bioenergy_action plan centru region promobio.eu

BIOENERGY/BIOMASS ACTION PLAN FOR THE CENTRE REGION

2014-2020

2014

The Centre Region Development Agency 01.01.2014

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THE BIOENERGY/BIOMASS ACTION PLAN (BAP) FOR THE CENTRE REGION

for the period 2014 – 2020

Contents

Chapter 1

A. Introduction – the context of drawing up the BAP ………………………………… …….………….………..........2

B. The methodology used to draw up BAP...........................................................................................3

C. Status of promotion and use of bioenergy / biomass in Europe......................................................5

D. Status of promotion and use of bioenergy / biomass at national level........................................11

E. Status of promotion and use of bioenergy / biomass in the Centre Region.................................20

F. SWOT analysis for the development of biomass use in the Centre Region...................................28

Chapter 2

G. Principles and strategic action areas for the promotion/development of biomass ………………....32

H. Proposed action plan for each strategic area………………………………………………………..…..................33

I. Implementation and monitoring of BAP.........................................................................................43

J. Reference documents ..................................................................................................................44

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CHAPTER 1

A. Introduction – the context of drawing up the BAP

The action plan for bioenergy / biomass of Centre Development Region is carried out in the PromoBio project whose main goal is the development of biomass energy use identified as one of the main renewable energy resources in the region. For a good substantiation of PAB, it is necessary to evaluate both the European as well as the national and regional context.

- European Context: At European level, the Strategy 20 X 20 X 20 substantiates Europe's strategic options on Horizon 2020s. Biomass Action Plan <COM (2005) 628 final> emphasizes that: "In the face of Europe’s growing dependency on fossil fuels, biomass is one of the key ways to increase security of energy supply and energy sustainability of Europe."

- National Context is characterized by:

conventional energy resources in depletion (oil, gas, coal);

increased energy intensity (specific energy consumption per unit of GDP) - which lowers economic competitiveness of Romanian products;

low specific consumption of energy per capita - low Romanian economy production;

- Imperatives arising from this situation are priorities for national energy strategy:

The need for securing the power supply by using renewable energy sources Lowering the environmental impact due to the production and use of energy from conventional

sources (hydrocarbons) Increasing economic competitiveness by reducing the specific energy consumption – the increase of

energy efficiency in all areas of activity; Capitalizing a high degree of increased potential for biomass - currently used on a small scale with

out-dated technologies that have low efficiency.

- Context of Centre Region

Increased biomass potential (mainly wood) due to intensified exploitation of the forests as well as that resulting from existing crops or one that can be obtained through energy crops established on degraded or unsuitable soils for traditional agriculture;

Premises: - Already drafted Strategy to promote the use of renewable energy sources (RES) in the Centre

Region; this strategy identifies biomass as the main RES, in terms of potential and highlights the strategic directions for action;

- The existence of local action plans for sustainable energy - SEAP carried out by COM signatories in the Centre Region: of the 60 signatories nationwide 18 are in the Centre Region (10 in Alba county) - all counties are COM signatories. All these plans include actions to exploit local biomass resources.

- The development of European projects such as PromoBio aim to: increase the capacity of regional actors (public authorities but also private companies) to promote the use of biomass; exchange of experience and skills transfer from European countries renowned for their high level of energy recovery from biomass; support pilot projects in the region that become models of biomass use.

- The existence of projects already implemented by exploiting wood biomass: Project Sawdust 2000; the energy groups in wood biomass cogeneration from Holzindustrie Sebes; St. George Business Incubator - biomass heat source for heating the office building, etc.

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B. The methodology used to draw up BAP The PromoBio project has provided a series of assessments: on the one hand, to identify groups of important regional players in the energy recovery of biomass, and on the other hand, the feedback from these groups through the answers to the questionnaires relating to key issues in drawing up the BAP.

Identify regional actors relevant in the field of biomass energy recovery: - Local and regional authorities; - Institutions with responsibilities in the field; - Entities that own and manage the forest fund - Companies that use the wood mass; - Agricultural associations; - Institutions of higher education and research in the field of forestry/agriculture; - Energy agencies and other environmental organizations; - Companies providing technologies for the energy recovery of biomass.

Feedback (through questionnaires, interviews) from these relevant actors on key issues in developing BAP:

i. The main purpose of the BAP;

ii. entities that must be involved in drawing up the BAP;

1. To define a set of priorities and actions;

2. To make an inventory of existing and

future projects of the main actors;

3. To propose interventions in local and

national policies;

4. Other: implementation guide of a

project to use biomass

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iii. The main obstacles in the development of biomass use;

iv. Responsibilities in implementing the plan;

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C. Status of promoting bioenergy / biomass in Europe

At a European level, the sustainable energy strategy in the medium and long term (horizon of 2020 - 2030 to 2050) is outlined in the following documents (strategies, action plans, directives):

Green Paper - "A European strategy for sustainable, competitive and secure energy" [COM(2006) 105 final]

This Green Paper is an important milestone in the development of an energy policy for the European Union (EU). If Europe wants to achieve its economic, social and environmental targets, it needs to address major issues related to energy, such as a growing dependence on energy imports, volatile oil and gas prices, climate change, an increasing energy demand and obstacles to creating a fully competitive internal energy market. EU should exploit its position as the 2nd largest energy market in the world and a world leader in managing demand and promoting renewable energy sources. The Commission calls on Member States to do their utmost to implement a European energy policy built on three fundamental objectives:

- Sustainability - to actively combat climate change by promoting renewable energy sources and energy efficiency;

- Competitiveness - to improve the efficiency of European energy network through creating a truly competitive internal energy market;

- Security of supply - to better coordinate the EU's energy supply and energy demand in an international context. In the Green Paper, the Commission shall make specific proposals in six priority areas for the implementation of a common European energy policy: Increasing the competitiveness and development of the internal energy market in Europe. Diversification of the energy mix by promoting ecological diversification of energy supply. Solidarity - measures to be taken at Community level to prevent energy supply crises and manage

them if they occur. Sustainable development - a better energy strategy to balance environmental objectives with

competitiveness and security of supply. Innovation and Technology - measures should be taken at EU and national level to ensure that

Europe remains a world leader in the field of energy technology. The need for a common European energy policy.

Energy 2020 - A strategy for sustainable, competitive and sustainable energy [COM (2010) 639] The new European energy strategy developed in 2010 focuses on five priorities: Achieving an energy efficient Europe - 2020 target is to achieve 20% energy savings, the sectors

with the greatest potential of achieving significant energy savings are the buildings and transport.

Creating a truly pan-European integrated energy market: European energy markets need to be more open to allow people to benefit from reliable and competitive prices, and sustainable energy.

Empowering consumers and achieving the highest level of security and energy security through:

energy policies must become more consumer friendly;

continuous improvement of safety and energy security;

Extending Europe's leadership in energy technology innovation

Strengthening the external dimension of the EU energy market.

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%

GDP – Energy demand – Energy intensity

(Source: Presentation "European Strategy for Sustainable, & Competitive & Secure

Energy" of Directorate General for Energy and Transport of the EC): Evolution of GDP, energy demand and energy intensity in the EU

Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC);

This Directive aims to establish a common framework for the production and promotion of renewable energy.

Context The directive is part of the legislative package on energy and climate change, part of a Community legislative framework aiming to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. This framework encourages energy efficiency, renewable energy consumption, improving energy supply and economic stimulation of a dynamic sector in which Europe represents an example.

National targets and measures Each Member State has a target calculated on its share of energy from renewable sources in its gross final energy consumption for 2020. This target is consistent with the overall "20-20-20" of the European Community. Moreover, the share of renewable energy in the transport sector must be equal to at least 10% of final energy consumption in this sector by 2020.

National action plans for renewable energy Member States should set up a national action plan to fix the share of energy from renewable sources consumed in transport and electricity production and heating, for 2020. These action plans should take into account the effects of other energy efficiency measures on final energy consumption (the more significant reduction in energy consumption, the less energy is required to achieve the target renewable). Also, these plans must provide for ways of reforming planning and charging schemes and access to the electricity grids in favour of renewable energy.

Cooperation between Member States

Member States may "exchange" the amount of energy from renewable sources by a statistical transfer and may develop joint projects for the production of electricity and heat from renewable sources.

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Cooperation can be established with third countries. The following conditions must be met:

o Electricity must be consumed within the European Community; o Electricity must be produced by a newly built installation (after June 2009); o The amount of electricity produced and exported should not receive any other support.

