In response to the European Parliament's vote, Bioenergy Europe says it welcomes the European Parliament's approval of the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII). However, the new definition of “primary woody biomass” still raises some concerns.
On 14 September 2002, the European Parliament adopted its position on two key files for the bioenergy sector: the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and the Renewable Energy Directive (RED).
In its efforts to boost Europe's energy and climate ambitions, the European Parliament voted in favor of a higher renewable energy target, aiming to reach 2030 percent from renewable energy sources (RES) by 45.
To achieve these objectives, the need for biomass is more important than ever. We therefore welcome Parliament's decision to include all biomass for energy, including primary woody biomass, towards the renewable energy target, says Bioenergy Europe.
Concerns surrounding primary woody biomass
Despite this positive outcome, the adopted text still contains some worrying issues, such as the lack of support for primary woody biomass (PWB).
This new measure makes bioenergy from primary woody biomass the only renewable source ineligible for support, creating an uneven playing field with other solutions and this is unacceptable.
When comparing subsidies per unit of energy produced, biomass receives significantly less support than other renewable sources, not to mention fossil energy.
Since sustainable bioenergy is extracted, produced and shipped almost exclusively within the EU, the subsidies the sector receives are used efficiently to support the EU economy and create jobs.
Bioenergy Europe points out that removing these subsidies without lifting support for fossil fuels sends the wrong signals to the market that slows down decarbonization
In addition, Parliament also set a ceiling for the share of PWB compared to the total biomass used, which would be limited to the share of PWB from 2017-2022.
A restriction and phase-out would be counterproductive at a time when Europe needs to mobilize all available resources, says Bioenergy Europe.
Success in the energy transition and becoming more energy independent is only possible if we do not restrict renewable energy for the wrong reasons. Decision makers should trust more scientific evidence. Primary biomass comes from sustainable forest management practices that are needed to help our forests cope with challenging climate pressures, said Jean-Marc Jossart, Secretary General of Bioenergy Europe.
Goes against climate ambitions
Limiting the use of a renewable source such as bioenergy contradicts the European Commission's ambitions to increase renewable energy sources and meet their ambitious climate targets.
This impacts the entire supply chain, starting with forest owners who rely on the income they receive from the bioenergy sector to continue managing their forests in a sustainable way.
Without management, forests would come under even more pressure from the changing climate, leaving them insufficient time to adapt on their own.
Bioenergy Europe indeed points out that both the leading climate scientist Prof. Dr. Michael Obersteiner and EC Commissioner Frans Timmermans have stated that we will not achieve the 1,5 °C target without biomass.
Today's outcome is a clear signal that biomass is and will remain part of the EU's renewable energy future, and we welcome that. The proposal to exclude primary woody biomass from renewable energy sources would have been a missed opportunity, as primary woody biomass represents 20 percent of the total renewable energy mix in the EU. Given the effects it would have, not only on timber-related sectors, but also on energy security for the entire EU, this would have been a very worrying outcome, said Irene di Padua, policy director at Bioenergy Europe.
As the rapporteur, MEP Markus Pieper, emphasized during his press conference on September 14, “we need wood-based biomass for energy to achieve the energy transition.”
Photo: “Primary woody biomass” from a sustainable secondary forest – a pile of logging residues along the road, covered with a paper wrap to air dry. After drying, it is used for energy at a local biomass-fired heating plant and/or combined heat and power (CHP). Not all ecologies or harvest site economies allow for the removal of logging residues and at least 20 percent must be left on site.
Source: bioenergyinternational.com
