15. Rostock bioenergy forum. Proceedings

In terms of sustainable development, Germany's energy supply must be completely converted to renewable energies (RE) in the coming decades and the supply of organic basic materials to industry must be oriented as far as possible from petro-based to bio-based materials. This ambitious goal of long-term integration of biomass into a sustainable energy and bioeconomy system can only be achieved if biomass is used efficiently, in an environmentally sound manner and with the highest possible economic benefit. For the targeted climate neutrality by 2045, consistent energy savings and the complete conversion to RE are fundamental prerequisites and, in addition, negative emissions must be generated. The material and energetic coupling and cascade use of biogenic resources is a central element of a climate-neutral bioeconomy, whereby the carbon and nutrient cycles in particular must be closed. Bioenergy must be provided from sustainable raw materials and residual material flows. In Germany, we currently generate only about 15 % of the energy we need from renewable sources, and bioenergy accounts for the lion's share with a share of about 60 %. In terms of areas of use, this amounted to around 20 % of gross electricity generation from renewables in 2019 and almost 90 % of renewable heat and renewable fuels. In the conversion of the chemical industry, for example, to renewable raw materials, we are still at the beginning with a share of < 15 %, i.e. > 85 % of the raw material base is fossil-based (75 % petroleum alone). In the future, PtX concepts will also be needed here, e.g. using CO2 emissions as the basis for new products. These lines are written quickly, but they mean that we have a task of the century ahead of us, but unfortunately only 30 years to do it.