Guarantee of origin Each Member State must be able to ensure both the origin of electricity and energy for heating and cooling from renewable energy sources. The information in these guarantees of origin is standardized and should be recognized in all Member States. It can be also used to provide consumers with information regarding the composition of the various power sources.

Access to grids and their management Member States should create the necessary infrastructure for renewable energy in the transport sector. For this purpose, they must:

o ensure that operators guarantee the transport and distribution of electricity from renewable sources;

o Provide for a priority access to this type of energy.

Biofuels and bio liquids The Directive takes into account the energy from biofuels and bio liquids. They should contribute to a reduction of at least 35% of emissions of greenhouse gases to be taken into account. Since 1 January 2017, their share in reducing emissions should increase to 50%.

Biofuels and bio liquids are made from raw materials from outside or within the Community. Biofuels and bio liquids shall not be produced from raw materials from high value as biodiversity or with high carbon stock lands. To qualify for financial aid, they must be classified as "sustainable" according to the criteria of the directive.

Biomass Action Plan [COM (2005) 628 final]

The Biomass Action Plan is part of the new EU energy policy set out in the Green Paper on energy published in March 2006.

Biomass refers to all animal and vegetable products used to produce energy. Biomass represents around half (44-65%) of the total renewable energy sources used in the EU. Biomass currently provides 4% of the energy needs of the EU (the equivalent of 69 million tonnes of oil - toe).

An increase in the share of biomass in the energy mix to 150 million toes could bring the following benefits: - Diversification of energy supply to Europe; - Significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions * (209 million tonnes); - Direct jobs for250-300 000 persons; - Potential for fall in oil prices due to a lower demand.

Biomass for heating

Heating is undoubtedly the sector that uses biomass the most, due to simple and not very expensive technologies. However, paradoxically, the use of biomass is in slower growth in this sector.

The Commission intends to use various measures to improve the situation, including: - Adopting specific new legislation on renewable energy sources for heating; - Amending the Directive on the energy performance of buildings; - Conducting a study on ways to improve the performance of household biomass boilers as well as to

reduce pollution.

However, the use of biomass for heating is best suited to be done in district heating plants than separate heating systems.

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Biomass-Generated Electricity European Commission stresses that there are many ways of producing electricity from renewable energy sources. Attention should focus in this area on the Directive on electricity from renewable energy sources.

The use of biofuels in transport It is regulated by the Directive for biofuels for transport among other states that:

- Establish national targets for market share of biofuels; - Obligation to use biofuels; - Implementing a system for certifying compliance with standards for biofuels.

Boosting supply of biomass Regarding agriculture, the reform of the common agricultural policy (CAP) introduced a special "aid for energy crops". In addition, the Commission will fund an information campaign on the priorities for energy crops and prospects to exploit them.

Forestry statistics show that approximately 35% of the annual growth of forests in the EU remains unused. An action plan will be developed to stimulate the generation of electricity from wood biomass. The Commission will also review the impact of energy use of wood residues from forest industries.

Waste is also an insufficiently exploited energy resource. For this reason, the Commission is currently developing a thematic strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste, and is preparing a proposal for the revision of the waste framework legislation.

Animal by-products which are not intended for human consumption are increasingly being used for power generation.

We also give special attention to the adoption of European standards for solid biomass fuels in order to facilitate trade, develop markets and increase consumer confidence.

The European Commission encourages the development of action plans at national and regional level to assess biomass at different levels (physical and economic availability, priorities of use, measures to be taken, etc.).

Funding for Biomass Support the development of renewable and alternative energy sources is a key objective for the structural and cohesion funds. EU and Member States should therefore promote the development of renewable energy sources through regional policy. The Commission also points out that support for biomass production and use must comply with EU state aid policy.

Biomass and research The Commission proposal for the 7th Framework Programme places a high priority for research on biomass. It is intended to promote best practices to stimulate research in further optimizing the use of crops and wood waste for energy purposes and in conversion processes.

Roadmap and targets

"Renewable Energy Roadmap. Renewable Energy in the 21st century: building a more sustainable future"

COM(2006) 848 final;

The Roadmap outlines the Commission's long-term strategy on renewable energy in the European Union

(UE). This strategy aims to enable the EU to achieve the twin objectives of greater security of energy supply

and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. An assessment, of the share of renewable energies in the

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energy mix and the progresses made in the last 10 years, shows that the renewable energies could be

exploited more and more efficiently.

In this roadmap, the Commission proposes to establish a binding target of a 20% share of renewable

energies in EU energy consumption by 2020 and a 10% binding minimum target for biofuels. The

Commission also proposes a new legislative framework to strengthen the promotion and use of renewable

energies.

Directive 2009/28/EC (Directive on renewable energy sources, establishes a European framework to

promote renewable energy and sets mandatory national targets in this area, consisting of achieving a share

of 20% renewable energy in final energy consumption and 10 % in transport by 2020, a reduction of

emissions of greenhouse gases by 20% by 2020, and increase energy savings by 20% by 2020.

These objectives have been transposed into national legislation, Romania committing to achieve a share of

34% of energy from renewable sources in electricity consumption by 2020.

Energy Roadmap 2050 (15 December 2011)

The EU has committed by 2050 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80-95% from 1990 levels, given the need to reduce emissions in the developed countries. In Energy Roadmap 2050, the Commission examines the challenges of meeting the EU target on decarbonisation, ensuring at the same time, security of supply and competitiveness.

The document outlines some of the energy system decarbonisation scenarios. All scenarios involve major changes in terms, for example, carbon price, technology and networks to achieve 90% reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases, which implies a decrease of about 85% of CO2 emissions related to energy sector, including transport.

In the configuration of scenarios to transform the energy system and the transition from 2020-2050, in Energy Roadmap, one of the premises underlying the construction of a sustainable energy system is the switching to renewable energy sources.

All decarbonisation scenarios analyzed and underpinning this paper suggest that the share of renewable energy sourses will increase, reaching up to 30% of gross final energy, in 2030. The challenge facing Europe is to allow market players to reduce the cost of renewable energy by improving research, industrialization of the supply chain and streamlining the policies and support systems. Heating and cooling from renewable energy sources are crucial for decarbonisation. Energy consumption must shift to local energy sources and low carbon emissions (including heat pumps and storage heaters) and renewable energy sources (e.g. solar and geothermal heating, biogas, biomass), including DH systems.

2030

+30% RES

-40% GHG

2020

+20% RES

-20% GHG

+20% energy

efficiency

+20% energy

2050

-80 -95% GHG

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Within the 2050 perspective, the European Commission announces more ambitious targets for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases: by 80-95% and counting, in particular to reduce them, on increasing the share of energy from renewable sources.

The use of biomass in Europe: comparative analysis and graphics:

Situation of share of different types of renewable energy sources for electricity production: Europe 2011.

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D. Status of promotion and use of bioenergy / biomass at national level

Romania has established through the European directive for energy from renewable sources, ambitious

targets for 2020, targets that take into account both the potential of renewable sources as well as their

recovery stage in the reference year 2005.

Thus, the assessed national potential on renewable sources (evaluation issued through the National

Renewable Energy Action Plan - NREAP) is:

Renewable energy sources The annual energy potential

Economic equivalent energy (thousand toe)

Field of application

Solar energy, of which: 1,536.0

- thermal 60x10^6 GJ 1,433.0 Thermal energy

- photovoltaic 1.200 GWh 103.2 Electricity

Wind energy 23.000 GWh 1,978.0 Electricity

Hydropower, of which: 40.000 GWh 3,440.0 Electricity

- under 10 MW 6.000 GWh 516.0 Electricity

Biomass 318x10^6 GJ 7,597.0 Thermal energy

Geothermal energy 7x10^6 GJ 167.0 Thermal energy

Starting from this potential (which definitely can be capitalized only in a certain percentage), the overall

national target for share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy in 2020

(which inserts the numbers from Annex I, Part A of Directive 2009 / 28/CE) is given in table 3.1 (NAPRE):

A. Share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy, 2005 (S2005) (%)

17.8

B. Target of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy, 2020 (S2020) (%)

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C. Projected total adjusted energy consumption for 2020 (thousand toe)

30,278

D. Projected amount of energy from renewable sources corresponding to 2020 target (calculated as B x C) (thousand toe)

7,267

It is found that the biomass assessed potential is more than 50% of the overall RES potential assessed in Romania, also representing more than the value of envisaged amount of energy from renewable sources corresponding to Romania in 2020.

