Innovation and technological development in energy

Overview

Renewable Energy Sectors

FP6 Demonstration Projects

Policy and Legislation

European Stategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan)

Biomass Action Plan

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Biomass Action Plan

Consultation background

Public consultation on the "Biomass Action Plan"

One of the main energy policy targets of the EU is to double the share of the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in gross inland consumption, from 5.4% in 1997 up to 12% by 2010.  Various legislative actions have been undertaken in order to facilitate this target, the most important of which are:

• to promote renewable electricity generation by increasing production from 14% in 1997 up to 21% by 2010 for EU 25, corresponding to 22.1% for EU 15 (Directive 2001/77/EC).
• to promote   biofuels for transport applications by replacing up to 5.75% of diesel and petrol by 2010 (Directive 2003/30/EC), with the accompanying detaxation of biofuels (modification of the taxation of energy products and electricity directive 2003/96/EC).  

The Communication on “The share of renewable energy in the EU” (COM(2004) 366 final) concluded that further efforts – in particular in the biomass sector – are needed in order to achieve the above policy objective. If both targets for RES-E and biofuels market penetration are achieved, it will lead to a 10% general share of renewable energy in the EU. However, under current trends only 18-19% of the RES-E target will be achieved.

In 2001, total biomass production for energy purposes was 56 Mtoe. To achieve the RES 12% target 74 Mtoe more are needed by 2010. Each sector has to contribute the following indicative additional amount of biomass energy: electricity 32 Mtoe, heat 24 Mtoe, and biofuels 18 Mtoe. This would lead to a total biomass accumulated energy production of 130 Mtoe in 2010.

This additional biomass production can only be achieved in the short term with strong and targeted measures and actions in all three sectors (electricity, heat, and biofuels for transport) and a better coordination of EU policies. The Community Biomass Action Plan will ensure the achievement of this objective.

Results of the public consultation on the "Biomass Action Plan"