ABSTRACT
Although biomass is renewable and therefore a renewable resource, it is not available in infinite quantities, but is limited by the rate of regrowth and use. Land availability is limited, as are water and nutrients for biomass production. The objective of this article is to explore the role which biomass could play in a defossilised and resource-efficient world. This will depend on how much biomass with low risk for land-use change can be provided. This critical reflection reveals that the future biomass demand will most likely exceed the supply of low LUC risk biomass such as biogenic waste and residues or dedicated crops cultivated on unused land or surplus land. The authors therefore conclude that an optimal allocation of this limited resource is needed: biomass should be used in particular where there are no, or only a few, very expensive renewable alternatives available.