We can underline the importance of energy recovery in a higher degree of biomass, renewable energy resource for which there are advanced technologies and is suitable both at small-scale applications (separate heating systems) but also at medium / large power applications for the production of energy in cogeneration (electricity and heat) in high efficiency systems.

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To achieve the national targets set for 2020 in terms of energy, a number of strategic documents have been

elaborated and a number of national programmes have been launched, as follows:

1. Energy strategy, action plans, roadmap;

Energy Strategy of Romania during 2007-2020

Approved by G.D. No. 1069/2007, the Strategy aims at satisfying the energy demand both now as well as in the medium and long term, at a price as low as possible, suitable for a modern market economy and a decent standard of living, in terms of quality, food safety in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. Romanian energy sector strategic priority is to create a competitive market in terms of efficient energy use with environmental protection requirements.

The strategic aims are the following:

Energy Safety - Increasing energy safety by providing the necessary energy resources and limiting energy import

dependence; - Diversification of import sources, energy resources and their transportation routes; - Increasing the level the suitability of national supply networks of electricity, natural gas and oil; - Protection of critical infrastructure;

Sustainability - Increasing the energy efficiency; - Promoting energy production based on renewable sources; - Promoting the production of electricity and heat in cogeneration plants, especially in high-

efficiency cogeneration plants; - Supporting research, development and dissemination of applicable research results; - Reducing the negative impact of the energy sector on the environment; - Rational and efficient use of primary energy resources.

Competitiveness

- Development of competitive markets for electricity, natural gas, oil, uranium, green certificates, certificates of emission of greenhouse gas and energy services;

- Liberalization of energy transit and ensuring equal and continuous access of market participants to transport, distribution and international interconnections networks, further restructuring and privatization, especially the stock market in the sectors of electricity, heat and gas;

- Further restructuring of the coal sector in order to increase profitability and capital market access.

Measures envisaged promoting renewable energy sources are:

- Increasing the recovery, in terms of economic efficiency, renewable energy resources for electricity and heat production through facilities in the investment stage, including facilitating access to the grid;

- Improvement of the green certificates market in order to attract private capital in investments in renewable sources;

- Promotion of mechanism to support renewable energy resources in the production of heat and domestic hot water;

- The use of structural funds.

Note: In the energy strategy is underlined the need to capitalize on a large scale the potential of biomass which covers about 50% of all renewable energy in Romania, biomass is by cogeneration technologies, an important solution for the production of electricity and thermal energy, also is one of the most convenient solutions for obtaining thermal energy for heating.

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National Renewable Energy Action Plan - NREAP

NREAP performs a review of national legislation in the field of renewable energy, presenting national targets and measures to support the achievement of the targets. In NREAP are being promoted the following long-term strategic directions:

Unconventional technology transfer from companies with tradition and experience in implementing rules, attestation and certification in accordance with the relevant international standards;

Development and implementation of legal, institutional and organizational measures;

Attracting private and public sector in the financing, management and operation in terms of efficiency of the modern energy technologies;

Identify funding sources to support and develop applications for capitalization of renewable energy sources;

Supporting the setting up of joint-venture companies (involving risk reduction methods in which two companies combine their forces of production or promote together a product; the method of entering into foreign markets where local company acts as a Partner, with the aim of producing and promoting the product in that market), specializing in capitalization of renewable energy sources;

Development of research and development programmes oriented towards accelerating the integration of renewable energy sources in the national energy system.

NREAP: total annual quotas (2011-2020) for electricity from biomass

Year M.U. Biomass

Of which

solid biogas in cogeneration

2011 MW 90 80 10 90

GWh 435 385 50 435

2012 MW 165 145 20 165

GWh 795 700 95 795

2013 MW 250 200 50 250

GWh 1,200 960 240 1,200

2014 MW 340 250 90 340

GWh 1,640 1,200 440 1,640

2015 MW 425 300 125 425

GWh 2,050 1,450 600 2,050

2016 MW 510 350 160 510

GWh 2,450 1,680 770 2,450

2017 MW 540 370 170 540

GWh 2,600 1,780 820 2,600

2018 MW 565 385 180 565

GWh 2,720 1,855 865 2,720

2019 MW 590 400 190 590

GWh 2,850 1,930 920 2,850

2020 MW 600 405 195 600

GWh 2,900 1,950 950 2,900

National Energy Efficiency Action Plan - NEEAP -(for 2007-2010)

It has promoted measures of energy efficiency improvement that fall into the following categories:

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Regulations;

Information and legislative measures (Information Campaign, Energy Audit);

Voluntary agreements and cooperation instruments (Industrial Companies, Long Term Agreements);

Energy services for energy savings (Third Party Financing, Energy Performance Contracts);

Financial instruments (subsidies, tax exemption on issuing the construction permits for thermal rehabilitation works, co-financing of works);

Energy efficiency mechanisms and other combinations of the other sub-categories (energy efficiency funds).

NEEAP includes horizontal and trans-sector measures, namely regulations (provisions of Directive 2006/32/EC and Directive 2005/32/EC), information campaigns, funding schemes expected to be undertaken in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

In 2014, the new national action plan for energy efficiency for 2014-2020 will be drafted in which the "European Energy Efficiency Directive 2012/27/UE" will be included and which must achieve the target set by the EU to reduce primary energy consumption by 20% by 2020.

Law 220/2008 on the promotion of energy from renewable sources, as supplemented and amended.

The present law creates the legal framework necessary to extend the use of renewable sources energy by:

Attracting into the national energy balance of the renewable energy sources needed to increase security of energy supply and reduce imports of primary energy resources;

Stimulating sustainable development at local and regional level and the creation of new jobs related to capitalization processes on renewable energy sources;

Reduce environmental pollution by decreasing the production of pollutant emissions and greenhouse gas emissions;

Ensure necessary co-financing in attracting foreign financial sources to promote renewable energy sources within the limits of sources established annually through the state budget law and solely for the local public authorities;

Defining rules relating to guarantees of origin, applicable administrative procedures and connection to the grid in terms of energy produced from renewable sources;

Establishment of sustainability criteria for biofuels and bio liquids.

Level of national targets for the share of electricity produced from renewable energy sources in gross final consumption of electricity in the years 2010, 2015 and 2020 is 33%, 35% and 38%.

To achieve the national targets set out in paragraph (2), in addition to electricity produced from renewable energy sources provided in art. Article 3 (1), it shall be taken into account the electricity produced in hydropower plants with an installed capacity greater than 10 MW. The annual mandatory quotas for electricity produced from renewable energy sources benefiting from green certificate promotion system for the period 2010-2020 are as follows:

2010 – 8.3%; 2011 - 10%; 2012 - 12%; 2013 - 14%; 2014 - 15%; 2015 - 16%; 2016 - 17%; 2017 - 18%; 2018 - 19%; 2019 – 19.5%; 2020 - 20%.

The annual mandatory quotas for electricity produced from renewable energy sources benefiting from green certificate promotion system for the period 2020-2030 are set the relevant ministry and approved by Government decision and should not be under quota set for the year 2020.

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NAER qualifies producers of electricity from renewable energy to benefit from the green certificate promotion system, as provided in the Regulation of qualification of producers of electricity from renewable energy sources for the application on the green certificate promotion system.

The producers of renewable energy benefit from a number of green certificates for electricity produced and delivered according to provisions of par. (1), including the amount of electricity produced during the test period of the groups / power plants operation, as follows:

for the electricity from hydroelectric plants with an installed capacity of not more than 10 MW: 3 green certificates for each 1 MWh produced and delivered, if the hydroelectric plants are

new; two green certificates for each 1 MWh produced and delivered, if the hydroelectric plants

are re-technologized; one green certificate for each 2 MWh from hydroelectric plants with an installed capacity

of not more than 10 MW, if the hydroelectric plants are not new or refurbished;

Two green certificates until 2017, and a green certificate starting with 2018 for each 1 MWh produced and delivered by the producers of electricity from wind energy;

3 green certificates for each 1 MWh produced and delivered by the producers of electricity from geothermal sources or sludge fermentation gas from wastewater treatment plants;

6 green certificates for each 1 MWh produced and delivered by the producers of electricity from solar energy.

It benefits from the green certificate promotion system regulated by this law and the isolated electroenergy systems.

