultivation, and energetic usage of lignocellulosic biomass are available but have to be further improved. Afforestation can be started immediately, has an impact in some few years, and may be realized in some decades. |
Mendeley readers
The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 159 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.
Geographical breakdown
| Country | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 1 | <1% |
| Malaysia | 1 | <1% |
| Netherlands | 1 | <1% |
| Italy | 1 | <1% |
| Brazil | 1 | <1% |
| Sweden | 1 | <1% |
| South Africa | 1 | <1% |
| India | 1 | <1% |
| United Kingdom | 1 | <1% |
| Other | 2 | 1% |
| Unknown | 148 | 93% |
Demographic breakdown
| Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Student > Ph. D. Student | 33 | 21% |
| Researcher | 26 | 16% |
| Student > Master | 22 | 14% |
| Other | 13 | 8% |
| Student > Bachelor | 11 | 7% |
| Other | 24 | 15% |
| Unknown | 30 | 19% |
| Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Science | 33 | 21% |
| Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 24 | 15% |
| Engineering | 19 | 12% |
| Chemical Engineering | 18 | 11% |
| Chemistry | 11 | 7% |
| Other | 22 | 14% |
| Unknown | 32 | 20% |
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 3. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 17 July 2010.
All research outputs
#7,845,540
of 23,794,258 outputs
Outputs from The Science of Nature
#817
of 2,195 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#48,838
of 169,372 outputs
Outputs of similar age from The Science of Nature
#9
of 19 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 23,794,258 research outputs across all sources so far. This one is in the 44th percentile – i.e., 44% of other outputs scored the same or lower than it.
So far Altmetric has tracked 2,195 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a lot more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 13.5. This one is in the 20th percentile – i.e., 20% of its peers scored the same or lower than it.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 169,372 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one is in the 19th percentile – i.e., 19% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.
We're also able to compare this research output to 19 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one is in the 10th percentile – i.e., 10% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.