IEA Bioenergy
The IEA Bioenergy is an organisation founded in 1978 by the International Energy Agency (IEA) with the aim of improving international cooperation and the exchange of information on bioenergy research. Members of the IEA Bioenergy working groups are scientists from OECD and non-OECD countries. In accordance with the current research focus areas in the field of bioenergy research, the IEA Bioenergy consists of various working groups (tasks) with work programmes of three years each. The thematic orientation of the working groups is coordinated by a steering committee (ExCo). In the triennium 2022 - 2024, the IEA Bioenergy comprises 11 tasks, in which about 200 people from different international institutes, universities and economic agencies work together. The DBFZ is currently represented with several scientists in five working groups (Tasks) of the IEA Bioenergy. Further information is available at: www.ieabioenergy.com.
National team leader
Task 37 - "Energy from Biogas"
Task 37 is an international working group dealing with the anaerobic digestion (AD) of biomass feedstocks, including agricultural residues (e.g. fertilisers and crop residues), energy crops, organically rich wastewater, the organic fraction of municipal waste (OFMSW) and organic industrial waste. The main interests are the production of biogas for direct use for heat and electricity, the upgrading of biogas to biomethane, the use of biogas/biomethane for electricity grid balancing and high quality digestate that can be used as organic fertiliser. Task 37 deals with the entire biogas production chain, from the collection and pre-treatment of raw materials, through biogas upgrading and the use of bio-fertiliser, to the sustainability of the process chain.
![[Translate to Englisch:] Dr. Peter Kornatz](/fileadmin/_processed_/d/7/csm_peter_kornatz_350_14253e88a0.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Dr. Peter Kornatz")
Task 39 - "Biofuels to Decarbonize Transport"
Task 39 is a group of international experts working on the commercialisation of sustainable biofuels for transport. Bioenergy and biofuels are important components within the green energy portfolio of a country. While there are many renewable energy options for heat and power generation, biofuels are currently the only way to replace liquid fossil fuels such as gasoline, diesel and aviation fuels.
![[Translate to Englisch:] Dr. Franziska Müller-Langer](/fileadmin/_processed_/c/b/csm_Franziska_Mueller-Langer_350_34384ff299.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Dr. Franziska Müller-Langer")
Task 40 - "Deployment of biobased value chains"
The IEA Bioenergy Task 40 (known in the triennium 2016-2018 as "Sustainable biomass markets and international bioenergy trade to support the biobased economy") was established in December 2003 under the Bioenergy Implementing Agreement of the International Energy Agency with the aim of supporting the development of sustainable international markets and international trade in biomass. With the current triennium 2019-2021 this focus has been extended. The focus of Task 40 is on the development and design of efficient and sustainable value chains to support the increased use of biomass for energy, but also for bio-based products, chemicals and materials, taking into account the food and feed markets, in a regional, national and international context. Topics such as bio-economy, new regional bio-energy markets, BECCS/U and renewable gases play an essential role in this context.
Task 44 - "Flexible Bioenergy and System Integration"
The newly formed Task 44 builds on previous work done in the IEA Bioenergy Task 41 special projects in 2016-17. Although extensive deployment of variable renewable energy (VRE) is an important part of the overall transformation under the energy transition, rapid changes in the energy mix can pose challenges to the resilience of the power grid, especially during periods of weather-related stress. The focus of our work is to develop and analyze bioenergy solutions that can provide flexible resources for a low-carbon energy system. The goal is to improve understanding of the types, quality, and status of flexible bioenergy, and to identify barriers and future development needs in the context of the overall energy system. In doing so, we are investigating the following focus areas: flexible bioenergy concepts to support low-carbon energy systems, accelerating implementation, and system requirements for bioenergy concepts. Likewise, the Task participates in intertask projects and collaborative projects.
Task 45 - "Climate and sustainability effects of bioenergy within the broader bioeconomy"
Task 45 is a new working group within the IEA Bioenergy with its first triennium of activities in 2019-2021 with the aim of identifying and addressing critical issues related to climate and other sustainability effects of bioenergy and bio-based products and systems. The goal is to promote the sound development of bioenergy as an integral part of the overall bio-economy.
![[Translate to Englisch:] Stefan Majer](/fileadmin/_processed_/0/1/csm_stefan_majer_c02abe4d23.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Stefan Majer")