Giulio VolpiEuropean Commission Directorate General for Energy

Update on EU policy on biomass sustainability

2012 renewable energy strategy -key messages

.Energy Roadmap 2050 gives a clear message about crucial role of bioenergy for decarbonisation

.Efficiency of biomass production/consumption key to .Efficiency of biomass production/consumption key to minimize sustainability issues , i.e. agriculture/forestry productivity growth to be accelerate

.Significant further use of biomass for energy requires further development of sustainability framework

.To investigate most appropriate use of bioenergy post-2020

Sustainability criteria for biofuels/bioliquids

.Biodiversity/land use change: biofuel feedstock cannot come from land:» With high carbon stock

» High biodiversity (primary forest etc.)

.» High biodiversity (primary forest etc.)

.GHG performance : biofuels need to save at least 35% compared to fossil fuels, up to 50% in 2017 (and 60% for new installations/2018)» Need of a consistent methodology, and minimal

administrative burden

Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC)

.ILUC can reduce the GHG-savings of biofuels» ILUC is estimated to eliminate around 70% the direct

savings offered by biofuels, leaving biofuels with 21% savingssavings

» Large differences in estimated ILUC between sugars, cereals and vegetable oils

.But considerable uncertainties/limitations of modelling remain

.Discussions on-going on best policy option to address this issue

ILUC feedstock specific results

Vegetable oilsCereals and sugars

Source: Figure 18 of IFPRI-report

Implementation of EU criteria

• Approval by Member State authorities

• Voluntary schemes recognized by the EC, 8 schemes accepted so far, more in the pipeline:

• ISCC• ISCC

• Bonsucro EU

• Round Table on Responsible Soy EU RED

• Roundtable of Sustainable Biofuels EU RED

• Biomass Biofuels voluntary scheme

• Abengoa RED Bioenergy Sustainability Assurance

• Greenergy

• Ensus

• Bi-lateral agreement (partial or full coverage)

The GHG accounting methodology

.Annex V has a set of default values (cultivation, processing and transport)

.Possible to rather use actual values

.

.Possible to rather use actual values

.Rules for calculating actual values are set out in Annex V, part C

.Worth noting:» Energy allocation between co-products» Well-to-wheel methodology (attributional)

2010 EC report on biomass sustainability:key elements

.National sustainability criteria for biomass should be similar to those applying to biofuels

.Land use criteria do not apply to waste

.

.Land use criteria do not apply to waste

.GHG accounting to include end-use conversion, use of simplified methodology with default values

.MS should exempt small bioenergy generation (below 1 MW) from compliance with criteria

.MS should monitor origin and quality of biomass used in small scale applications

2010 EC report on biomass sustainability:implementation

.Only two Member States (MS) have followed the EC recommendations (UK, Belgium)

.Many MS introduced regimes promoting end-use

.

.Many MS introduced regimes promoting end-use efficiency

.Sustainability of biomass production addressed at best through general environmental regulations. Several MS waiting for EU proposal for binding criteria

.Risk of non-coordinated/ conflicting national regimes

Stakeholders feedback – key messages

.Bioenergy users concerned about unclear regulatory framework and market effects of different national incentive and sustainability regimes

.NGOs/citizens concerned about sustainability, .NGOs/citizens concerned about sustainability, particularly of imports, and GHG performance issues (e.g. ILUC, carbon debt)

.Forestry biomass producers concerned about administrative costs of biomass sustainability criteria and additionality to existing certification initiatives

.Non-energy biomass users concerned about feedstock competition

How to maximize the benefits of biomass?

.Preventing worst-case scenarios, e.g. clearing of areas with high carbon stocks and high biodiversity value (forests/peatlands)

.Avoid transport or processing practices that result in low

.

.Avoid transport or processing practices that result in low or non-optimal GHG savings compared to fossil fuels

.Ensure that forests are regenerated and carbon stocks are maintained in reasonable timescales

.Manage broader sustainability issues including resource competition

.What else?

How to minimize the costs of sustainability proofing ?

.Ensure that criteria are relevant, objective, measurable and manageable

.Build on ongoing experience with biofuels criteria, with necessary adaptations to solid biomass characteristics

.

.necessary adaptations to solid biomass characteristics

.Build on as much as possible on national and international voluntary forest management schemes. Exempt small scale forest owners for cost-effectiveness

.Exempt small-scale consumers (eg above 1 MW capacity) Share compliance efforts along the supply chain (e.g. between energy users and biomass suppliers)

Thank you!

Email: giulio.volpi@ec.europa.euEmail: giulio.volpi@ec.europa.eu

http://ec.europa.eu/energy/index_en.htm