The potential role of biomass in the EU

1. The potential role of biomass in the EU Veerle Dossche FERN Bioenergy Campaign The campaigning NGO for greater environmental and social justice, with a focus on forests and forest peoples rights in the policies and practices of the EU

2. Aim FERN wants to launch a discussion that aims to look at the potential role woody biomass could play in a Europe that uses energy sustainably. Questions : • What is role of wood into future energy mix ? • Under which conditions can we support the use of wood to be used for biomass ?

3. EU energy scene • Rising global demand + growing worries over energy security + climate change • Overall, EU depends on fossil fuels for approx 80 % of its energy needs. • Energy mix within the EU varies widely from country to country and region to region • If present trends continue, world energy demand is set to increase by more than 50 % by 2030 • World energy outlook (2007): from 2012, oil supplies will be tight. • EU has set out number of policies and energy targets to deal with challenges of supply, Climate Change, etc

4. RES in EU’s energy mix Share of renewable energies in primary energy consumption of European Union countries in 2005 (in %)

5. Renewables and biomass Share of each resource in the renewable primary energy production (in %)

6. EU’s biomass potential 59 Mtoe of wood and wood wastes; 3 Mtoe of biogas; and 5 Mtoe of municipal solid waste

7. Wood fuel sources for Europe and North America

8. How important is wood energy in the energy supply picture ?

10. Biofuels from wood • Now more attention for second generation biofuels • 31 mtoe would be needed in order to meet transport target, how much wood needed to cover this ? • Technical development not ready and expensive • Competition for resources would increase prices and imports

11. Competition over wood resources • CEPI members responsible for 27 % of global paper and pulp production • Industry is both largest producer and consumer of biomass based energy in Europe ; they produce 25 per cent of the EU total. • Already competition between the industry and bioenergy sector for wood resources. • CEPI demands : need for policies and incentives that stimulate biomass production ; mobilise existing resources and encourage new ones.

12. Biomass does not escape from environmental criticism • Land availability • Increased conflicts over land resources • Fertilizer and pesticide input • Deadwood • Perennial energy crops (short rotation crops) • Forest inventories • Stump uprooting • GMOs • etc

13. Conclusion • Woody biomass at present account for a major share of renewable energy generation in Europe • If resources are well managed and efficiently used, then wood based biomass could have potential and contribute to meeting the EU’s RES targets • Mistakes that have been made in regard to the formation of agrofuels policy must not be repeated • But what are the conditions ? Let’s discuss.

14. www.fern.org • Avenue de l’Yser 4 • Brussels 1040 • Belgium • t +32 (0)2 733 08 14 • e veerle@fern.org • m +32 (0)498 54 48 73 The campaigning NGO for greater environmental and social justice, with a focus on forests and forest peoples rights in the policies and practices of the EU