2. National programmes to promote investment for production and use of energy from renewable sources developed to date:

"National Programme for Energy Efficiency and Use of Renewable Energy in the public sector for (2009-2010) ", approved by G.D. 1661/2008; with the following objectives:

Granting financial support for co-financing from the state budget, which leads to the stimulation of a large volume of local investment, either by attracting other funding sources or through public-private partnership;

Thermal energy bill reductions for the population, increasing comfort and security of heat and hot water supply;

Increasing comfort in public buildings by improving heat supply service, indoor and outdoor public lighting, as well as the restoration of heating installation and thermal insulation;

Development of the energy services market in Romania and energy efficient equipment market, especially the development of domestic production;

Capitalizing locally the potential of renewable energy sources to meet the demand for thermal energy and replacing or reducing the amount of expensive or deficient fuels;

Reduction of polluting emissions in urban living areas and of global pollution by diminishing greenhouse gas emissions;

Rehabilitation and modernization of district heating supply, including changing the type of fuel for energy combustion plants (e.g. biomass);

Thermal rehabilitation of public buildings and the use of local potential of renewable energy sources for electricity and / or heat supply (projects with a strong socioeconomic impact);

Modernization of indoor and outdoor public lighting.

the "Green House" National Programme, for individuals, consists of awarding fixed amounts from the Environment Fund budget, depending on the type of installation, as follows:

up to 6,000 lei to install solar panels;

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up to 8,000 lei for the installation of heat pumps;

up to 6,000 lei for installation of thermal energy based on pellets, briquettes, wood chips and any residues and vegetable waste from agriculture, wood, and forestry.

Under this programme, the applicant may apply to the following conditions:

is a natural person residing in Romania;

is the owner / co-owner of the property on / in which the project is implemented;

property shall not be subject to litigation pending to be settled in the courts of law, of any claim under a special law or common law, of any expropriation proceedings for the public interest;

has no outstanding obligations to the state budget, local budgets, according to applicable national law;

in the activity carried out prior to the start of the project has breached the legal provisions on environmental protection and does not sponsor activities with detrimental effect on the environment.

This programme ran in 2010 and 2011 and there is no available version yet.

The "Green House" national programme for public authorities implied using the Environment Fund to finance projects for installation of heating systems using renewable energy, including replacing or supplementing traditional heating systems. The purpose of the programme was to improve the quality of air, water and soil by reducing pollution caused by burning wood and fossil fuels used to produce heat energy used for heating and hot water, and encourage the use of systems that use renewable clean energy sources. Beneficiaries were administrative territorial units, public institutions and religious establishments; the beneficiaries submitted projects for funding under the Programme for buildings owned by or in their administration. Within the Programme, projects were conducted to replace or supplement traditional heating systems with systems using solar energy, geothermal energy, wind energy, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas, gas fermentation sludge from wastewater treatment plants and biogas or other systems leading to improved air quality, water and soil.

The public institutions / religious establishments that wanted to participate in the programme had to have a feasibility study for the chosen objective, elaborated according to Government Decision no. 28/2008, comprising: monthly consumption of cold and hot water, certificate of payment documents, and the number of users, except agreements and permits. The grant, provided by the Environment Fund was granted in the amount of up to 90% of eligible project costs. The amount of funding for public institutions could not exceed 2,000,000 lei. The total programme budget was 100 million lei. The period of programme development was between 15.12.2010 and 20.01.2011. Unfortunately, these programmes had limited budgets and a development period that ended in 2011, so that in Romania currently there are no national programmes that directly support projects to increase energy efficiency and implement solutions for production and use of energy from renewable sources.

3. Assessment of biomass potential nationwide: “The Study on assessment of current energy potential of renewable energy sources in Romania” conducted by ICEMENERG Bucharest, in 2006, indicated for biomass the following values of technical potential energy, respectively economic conversion potential:

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Biomass Type \ potential MU Technical Potential Economic Conversion Potential

Vegetable biomass (forest + crops)

GT / year 471,000 289,500 Thousand toe/ year

11,249 6,915

Biogas GT / year 24,600 14,800 Thousand toe / year

587 353

Urban waste - organic fraction

GT / year 22,800 13,700 Thousand toe / year

544 327

Total GT / year 518,400 318,000 Thousand toe / year

12,382 7,595

The same study also includes a map of the distribution by regions and counties in Romania of the energy potential of the two major components: forest biomass and agricultural crops.

↑ Potential of biomass energy in Romania ↑

As an observation: if all the amount of assessed biomass could be harnessed, it alone could meet the 2020 target for energy from renewable sources.

4. The situation of current capitalisation of RES/biomass in Romania

The current systems of promoting energy from renewable sources in Romania focus mainly on promoting/supporting electricity production, especially through large-scale projects. The support of the production of heat, especially for heating, although it has a significant share in total final energy consumption, has been neglected.

Green certificate promotion scheme (Law 220/2008) has already shown its shortcomings - especially large and mega projects in the fields of wind turbines and solar panels were implemented that had a high degree of economic profitability in the current form of the law 220/2008; these projects have caused a number of major drawbacks: difficulty in compensating variations of power generated in the national electricity transport by large size wind and photovoltaic systems; increase in final price of electricity

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consumers (including the value of green certificates corresponding to electricity from renewable sources), difficult to bear by the population and by industrial consumers; reduced economic effect of implementing these major projects (given that they were developed by foreign investors, with import technologies, which have created few jobs, and a low level of technology transfer, and the net economic outcome - profit - is usually externalized).

In these circumstances, there is a need to rethink the national priorities on renewable energy sources: the effort to support RES by harnessing their potential should be transferred at local level through small/ medium projects undertaken in a sustainable manner.

This sustainability refers to low CO2 emissions generated by the project implementation but also to these projects’ economic profitability and positive social impact at the local level: generating jobs, gains in fighting pollution, the economic effects of these projects that would generate local benefits.

Under all these aspects, the efficient energy recovery of local biomass resources through sustainable projects is of utmost importance.

The traditional use of wood biomass in rural areas of Romania was under the form of firewood (especially in areas where there is no natural gas distribution network) used for heating and preparation of food, unfortunately, this use is made in combustion installations with a very low yield (about 20%), being inefficient and pollutant.

It requires the support through national/regional programmes for switching from these inefficient installations to modern boilers with corresponding yields (> 75%).

The "Green House" National programme that ran only for two years (2010 and 2011) proved a particular interest of domestic energy users to switch to the use of RES technologies and hence of biomass to produce heat and hot water. Unfortunately, the small grant fund programme, excessive bureaucracy in the evaluation of applications, especially their discontinuation after only two years, hindered the use of biomass energy locally by the small consumers.

Another important issue to increase the use of biomass in individual applications of producing thermal energy is providing for biomass resources (pellets, briquettes) at affordable prices.

Unfortunately, in Romania, both the important producers of pellets, as well as the smaller ones, charge prices well above the domestic purchasing power of beneficiaries as they have secured the sale of production at these high prices, at exports. The cause of this distortion of the internal market is the difference between the price of natural gas (the main classic alternative energy that is to be replaced with pellets) in Romania and one of the European countries like Germany, Austria, Italy, etc. (in these countries the natural gas has a price double than practiced in Romania).

There are two solutions for this matter: either to align natural gas prices - but this would affect the average purchasing power in Romania, or turn to production systems / integrated recovery pellets / briquettes at local level.

Examples of major projects for energy recovery at industrial scale of biomass were supported through special programmes funds for financing and had certain characteristics that made them attractive. Using the two particular examples, it is possible to identify these features:

The "Sawdust 2000" Project - based on technology using sawdust as an energy source in the central heating system in five cities, developed under the collaboration with Denmark;

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Harnessing of wood biomass at the establishments of Holzindustrie company for producing electricity and heat in cogeneration;

These important features for successful biomass projects are: access to significant local biomass resources; funding secured through support programmes; access to advanced technologies; sales / use market secured for the produced thermal energy.

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E. Status of promotion and use of bioenergy / biomass in Centre Region

1. Strategies and action plans for the sustainable energy at regional / county / local level a. Strategy to promote renewable energy in the Centre Region

Goal: Increase of economic competitiveness in the Centre Region and ensure a decent standard of living by promoting the production and use of renewable energy and complying with the principles of sustainable development.

Priority axes and intervention areas

Priority Axis 1 - Managing efficiently the energy through local policies well substantiated and through the modernization of local and regional structures activity of energy management.

Areas of intervention:

Substantiating the policies in the energy field at regional and county level for the development of strategies and master plans on introducing development directions for energy efficiency and use of renewable energies.

Promoting Covenant of Mayors initiative and attracting new administrative units from Centre Region in this European network.

