Renewable energies: the return of biomass

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For thousands of years biomass (organic matter) was the primary source of energy. Since the industrial revolution, the combustion of fossil fuels, accounting for 87% of today’s global energy package, has replaced biomass as the primary source. Yet issues surrounding energy and food production and sustainable development engender new perspectives on the production of bio-fuels, especially from by-products of agro-industry and forestry. Biomass, now supporting 10% of world energy consumption, could increase to provide 25% of global energy needs.
This film combines figures, schematics, and interviews with professionals in the field (e.g. economist, farmer, mechanic, researcher, aircraft manufacturer...). The potential for biomass is evident, but its usage must be rational, optimized and adapted to local environments.
A film by Gérard Goma (scientific advisor) and Mathias Fyferling


Film chapters:
0:00 Definition of biomass.
0:39 Issue: can biomass replace fossil fuels?
1:36 World energy consumption vs energy received from the sun vs energy captured by biomass.
2:05 Graph: the global energy mix (2008)
2:31 What is photosynthesis? What is the CO2 and O2 balance?
4:46 Graph: storage of greenhouse gases over a plant’s life.
6:14 Interview: Élisabeth Le Net, forest and wood sector economist. The forest management depends on the use we want to make of it (ship, furniture, firewood...)
7:37 Diagram of the carbon cycle: circulating carbon, fossil carbon, deforestation, anthropogenic CO2 ...
9:20 Graph: rise of atmospheric CO2 over the years.
9:37 The carbon stock on earth.
10:51 Map: energy consumption by country. Issue of increasing consumption.
11:53 Introduction to renewable energy and circulating carbon.
12:59 Example of plant oil for fuel in Villeneuve sur Lot (France). Interview : Julio Gonçalvès, chief engineer.
15:00 Interview: Richard Cavaillé, oil producer.
17:19 Definition of 1st generation and 2nd generation biofuels.
18:12 Definition: static and mobile uses of energy.
19:00 Graph: comparison of calorific values: wood, methane, H2, uranium ...
20:15 Introduction to liquid biofuels, and to the production of bio-based hydrocarbons. Comparison of calorific values.
21:18 Interview: Carole Jouve, professor at INSA (Toulouse, France). Use of oleaginous yeasts for the production of lipids.
23:33 Interview: Yohan Allouche, Airbus R&D. Application of biofuels to aviation.
26:01 Diagram of lignocellulose, the raw material of 2nd generation biofuels.
26:43 Deconstruction of lignocellulose: microbial and chemical methods.
27:42 Interview: Olivier Guerrini, GDF-SUEZ R&D. Visit of a gasification pilot plant for the production of biofuels.
31:39 Diagram: use of biomass resources according to their nature (1G, 2G, 3G). Introduction to biorefineries.
33:05 Diagram: saving of greenhouse gases depending on the fuel used (1G, 2G).
33:34 What biomass resource do we have? Consider land and net primary production (map).
35:48 Interview: Élisabeth Le Net. Wood is sometimes difficult to mobilize, and is therefore under exploited. Wood sectors are complementary: timber, lumber, and energy products. Territories must be managed globally, agriculture together with forestry.
39:02 Conclusion.