This presentation was given by Claudia Daza, head of INBAR's Task Force on Bamboo for Renewable Energy, at the UNCCD COP 15 in Abidjan, the Ivory Coast. It considers how bamboo bioenergy can contribute to climate change mitigation and land restoration goals around the world.

1. Adding value to restoration projects with
sustainable bioenergy from bamboo
www.inbar.int
CLAUDIA DAZA MONTAÑO
Chair, Inbar Global Task Force on Bamboo for Renewable Energy

2. A global transition: from fossil to biomass

3. Large global market of biofuel commodities
Overall main biofuels trade streams and regions
Global production of solid biomass: Above 200 million ton/y (chips, pellets, charcoal).
Most traded: Wood chips, exported value of 6 billion USD/year and charcoal 1.31 billion USD/year (FAO 2021)
Increasing biofuel exports by 2040, mainly
from Latin America, Oceania and Africa.
Europe: Key import region (mainly solid
biomass for heat, and power production).
Implementation of the EU Renewable Energy
Directive (REDII) over the next decade:
• Increase use of sustainable biofuels

4. Bamboo is an ideal biomass crop
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
• Low cost of establishment
• Easy propagation
• Creates abundant rural jobs
• High availability and potential
• Market and industry innovation: Feedstock
and products diversification
EXCELLENT BIOMASS CROP
• High crop yield. One of the fastest growing crops
• Resistant to changing climate conditions
• Perennial giant grass. Regenerates itself if
properly managed
• Does not require the use of pesticides
• Low (or no) use of fertilizers
• Intercropping is possible
Photo: INBAR/Lou Yiping Photo: INBAR Photo: Malindykenia.com
ALTERNATIVE TO ADRESS CLIMATE CHANGE
• High carbon sink
• Provides numerous ecosystems services
• Water and biodiversity preservation
• Stabilize slopes and counteracts soil
erosion
• Excellent reforesting crop

5. Bioenergy presents new opportunities in the
large global market of bamboo products

6. Producing regions are large bioenergy users
Wood fuel and charcoal: linked to
deforestation and high GHG emissions
Bamboo-producing countries (e.g. Nigeria, South Africa, Indonesia, Brazil, Colombia) are also biofuel (e.g. ethanol,
charcoal) and fossil fuel exporters (e.g. coal, crude oil).
Developing new supply chains will help to diversify the traded fuel portfolio and support the ongoing
transition from fossil fuels to biofuels trade.
Local market
International market
Bamboo producing countries can develop
bioenergy value chains for the local and
international market

7. Adding value to restoration
• Forrest that produce bioenergy and other products
can make a greater contribution to mitigating climate
change than systems for conservation alone (IPCC)
• Improving positive long-term impacts and the
sustainability of restoration (not only environmental
but also socio-economic)
• Bamboo production system and value chains
– Carbon stored in durable products
– Substitution of fossil fuels and related avoided
emissions
– High carbon sinks

8. Bamboo systems are high carbon sinks

9. Bioenergy applications can provide
incentives for the sustainable management
of bamboo systems

10. Additional climate benefits when bioenergy
is produced
According to the EU GHG accounting methodology of biofuels

11. Bioenergy market potential within a circular
bioeconomy

12. Large untapped potential and market opportunities
Developments mainly for local
markets
The commercial development of bioenergy from
bamboo is still in its infancy, and interest arises
at the global level
Daza Montano C.M, van Dam, J. Potential of Bamboo for RenewableEnergy. INBAR (2021)

13. Bamboo can comply with key requirements of
bioenergy markets

14. Relevant for logistics and cost
Photo:
nationalgeographic.com
Photo: AvellanedaJ.
Transport and processing at cellulose and lignin plant in China. Photos: Daza C.M.
Harvesting in Colombia. Flattened Guadua and chips
The physical properties of woody bamboo are
similar to those of wood
Daza Montano C.M, van Dam, J. Potential of Bamboo for Renewable Energy. INBAR (2021)

15. The total cost and benefits along the complete
value chain can be favorable for bamboo
• Properties are superior to those of agricultural residues. Key advantages
for production and logistics cost
• High sustainability potential➔ public acceptance is key
• Integrated value chains and potential additional markets opportunities
(e.g. carbon markets, payment for ecosystem services) to improve
competitiveness
Detailed assessments are needed

16. Value chain development
To access markets, sufficient and reliable information is needed

17. A long-term vision and a strategic approach
to developing competitive value chains
Biofuels have a very large market volume potential, in the short and in the long term.
Stepwise development of integrated value chains and biorefineries
Initially developing sufficient supply chains, for both the local and international bioenergy markets,
while developing the local capacity for competitive industries for higher value application markets.
e.g. lignin
Daza Montano C.M, van Dam, J. Potential of Bamboo for Renewable Energy. INBAR (2021)
e.g. activated carbon,
composite materials, fibers,
construction, textiles,
fertilizers, biochar, and food
Bioenergy

18. Direct contribution to the UN-SDG with the
sustainable production of biomass from
bamboo

19. To tap into the full potential of bamboo
• Mobilise investment, multi-stakeholder (Public,
private, R&D, civil society), intersectoral partnerships,
and international cooperation
• Establish strategic partnerships
– With e.g. fossil fuels intensive sectors (e.g. coal-power
plants, cement, steel), co-generation in agro-industrial
sectors, chemicals and materials sectors, mining, oil
refineries
• Promote R&D with interdisciplinary approaches
– Socio-economic and environmental
– Proper planning with risk-based approaches
– Technology and business models
• Bioenergy as an integral part of valorisation options
– Bioenergy in integrated value chains (fuels, materials,
chemicals)

20. Thank you for attention
C H A I R , I N B A R T A S K F O R C E O N B A M B O O F O R R E N E W A B L E
E N E R G Y
cl.daza@gmail.com
tfenergychair@inbar.int

22. www.inbar.int