Priority Axis 2 – Harnessing the natural potential in Centre Region for the production of energy from renewable resources.


Boosting energy supply produced from alternative community sources by exploiting local renewable sources potential and supporting public - private partnerships.

Creating and sustaining regional networking activities of technology transfer and innovation to achieve the interface between R & D institutions and companies in the field of renewable energies.

Priority Axis 3 – Stimulating the use of alternative energy by the companies in the region.


Supporting the introduction of innovative technologies and advanced equipment for the use of alternative energies.

Promoting regional participations in fairs and exhibitions presenting the technologies and systems of production and use of renewable energies.

Promoting the creation of new innovative and / or technology companies to operate in the field of alternative energy and support the development of innovative activities in existing companies.

Priority Axis 4 - Increase the capitalization of research results and development potential for innovation in renewable energies.


Supporting research and innovation in the field of renewable energies in the framework of regional development policy.

Institutions participating in investment projects, research projects - development and international research - development - innovation networks.

Supporting infrastructure development in applied research and technology transfer.

Priority Axis 5 - Improving labor force qualification and developing management skills for those involved in renewable energies.


Training, retraining, training the workforce in the field of renewable energy.

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Developing an entrepreneurial culture through a new regional approach within the educational system.

b. Energy Master plan of Alba County

The vision of public county authority in terms of energy is:

"Alba County Council aims, through concerted actions on energy, the access to safe energy, with efficient energy consumption to ensure the quality of life of the county’s inhabitants and the competitiveness of products and services provided, and support of sustainable development by limiting the environmental impact."

The County’s Energy policy Principles are: achieving efficient energy management at all levels of activities; promoting the use of renewable energy resources at a large scale; it will be applied the principle

of distributed energy production where there is exploitable potential (in terms of economic efficiency) and use it according to consumer needs (with a focus on energy efficiency);

increase energy efficiency in all sectors: public services, the built environment, industry, agriculture, transport;

supporting the development of a real market for energy services performance as a sure way of maximizing the quality - price ratio in providing services;

achieving spatial planning in the administrative units in accordance with the principles of energy sustainability;

creating a responsible attitude towards energy and environment among economic and policy makers and in general among the inhabitants of the county.

Strategic intervention directions are identified from the following perspectives:

Energy Management; Ensuring continuity in energy supply; Energy Efficiency; Use of energy from renewable sources.

Several actions aimed at promoting the use of biomass contained in EM:

Carrying out a study to identify the biomass potential in the county (map with biomass potential); Support the establishment in communes with potential of biomass (forest exploitation) of small

enterprises to produce pellets; Study of opportunity on establishment of energy crops on degraded lands and exploit

opportunities by producing biomass / biofuels; Implementation of solutions for energy production based on biomass from agriculture; Initiative to promote a national programme to replace traditional wood stoves with biomass

boilers, for areas without gas grids; Initiation of training courses in renewable energy for specialists from the County Council and local

authorities; Promoting projects to use biomass for energy in cogeneration in localities with significant

potential for biomass (Ighiu, Bistra, Zlatna) through public-private partnership; Promote a pilot project for recovery of degraded lands for energy crops (public private

partnership or European funding)

c. Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAP) - CoM signatories of municipalities in the Centre Region (e.g.: Alba Iulia, Brasov, Aiud, Tirgu Mures, Fagaras, Cugir, Zlatna, Sfantu Gheorghe, etc.) These local action plans have been carried out by the respective municipalities to achieve the objectives assumed as CoM signatories, of reducing on their territories the energy consumption and therefore CO2 emissions with more than 20% by 2020.

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SEAP also contain sets of actions in the areas of intervention of which the most important are buildings, public utilities and urban transport (the energy consumptions and CO2 emissions due to industrial activity are not taken into account). In case of the key area "buildings", which is by far the most important energy consumption and generator of emissions at the urban level, are targeted as main action packages, the improving of energy consumption and switching to energy production (both thermal - for heating and hot water, and electricity) from local sources of renewable energy; among them a leading role has the biomass, used both in individual and collective systems of heating, considered an important alternative at conventional systems using natural gas or other fossil fuels. Also, some municipalities having still the production systems and heat supply have envisaged as actions the switching to generate heat from biomass systems and even energy production in cogeneration.

2. Assessment of biomass energy potential in the Centre Region

2.1. Forest Fund of Centre Region

Forests are one of the most important assets of the Centre Region. The total area of forest in the

Centre Region in 2012 was 1 259 900 ha, representing 36.9% of the region’s territory, compared to

27.4% at national level. Deciduous forests predominate (54% of the area), followed by those of

conifers. The counties with the highest percentage of forested areas are: Covasna (45.9%), Harghita

(39.5%) and Brasov (38.2%), but it is worth noting that all Centre Region counties have a degree of

afforestation above the national average. Compared to 2007, the forest area in the Centre Region was

reduced in 2012 by approximately 0.4% to county level being recorded slightly contrasting

developments in the period under review: the highest increase was recorded in Mures forest area,

while the most significant reduction was recorded in Harghita.

The forest fund area in the counties of Centre Region during 2007 - 2012

-thousand hectares-

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Centre Region 1,264.5 1,252.4 1,257.3 1,255.6 1,259.6 1,259.9

Alba 206.8 206.9 206.4 206.3 206.6 206.1

Brașov 202.9 202.9 204.3 204.3 204.4 204.7

Covasna 175.1 162.6 168.7 167.2 170.2 170.2

Harghita 272.8 264.8 264.1 262.3 262.4 262.4

Mureș 208.5 225.2 219.4 219.6 219.7 219.8

Sibiu 198.4 190 194.4 195.9 196.3 196.7

Source: Romanian National Institute of Statistics

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1240

1245

1250

1255

1260

1265

1270

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

tho

usa

nd

he

ctar

es

The forest fund area in Centru Region during 2007-2012

Map of forests in the Centre Region

.

Forest area (% of the land area)

-%-

Romania 27.4

Centre Region 36.9

Alba 33.0

Brașov 38.2

Covasna 45.9

Harghita 39.5

Mureș 32.7

Sibiu 36.2

Source: Romanian National Institute of Statistics

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Afforestation and forest regeneration in the Centre Region

Increasing the area covered by forests and afforestation of agricultural land affected by various

phenomena of degradation are some of the priorities of forest policy in Romania. Areas covered with

new forests are increasing and thus the effects of protection and biodiversity in such situations have

become a priority.

In the Centre Region, afforestation or natural regenerations covered an area of 2470 hectares in 2012,

200 hectares more than the previous year. Of the total regenerated forest area in 2012 in the Centre

Region (natural regeneration and re-forestation), one third was in Harghita County (827 ha), followed by

the counties of Sibiu and Mures. At a regional level, in 2012, of the total forest area, the percentage of

regenerated forest area was of 0.20%. Higher values were registered in Harghita (0.32%) and Sibiu

(0.23%).

2.2. Wood harvesting in the Centre Region

With a volume of 4.265 million cubic meters of wood harvested in 2012, the Centre Region is the second

Romanian forest harvesting tank (after North-East Region) and the first region in the production of

timber. Harghita and Mures occupy the top two places at the regional level in the volume of timber

harvested in 2012.

The amount of wood harvested in the Centre Region by companies in the wood industry has registered

an upward trend in the recent years with more than 3.5 million cubic metres harvested in 2012. The

counties with the fastest growth are Covasna and Alba, where the harvested quantity increased 2 times

in 2007-2012. Mures and Harghita counties have registered decreases in the volume of wood harvested,

although they remain the major timber-producing counties.

The harvesting source is mainly state-owned forests (39% of total regional in 2012) and privately owned

forests (37.1 % of total). Tree barks and other by-products obtained in 2012 represented almost 270 000

cubic metres in the entire region.

