Page 52 - European Energy Innovation - spring 2020 publication
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52 Spring 2020 European Energy Innovation
TRANSITION TO A BIOECONOMY
Transitionhe European Biomass to a Bioeconomy
Philippe Mauguin (pictured below), energy source within the EU28
Conferences and Exhibition president and CEO of INRAE and accounting for more than 10% of the
has grown from a small Conference General Chair of this gross final energy consumption in
year EUBCE, states that “biomass is 2017 (Source Eurostat) and the use
Tresearch community the cornerstone of the bioeconomy of biomass for the primary energy
which has become an important production of renewables is steadily
biomass conference more than issue in research and innovation, increasing.
30 years ago to a well-established policy making and business in Europe
international conference, tackling and around the world. In this context of promise the main
challenges ranging from biomass issues for the bioeconomy are the
growth and biomass conversion to The use of biomass has tremendous sustainable production and efficient
bioenergy, biofuels and bioproducts, potential for growth and substantial conversion of primary biomass
sustainability and policies, and benefits. Biomass through its and the mobilisation of residual
to provide a forum for industrial diversity is expected to play a major biomass, including waste, without
implementation of technologies role to contribute to global food generating negative impacts on the
enabling the transition away from supplies but also to energy (heat, environment and society. A lot of
fossil fuels economies. For all electricity, transport), chemicals and trade-off exist such as conflicts for
of these topics on integration of materials demand. Biomass, owing land, intensification of production
processes, technologies and value its essentially renewable nature, in agriculture and forestry leading
chains it has always been necessary is also a key factor in contributing to soil degradation and biodiversity
to ensure the most efficient use towards reaching the European decrease, GHG emissions from the
of the limited biomass resource climate targets. Lastly almost all primary production to the resources
and enable economic viability. The the biomass used originates in conversions.
ultimate step of integration is a fully Europe leading to the development
functioning bioeconomy. The 28th of a local bioeconomy which open There is also issues on the
EUBCE in Marseille, France, in 2020 opportunities to maintain jobs in rural management of innovation and
will expand its portfolio from energy and coastal areas. business model. The transition
related biomass production and towards a bioeconomy needs
conversion of bio-based feedstock For example – continues Mauguin – radically new and disruptive
to other sectors of the economy and biomass is by far the main renewable innovations, not just incremental.
will now integrate the bioeconomy These innovations – concludes
into its conference programme. Mauguin – require new
interdisciplinary approaches between
a large number of sciences and
technologies and cooperation
between different actors to
modify existing organizations and
traditional value chains. The adoption
of biobased products by final
consumers is also challenging. And
last, but not least, the fragmented
policies on food safety, CAP, energy,
waste treatment… add complexity to
the challenge to face”.
The European Union (EU) is well
committed to the fight against
Climate Change and is on track to
meet the ambitious Paris Agreement
goals and 2030 targets, as Nicolae
Scarlat from JRC and EUBCE
Technical Programme Chairman
confirms. “But we need to go further
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