20220131-IRENA-Scaling_Up_Biomass_for_the_Energy_Transition_Untapped_Opportunities_in_Southeast_Asia_154页_4mb

Biomass Energy Scale-Up in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is under rapid economic and energy growth, with fossil fuels dominating regional energy supply. The report explores opportunities to deploy bioenergy pathways as part of a broader energy transition, addressing climate goals and promoting sustainable development. Regionally, Southeast Asia has abundant biomass resources, particularly agricultural and forestry residues, enabling pathways that compete economically with fossil fuels.

Key Bioenergy Pathways

Bioenergy pathways are categorized into three main types (direct combustion, anaerobic digestion, and fermentation/blending). Direct combustion is applicable across all countries, using agricultural residues, oil palm biomass, cassava pulp, or woody biomass to supply industrial heat and combined heat and power (CHP). Anaerobic digestion leverages organic waste (palmoil mill effluent and cassava pulp) to produce biogas for heat and power. Fermentation pathways primarily convert sugarcane molasses and cassava starch into bioethanol, especially in Thailand and Vietnam.

Socio-Economic Benefits

Bioenergy pathways yield substantial socio-economic returns across the region: approximately USD 91.5 billion ENPV in Indonesia, USD 26 billion in Thailand, USD 18.5 billion in Vietnam, USD 6.2 billion in Malaysia, and USD 2.1 billion in Myanmar by 2050, alongside significant job creation (over 200,000 in Indonesia) and GHG reductions (up to 4% of the global environmental benefits under scenario analysis).

Common Challenges and Interventions

Barriers include policy gaps, insufficient R&D funding, sustainability certification hurdles, and logistical issues with feedstock collection. Interventions require:

• Developing regulatory regimes that support long-term bioenergy investment.
• Piloting projects to enhance sustainability governance and reduce feedstock variability.
• Linking institutional capacity building with industry engagement for infrastructure improvements.

Regional Recommendations

• Harmonizing sustainability frameworks across ASEAN nations to international standards.
• Aggregating bioenergy projects to lower costs and improve financial viability.
• Strengthening ESG considerations to improve private finance accessibility.

In essence, Southeast Asia holds vast untapped bioenergy potential. Addressing key barriers through policy, research, and infrastructure investments will unlock pathways toward a sustainable energy future.