Wood harvested by companies operating in the wood industry

-cubic metres-

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Centre Region 2874211 3303116 2501191 2682192 3628917 3554681

Alba 276594 514088 383670 526280 601771 581894

Brașov 458849 474073 356456 341343 688814 641067

Covasna 272336 393492 317470 330994 649235 601433

Harghita 713761 822901 586180 424233 501176 621471

Mureș 817704 633778 433724 555229 617938 648800

Sibiu 334967 464784 423691 504113 569983 460016

Data Source: the National Institute of Statistics

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1388

817

1318

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Wood harvested by companies in the Centru Region in 2012, according to the type of property (thousand cubic metres)

State property Local administration property Private property Forest vegetation outside the forest fund

Wood mass sold by forest units

-thousand cubic metres-

2007 2008 2009

Centre Region 2942,8 2710,4 2484

Alba 263,4 325,4 362,7

Brașov 589,1 606,3 608

Covasna 490,9 230,4 229,8

Harghita 506,2 343,1 294,4

Mureș 617,8 749,3 545,5

Sibiu 475,4 455,9 443,6


Wood volume harvested by companies in 2012, divided into categories

Cubic metres

Harvested

wood –Total-

Round wood Bark Other by-

products

Centre Region 3554681 3284947 154945 114789

Alba 581894 520038 28400 33456

Brașov 641067 607953 25522 7592

Covasna 601433 561855 21533 18045

Harghita 621471 571962 31813 17696

Mureș 648800 609065 23878 15857

Sibiu 460016 414074 23799 22143


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2.3. The biomass energy potential of the Centre Region

Centre Region has a significant energy potential of agricultural and forestry biomass. According to the

study conducted by ICEMENERG SA, the energy potential of biomass in the Centre Region, lower than

that of other development regions (except Bucharest-Ilfov), amounts to 20277 terajoule, of which 4559

terajoule is represented by the forest biomass potential (22.5% - high rate compared to the national

average). Mures and Alba are counties in the Centre Region with the highest energy potential of

biomass. Together, they add 60% of the harvesting potential. Forest biomass accounts for 71% of the

total biomass potential in Harghita. It also has significant shares in Covasna and Brasov (37% and 30%).

3. Presentation of the current technology using biomass and of the fields of application

The main types of technology used for harnessing biomass energy are:

- Direct combustion in furnaces; - Advanced thermal biomass conversion into a secondary fuel, through thermal gasification or

pyrolysis, followed by the use of the fuel in an engine or turbine; - Biological conversion into methane gas through aerobic bacterial digestion; - Chemical and biochemical conversion of organic matters into hydrogen, methanol, ethanol or

diesel.

Technological process

By-product Equipment/end product Applications

Combustion Hot gas - Furnace/ Boiler

- Steam engine

- Heating, heat-technological process

- Hot water - Electricity+ heating

Gasification Gas fuel - Furnace, gas engine - Gas turbine - Combustion cells

- Heating - Electricity + heating

Synthesis gas - Natural synthetic gas - Liquid biofuel

- Heating - Transportation

Pyrolysis Gas fuel - Engine - Electricity + heating

Liquid fuel Solid fuel

- Furnace - Engine

- Electricity + heating - Transportation

Types and technologies used in combustion:

- Grate furnaces; - Under stoker furnaces; - Pulverized fuel boilers

Technological systems for electricity production:

- - Steam turbines; - - Gas turbines; - - Internal combustion engines; - - Stirling engines

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4. Pilot projects within PromoBio and other examples of using biomass implemented in the Centre

Region with the support of PromoBio

a. The Business Incubator in Sfântu Gheorghe - biomass heating source for building heating

The project was to replace the existing heating system for the Business Incubator building, which used natural gas, with a new source of heating (hot water boiler) using biomass. Technical data:

- Installed (nominal) power:135 kW - Annual produced heat: 243 MWh - Annual biomass consumption: 426 m3 - Biomass: 288 m3 sawdust / 138 m3 wood chips

b. The centralized heating system of the town of Odorheiu Secuiesc- biomass as heating and hot water source

The gas heating system was replaced by biomass hot water boilers.

- Installed (nominal) power:9,5MW - Annual produced heat: 76.000 MWh - Annual biomass consumption: 85.400 m3 - Biomass: wood chips.

c. The centralized heating system of the town of Miercurea Ciuc- biomass as heating and hot water source for CT KOS KAROLY

The gas heating system at KOS KAROLY, was replaced by biomass hot water boilers.

- Installed (nominal) power :3,65MW - Annual produced heat: 6.950 MWh - Annual biomass consumption: 8.150 m3 - Biomass: wood chips.

d. Biomass heating source for greenhouses – SC DALIA SRL company

The project was to supplement the current heating system for their greenhouses with a new heating source (hot water boiler) using biomass.

- Installed (nominal) power:750kW - Annual produced heat: 1.875 MWh - Annual biomass consumption: 2110 m3 - Biomass: wood chips.

e. Biomass heating source for a food industry consumer–BERTIS company

The project was to supplement the current heating and heat-producing system with a new heat source (hot water boiler) using biomass.

- Installed (nominal) power :500kW - Annual produced heat: 2000 MWh - Annual biomass consumption: 2250 m3 - Biomass: wood chips.

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f. Biomass CHP plants – Holzindustrie Sebes Plant 1:

- Installed powers: 2,7/8,4 MW; - Annual produced energy: 6.500MWh(electrical)/ 18400MWh (thermal) - Biomass: wood chips.

Plant 2: - Installed powers: 8,1/23,6 MW; - Annual produced energy: 19.500MWh(electrical)/ 46.400MWh(thermal) - Biomass: wood chips.

F. SWOT analysis to increase biomass use in the Centre Region

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

Energy biomass demand and supply market

High potential for wood biomass in the Centre Region due to the large-scale harvesting of forests;

Large amounts of agricultural residues from conventional crops that can be used for the production of energy;

Large areas of agricultural land unused or unusable (degraded) for conventional crops available for the establishment of energy crops;

Significant areas (especially rural) without natural gas networks which use old heating systems based on firewood; these areas need modern heating systems using biomass;

Increasing heat demand of companies in the manufacturing industry correlated with the need to reduce emissions related to the production/use of energy;

The concern of public authorities signatories of the Covenant of Mayors to use solutions for heating buildings from renewable energy, primarily biomass.


Excessive use of waste wood for industrial applications other than energy;

Few areas with sustainable management of forests which can provide a significant amount of wood biomass;

Difficulty in organizing networks of biomass feedstock for the medium / long term for high power projects;

Small market (due to high prices) for biomass products: briquettes, pellets – needed for domestic heating of the housing sector;

Low price of gas compared to the price of biomass;

Lack of an implemented system to collect agricultural waste for biomass.

Lack of research - analyses of biomass potential in the Centre Region, per types.

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Economic activity/ cooperation, technology/technology transfer

Woodworking industry plays an important role in the economy of the Centre Region;

Forestry entrepreneurs associations (ASFOR, APMR);

Innovative clusters in Biomass/renewables (Green Energy, Pro Wood, RegioFA, RenErg, and EuReg). Clusters favour technological transfer;

Sustainable Energy Agencies (Alba Iulia, Brasov, Miercurea Ciuc, Sighisoara) with the declared objective of promoting RES / biomass projects and raise awareness / informing consumers of energy;

The emergence of innovative companies developing biomass technologies.

Biomass funding schemes

Interest of domestic and foreign investors to invest in the production and use of biomass - biofuels;

Norwegian funding schemes are currently available in Romania for the use of RES;

Structural Funds provide funding for all areas as eligible measures to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy production.


Excessive concentration of woodworking at a small group of large companies drastically restricting market access of SMEs;

Lack of a mature regional wood and by-products market;

Insufficient development of support structures for SMEs and business cooperation networks;

Lack of funding sources to support clusters;

Weak interaction between research and private business environment;

Difficult access due to high prices of advanced technologies (like: high efficiency co-generation) using biomass;


Insufficient funding schemes available for biomass projects;

Lack of funding schemes to support energy crops;

End of the national programme "Green House" dedicated to switching to heating systems using RES/biomass;

Reduced ability of local authorities to co-finance biomass heating projects for important public buildings (schools, hospitals, etc.).

Research, education and vocational

training/Human resources

Higher education and research institutions with research platforms dedicated to renewable energy e.g. - Transilvania University of Brasov;

Industrial forestry high schools that can start training programmes in the production and use of biomass

Skilled staff in energy management and exploitation of biomass working in the energy clusters and agencies

Research, education and vocational

training/Human resources

There is no job mentioned in the Code of Romanian Jobs dedicated to RES/ biomass;

No training and certification programmes available for installers of renewable energy systems;

Low level of staff training in municipalities to identify and promote projects using local biomass resources;

Poor concern of universities for research programme using biomass: a lack of research/training centres dedicated to biomass applications;

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Legislation and policies

National Action Plan for Renewable Energy NAPRE;

Promotion Strategy of RES in the Centre Region which sets the strategic framework for the development of RES with a focus on biomass use;

Energy master plans at the level of counties - e.g. Alba – have identified biomass as the main renewable resource available but still little used;

Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAP) of municipalities signatories of the Covenant of Mayors (CoM)


Ambiguous national legislation on green certificates and on buying green power for the national electricity grid;

Lack of consistent policies and government strategy to promote the use of local renewable energy production;

Failure to comply with environmental legislation that would facilitate the large scale collection of wood waste.

