USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service
GAIN Report

In preparation for a European wide Biomass Action Plan the European Commission has launched a consultation process to examine how the use of this renewable energy could be enhanced.  The aim is to increase the biomass levels from 56 million tons of oil equivalent in 2001, to 130 million tons of oil equivalent in 2010.

In February 2004, in preparation for a Biomass action plan, the European Commission launched a new consultation process to examine how the use of biomass as a renewable energy source could increase.  This is done as a part of one of the main energy policy targets of the EU which is to double the share of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in gross inland consumption from 5,4 percent in 1997 up to 12 percent by 2010.

The aim is to try to increase the use of biomass from 56 million tons of oil equivalent (mtoe) to 130 mtoe in 2010.  This would be done by adding 32 mtoe biomass electricity, 24 mtoe biomass heat and 18 mtoe biofuels.  Various legislative actions have been taken in order to facilitate this, the most important ones would be:

▪ To promote renewable electricity by increasing production from 14 percent in 1997 to 21 percent in 2010, and

▪ To promote biofuels for transportation by detaxation of biofuels to replace 5,75 percent of the diesel and petrol in 2010.

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-electricity and biofuels market penetration are achieved, it will lead to a 10 percent general share of renewable energy in the EU.  However, under current trends only 18-19 percent of the RES-electricity target will be achieved. 

In 2001, total biomass production for energy purposes was 56 Mtoe.  To achieve the RES 12 percent target 74 Mtoe more are needed by 2010.

Share of the different renewable energy sectors in European Union primary energy production.

Source: European Commission

According to the European Commission, this additional biomass production to reach the 12 percent goal in 2010, can only be achieved with strong and targeted measures and actions in all three sectors (electricity, heat, and biofuels for transport) as well as a better coordination of EU policies.

The Commission is hoping this biomass consultation will give useful recommendations to the Community Biomass Action Plan.  The consultation will close on February 28.