Page 27 - European Energy Innovation - spring 2020 publication

Spring 2020 European Energy Innovation
EU final energy mix has more than
doubled. Representing almost 60% of
the total renewable energy consumed
in Europe, the bioenergy sector has a
leading role to play in the low-carbon
energy transition. Only in 2017 thanks
to bioenergy utilization, 303 MtCO2eq
were saved. This equals to 7% of
EU28 GHG emissions, around the
annual emissions of Spain.
To achieve the objective of climate
neutrality by 2050 improvement
of energy efficiency combined
with additional use of renewables
is required. We expect modern
bioenergy will continue to lead
the field and has huge prospects
for further growth. But the right
policies and rigorous sustainability
regulations will be essential to meet
the sector’s full potential. According
to conservative estimates bioenergy
can sustainably triple its contribution emissions technologies.
to the energy mix and cover half
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27
SUSTAINABLE BIOENERGY
of the EU energy demand by 2050. will contribute to delivering a
The uniqueness of bioenergy lies jobs-rich transition for Europeans.
in its versatility. Widespread use of Moreover, bioenergy is one of the
bioenergy facilitates decarbonisation most affordable renewable energy
of heat and transport, sectors in technologies providing the right
which other renewables currently solution to energy poverty.
play a much smaller role. Bioenergy
is also a highly innovative sector. With more than 50.000 business
As an only energy technology, it units and an annual turnover of
has potential to deliver negative €60.6 billion, bioenergy is a key
emissions thereby contribute to industrial sector contributing to
balancing of global carbon budget. It EU economic growth. Bioenergy’s
is possible thanks to the utilization of growth and success is ultimately
biomass in combination with carbon based on industrial synergies with
capture and storage (BECCS). In the the agricultural and forest based
EU there are already several pilot sectors. The further development of a
projects employing BECCS. Other sustainable and circular bioeconomy
interesting negative emission solution provides business rationale for the
based on biomass is production more resource efficient process. To
of biochar – a soil fertilizer offering achieve it though, the key factor is to
permanent capture of CO2. In order support its development with the EU
to meet carbon neutrality by 2050 it industrial strategy fully supporting the
is indispensable to resort to negative development of the whole renewable
energy sector.
Concerning social aspects of the To sum up, bioenergy is a key player
Green Deal Initiative, the bioenergy in the current and future energy mix
sector will facilitate the transition and, along with other renewable
in particularly in GHG intensive energy sources, it is part of the
regions. Bioenergy value chain is solution to achieve 2050 carbon
predominantly local - net import neutrality objective. Its development
of biomass equals only to 4% of is both advantageous for the
the EU’s biomass primary energy regional economy as well as
production. It increases both development of comprehensive
security of energy supply as well as circular bioeconomy. The bioenergy
reinforces local economies. Beside sector is ready to deliver a low-
decarbonisation itself, dynamic carbon, more resource-efficient and
growth of bioenergy would provide sustainable economy. l
synergies with local economies,
by creating highly skilled jobs and
additional streams of revenue for
farmers, foresters and communities.
Currently, bioenergy is accounting
for more than 700.000 direct and
indirect jobs, a scale-up of bioenergy
Bioenergy Europe (formerly known as AEBIOM) is the voice of European
bioenergy. It aims to develop a sustainable bioenergy market based on fair
business conditions. Founded in 1990, Bioenergy Europe is a non-profit,
Brussels-based international organisation bringing together more than 40
associations and 90 companies, as well as academia and research institutes
from across Euro pe. More information available at: https://bioenergyeurope.org/