Regional outlooks of biomass potential for transport sector energy security

This study investigates geographical potential of biomass for contribution to the energy security of the transport sector. To precisely determine the extent of contribution, which is mapped to two different scales, i.e., bioenergy and biofuel. The analysis considers lignocellulosic biomass available across the six continents. The biomass quantity from agrarian residues is estimated using the RPR method, while the waste factor method is employed for wood residues. Factors such as competing uses, sustainability and moisture content are considered, and the appropriate amount of biomass has been discounted. The analysis is performed under three biomass availability scenarios and two biofuel yield scenarios that generate a total of nine cases, three for energy and six for biofuel. The dual approach of the study, with extensive geographical coverage, distinguishes it from prior studies. The findings indicate that biomass-to-bioenergy conversion is inefficient, while biomass-to-biofuel conversion shows measurable contributions to energy security. The biofuel potential under scenario A2H2 is almost sufficient to cover the gasoline demand in all regions except North America. This signifies that North America is the only biomass-deficient region in terms of biofuel requirements. That creates opportunities for feedstock trade from areas of surplus biomass to North America, potentially generating substantial economic gains.