OPPORTUNITIES THREATS


The rising price (especially in the next five years) of natural gas will determine consumers to choose biomass.

Increased purchasing power of household energy consumers will increase the demand for energy production systems from renewable energy sources - primarily biomass;

Big cities could have thermal energy systems on biomass in several districts/groups of blocks;

Development of economic environment will lead to increased demand for biomass thermal energy required for industrial processes;

Establishment of energy crops on land unused or unusable for ordinary crops.


Increasing use of wood residues for industrial applications other than energy;

If the price of electricity and natural gas in Romania is not aligned with the European price on a medium term, investment in biomass projects will not be possible;

The export of raw materials or processed biomass is higher than the domestic use (e.g. pellets market is export-oriented);

Further decrease in the number of central heat distribution systems in cities;


Tradition in wood processing - the existence of a large number of SMEs that could be targeted for energy recovery from biomass;

Increased operating capacity of innovative clusters in the use of RES/biomass;

Associations between local authorities to promote large-scale projects to facilitate access to funding schemes;

Development of cooperation between companies/organizations from Romania and European organizations with experience in projects using biomass for the transfer of skills and know-how;


On-going economic crisis which limits the activities of SMEs in the production/use of biomass;

Wood processing by a small group of large companies will force the small companies working in the field to disappear from the market;

Insufficient development of support structures for SMEs and business cooperation networks;

No funding available for research and technology transfer activities in the field of biomass applications

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Promotion of public - private partnerships to implement pilot projects using biomass;

The emergence of innovative companies developing cutting-edge technologies using biomass


Increased domestic and foreign investors' interest to invest in the production and use of biomass - biofuels;

The future European funding scheme will contain funds dedicated to setting up projects to use RES;

The new cohesion funding schemes can target the results of SEAPs drawn up by the CoM signatories in the Centre Region

Funding of projects using biomass and energy efficiency through energy performance contracts implemented by ESCO companies

National Programmes to encourage the use of European funds to support the establishment of energy crops.


Central authorities have not allocated funding necessary to programmes promoting the use of biomass

Limited access to the latest state-of-the art technologies using biomass due to the high value of investments;

Funding for RES projects focussed on large wind and photovoltaic investments that could reduce the funds available for small/medium projects of biomass recovery.


European policies and strategies related to promoting the use of RES to establish mandatory national targets for the Member States;

Reformulating targets from the Romanian Energy Strategy that emphasized the use of local sustainable energy resources and especially biomass;

The emergence of national programmes dedicated to supporting the transition to individual or collective heating systems using biomass;

Increasing number of Sustainable Energy Action Plans drawn up by municipalities that will join the Covenant of Mayors (CoM) in the future.


Inconsistent and ever changing national legislation on the promotion of RES;

Failure to comply with environmental legislation that does not facilitate the collection of large scale wood waste;

Lack of consistent policies and government strategies to promote the use of local resources for energy production.

Inadequate legislative regulations for public-private partnerships; such a partnership could be a promoter of alternative energy projects;

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CHAPTER 2

G. Principles and strategic action areas for the promotion/development of biomass

Based on the SWOT analysis and on the feedback of major stakeholders in the field of biomass obtained through questionnaires, we have identified several strategic action areas which can lead to a sustainable development in the use of biomass in the Centre Region.

The strategic action areas identified for the promotion/development of biomass use are: 1. Incentives for the development of a demand and supply of biomass for energy :

2. Development of economic activity and cooperation in the use of biomass and support access to

technologies by developing technology transfer ;

3. Increase access to funding for projects using biomass ;

4. Support of research , education and vocational training in the field;

5. Improving policies and legislation in the field of biomass.

Each of these strategic areas has been analysed by the current regional and national policies, strategies developed in the RES; we have also taken into account the available biomass potential and evaluation of potential beneficiaries of the energy produced by harnessing biomass

For each strategic area we have set up action subareas and within these subareas, we have identified priority actions that lead to significant growth of biomass energy use in the years to come.

All actions proposed for each of these subareas will have to follow a set of principles/goals that lead to energy sustainability; these are:

Increase the energy efficiency of equipment producing and using energy from biomass;

Sustainable management of biomass resources and of the use of biomass energy;

The use of local biomass resources through projects that ensure economic profitability and lead to local social benefits (job creation);

Increased innovative level of biomass applications;

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H. Proposed action plan for each strategic area

Strategic Area 1. Incentives for the development of a demand and supply of biomass for energy In the Centre Region, the high biomass potential of various types (starting from woody biomass resulting from the harvesting of forests, biomass resulting from conventional crops but also the possible biomass obtained through energy crops that can be set up on available land) should be used on a larger scale in order to produce energy. This requires combined actions to limit the use of wood biomass for industrial purposes other than energy (areas with adverse environmental impacts and even energy-intensive), actions to set up waste collection systems from crops or biomass from sustainable harvesting of forests. Also, incentives are needed for the setup of energy crops on degraded agricultural land not used for conventional crops. On the other hand, the demand for biomass for energy applications should be supported by support for user groups who currently use biomass or plant used in very low energy efficiency : - Domestic consumers and public institutions in areas without access to natural gas networks ; - Industrial users who demand much thermal energy and need to reduce emissions due to the consumption of energy; - Local authorities, many signatories of the Covenant of Mayors (CoM), which by their action plans have provided measures of energy use of RES and especially biomass. Existing energy agencies in the region can extend the role of information/advice to local authorities and the private sector on identifying and launching projects using local biomass resources. Also, awareness raising/information campaigns can also be promoted on the benefits of "green" energy use. The price of natural gas, which is expected to increase rapidly in the coming years, as the main solution for building heating will determine a large group of consumers to use biomass. Action subareas in this field are:

Subarea 1.1. Evaluation of the different types of biomass potential in the Centre Region

Actions Promoters Involved organisations

Implementation period

Funding sources

1.1.a.

A study/analysis for the evaluation of biomass potential in the Centre Region, from: - forest harvesting; - primary and secondary wood processing; - conventional agricultural crops.

- Regional Developement Agency of the Centre Region (RDA Centre) - County councils, - County forest authorities, - Environmental protection agencies, - County authorities for

2014-2015

Sustainable development fund to be set up in the Centre Region

34

agriculture, - Energy agencies, -Technical universities.

1.1.b.

Opportunity study on the set up of energy cultures on degraded and unused land in the Centre Region;

Approached topics: - Identifying degraded and unused agricultural land; - Identifying types of energy crops suitable for available categories of land; - Evaluation of costs for setting up and work, per type of energy crops; - Evaluating the economic profitability of the establishment of different types of energy crops; - Identification of possible funding for the establishment of energy crops

- RDA Centre, - County councils, - County authorities for agriculture, - Agricultural Universities/Faculties - Renewable energy clusters

2014-2015


Subarea 1.2.Information and counselling of different categories of biomass users



Funding sources

1.2.a.

The setup of an information and counselling centre/platform for renewable energy: Types of information available: - Potential of renewable energy per types and areas (results of studies as in 1.a and 1.b); - Technologies of use for different types of RES and potential suppliers; - Funding available for projects using RES and national schemes to promote renewable energy: green certificates scheme, European funds, national programmes, regional funds, energy performance contracts. Target groups: - Local authorities, CoM signatories, or developing projects using RES/biomass; - SMEs interested in SRE / biomass capitalisation; Industrial Companies intending to use heat/energy from SRE/ biomass;

- RDA Centre - County Councils -Energy agencies, - Renewable energy clusters, - Technical universities

2014-2015


35

- The general public

1.2.b. Information campaigns/public awareness campaigns on the benefits of using biomass heating systems:

- RDA Centre - Energy agencies - Clusters in the field

Annual Public funding

Subarea 1.3.Incentives for capitalisation of biomass resources for energy use by local communities



Funding sources

1.3.a.

Promote the right to pre-emption on purchasing biomass from suppliers for energy biomass users, with local capitalisation.

- Compossessorates - Forest Division - Local authorities - Agricultural Associations

2014-2016

Subarea 1.4. Promote the centralised harvesting of biomass in areas with a high biomass potential for energy purposes



Funding sources

1.4.a.

