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ePaper created 2014-06-03, 15:03:20 | version 1.30.01
18 ■■ MARKET AND INDUSTRY TRENDS BIOMASS FOR HEAT, POWER, AND TRANSPORT. Biomass demand continued to grow steadily in the heat, power, and transport sectors. Total primary energy consumption of biomass reached approximately 57 exajoules (EJ) in 2013, of which almost 60% was traditional biomass, and the remainder was modern bioenergy (solid, gaseous, and liquid fuels). Heating accounted for the majority of biomass use, with modern biomass heat capacity rising about 1% to an estimated 296 gigawatts-thermal (GWth). Global bio-power capacity was up by an estimated 5 GW to 88 GW. Bio-power generation exceeded 400 Terawatt-hours (TWh) during the year, including power generated in combined heat and power (CHP) plants. Demand for modern biomass is driving increased international trade in solid biofuels, including wood pellets. Liquid biofuels met about 2.3% of global transport fuel demand. In 2013, global production rose by 7.7 billion litres to reach 116.6 billion litres. Ethanol production was up 6% after two years of decline, biodiesel rose 11%, and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) rose by 16% to 3 million litres. New plants for making advanced biofuels, produced from non-food biomass feedstocks, were commissioned in Europe and North America. However, overall investment in new biofuel plant capacity continued to decline from its 2007 peak. GEOTHERMAL POWER AND HEAT. About 530 MW of new geothermal generating capacity came on line in 2013. Accounting for replacements, the net increase was about 455 MW, bringing total global capacity to 12 GW. This net capacity growth of 4% compares to an average annual growth rate of 3% for the two previous years (2010–12). Direct use of geothermal energy—for thermal baths and swimming pools, space heating, and agricultural and industrial processes— is estimated to exceed 300 petajoules (PJ) annually, but growth is not robust. Governments and industry continued to pursue technological innovation to increase efficient use of conventional geothermal resources. In parallel, the use of low-temperature fields for both power and heat continued to expand, increasing the application of geothermal energy beyond high-temperature locations. HYDROPOWER. Global hydropower generation during the year was an estimated 3,750 TWh. About 40 GW of newhydropowercapacitywascommissionedin2013,increasing total global capacity by around 4% to approximately 1,000 GW. By far the most capacity was installed in China (29 GW), with significant capacity also added in Turkey, Brazil, Vietnam, India, and Russia. Growth in the industry has been relatively steady in recent years, fuelled primarily by China’s expansion. Modernisation of ageing hydropower facilities is a growing global market. Some countries are seeing a trend towards smaller reservoirs and multi-turbine run-of-river projects. There also is increasing recognition of the potential for hydropower to complement other renewable technologies, such as variable wind and solar power. OCEAN ENERGY. Ocean energy capacity, mostly tidal power generation, was about 530 MW by the end of 2013. In preparation for anticipated commercial projects, a handful of pilot installations were deployed during the year for ongoing tests. Particularly in the United Kingdom and France, there are indications that significant capacity growth will occur in the near future, due to concerted industry focus and government support. Major corporations continued to consolidate their positions in the ocean energy sector through strategic partnerships and acquisitions of technology developers.