The setup of logistics harvesting centres for different types of biomass in areas with a high potential Aim: By setting up logistics centres of collection and recovery of biomass in the high potential areas (to avoid long distance transport) the biomass offer of traditional biomass producers will increase (forest districts, co-owners, agricultural associations) and potential users of biomass for energy purposes will have better access to these resources.

- County Councils - Local councils - Forest divisions - Compossessorates - Agricultural Associations

2015-2017 EU and private funding

Strategic Area 2. Increasing economic activity and cooperation in the use of biomass and supporting access to technologies by developing technology transfer The economic field of wood processing that has a significant share in the region's economy, must be extended to the area of applications of energetic use of wood waste, a large number of existing SMEs in the field should be supported to expand their activities to collection and use of biomass energy . Associative structures already created, especially innovative clusters in the field, should be supported to develop their capacity to implement innovative solutions of biomass energy use. To promote large projects for the energy use of biomass, there must be incentives for the creation of associative structures between local authorities to facilitate access to major EU funding. By promoting public - private partnerships, the implementation of pilot projects using biomass can be sustained, which could bring private capital and management in contact with the growing demand for public authorities’ access to an efficient and clean energy. It is necessary to create technology transfer platforms in the energy use of biomass that must involve both public authorities and research institutions

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especially business through triple-helix actions. In these platforms, innovative approaches of some applications using biomass launched by dynamic companies in partnership with research institutions will receive support from public authorities, becoming examples of pilot projects. Action subareas in this field are:

Subarea 2.1. Develop cooperation structures in the field of biomass energy use



Funding sources

2.1.a.

European cooperation project for the creation of an “Energy Farm" centre in the use of biomass for energy Destination: demonstration centre including innovative solutions for the use of biomass. The same centre will be an information centre, event, and training. European Contributor: "Energy Farm" Association - Norway;

-ALEA -County Council Alba -Cluster Green Energy - Energy Farm - Norway

2014-2016

Norwegian grants available for Romania

2.1.b.

Setting up associations between municipalities - CoM signatories to promote joint projects and European funds for heating of public buildings (schools, hospitals) using biomass. Purpose: The transition from conventional heating systems of public buildings, to heating systems using biomass-important step to transform these buildings into buildings using almost no energy".

- Association of municipalities signatories of CoM - RDA Centre.

2015-2017

EU funds e.g.: Horizon 20-20. Cohesion funds

2.1.c.

Promote a public-private partnership to develop a pilot project aiming to pass from a central heating system using gas to heat production solutions and co-generation systems using biomass. Purpose: To change an energy intensive and CO2 generating system into a system with low emissions and high efficiency through the use of modern technologies with high efficiency (high efficiency co-generation) using biomass.

- Municipalities that still have heat distribution systems e.g.: Brasov, Tirgu Mures, Sfantu Gheorghe, and Miercurea Ciuc. - Providers / private companies with extensive experience in the field

2016 – 2018 Private and public funding

Subarea 2.2. Promote the extension of economic activity in the field of biomass



Funding sources

2.2.a.

Supporting SMEs working in wood harvesting and processing to include more activities to collect and/or use local biomass for energy purposes

- County councils - Local councils - County chambers of commerce and industry.

2015 – 2020

2.2.b.

Development of economic activities/establishment of SMEs in collecting wood waste and turning them into pellets / briquettes for local supply of personal heating systems

- Local authorities in areas with high forest potential and which

2015 – 2020 EU funding such as the cohesion

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Purpose: recovering energy from waste wood currently unused (which creates problems of environmental pollution), from the initial processing systems of forest, the waste will be converted into pellets / briquettes (biomass with high energy capacity) that will be used locally for heating/hot water production in areas without natural gas network. The triple impact of such actions is emphasized: eliminate problems of environmental pollution, energy production from local renewable sources and generating new jobs in areas with high unemployment rates.

have no natural gas distribution systems; SMEs will be created which will generate jobs locally. - It is important that these local authorities are supported by the county councils to which they belong and by RDA Centre.

fund.

Subarea 2.3. Promote the development of technology transfer and access to efficient biomass technologies



Funding sources

2.3.a.

Set up of a technology transfer platform to implement SRE projects– especially biomass. Purpose: to create technological platforms in which dynamic companies can benefit from the assistance of research institutions to implement innovative solutions of using renewable sources and especially biomass; support provided by public authorities is also important here – County councils, Local Councils, RDA.

- County councils, - Local councils - Universities - RDA Centre

2015 - 2018

EU funding, investment funds, private funding.

Strategic Area 3. Boost access to funding for biomass projects; The main obstacle to widely spread applications using biomass remains the access to proper funding. There are extremely few possibilities of local authorities or of companies and households to finance biomass projects from their own sources. Without implementation of national programmes such as "the Green House" and without the financial support of EU schemes for the biomass sector, it is not possible to have a rapid expansion of biomass for energy use. The only projects that are currently available for funding are Norwegian biomass recovery projects. For the future EU funding period 2014-2020, there are special axes for RES and biomass applications. In these cases, funding priorities should be established from the sets of joint actions identified in the action plans of local authorities signatories of CoM and action plans in the field of RES existing at county/regional level. Mobilizing private capital in projects using biomass for energy through public -private partnerships is particularly important for obtaining necessary funding. The funding of projects using biomass and energy efficiency through energy performance contracts and implemented by ESCO companies should be promoted. Incentives to sign EPCs-energy performance contracts -between beneficiaries (primarily public authorities -PA) and ESCO companies (integrated energy service companies) can put to work private capital, know-how and technological ability of these companies to cover energy needs of these PAs using biomass. Regional/local authorities can have the initiative of creating development funds in the use of renewable energy/biomass, which could help implement flagship pilot projects, demonstrating their benefits and being examples for other actors/beneficiaries.

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Action subareas in this field are:

Subarea 3.1. Create funding tools at regional level to finance/co-finance biomass energy use projects



Funding sources

3.1.a.

Create a regional investment fund for sustainable development Purpose: finance/co-finance projects of public interest aimed at the use of local renewable energy sources – biomass; thus, the aim is to find an alternative to electrical power supply from conventional, polluting sources and thus reducing the environmental impact.

- Local and county public authorities - Investment funds - Banks

2015-2016

Public funding, investment funds, banks

Subarea3.2. Support the access to private funding of biomass for energy projects



Funding sources

3.2.a.

Launching pilot projects using "energy performance contract - EPC" for the implementation in public buildings of efficient solutions using biomass for heating. Purpose: energetic modernisation of important public buildings (hospital, educational institutions) by projects using energy biomass financed through the use of "energy performance contract - EPC" signed with an ESCO company.

- Local public authorities - ESCO Companies

2015 – 2020

Private funding provided by ESCO companies

Subarea 3.3. Support of access to EU funding for projects using energy biomass launched by private or public actors



Funding sources

3.3.a.

Advising on EU funding schemes (e.g. Cohesion Fund) to finance projects for the local renewable energy sources - biomass Purpose: Funding of projects capitalising on the local biomass resources using European cohesion funds

- RDA Centre - Local energy agencies

2014-2020

Strategic Area 4. Support research, education and vocational training in the field

Biomass use applications need technologies with an increased energy efficiency, which implies constant research and development. Stimulation of the innovative effort in the development of such technologies must be complemented by an intense activity of technology transfer into practical applications in terms of economic profitability. In this direction, a decisive role is that of innovative clusters that must be supported by dedicated programmes.

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The example of an innovative platform dedicated to sustainable energy, conducted by Transilvania University of Brasov, should be taken over by other educational/research institutions in the Centre Region to set up biomass-dedicated centres; there must also be training programmes for specialists in biomass: starting from training of designers of biomass energy use systems, continuing with the engineering of implementation and operation of such systems and ending with the training of highly skilled plumbers in this area. Soon, the specific field of RES/biomass should be included in the national classification of occupations, which would allow the development of certified training paths. Certification is required for specialists in the use of biomass (from designers to installers and maintenance workers) according to standards at European level to ensure implementation according to the technical specifications of the art technologies in the field of biomass. Extremely useful are jointly developed projects with European partners with a tradition in biomass using systems, projects which provide an intensive exchange of experience, transfer of know -how and creation of high level skills. An important aspect that should be considered is that of informing and preparing future users of biomass systems: from public authorities to the general public, events and information / awareness raising campaigns must be organized by energy agencies. Action subareas in this field are:

Subarea 4.1. Support for education and training in biomass



Funding sources

4.1.a.

- Lobby for new occupations to be introduced in the COR (Code of Occupations in Romania) - for the equipment using biomass: e.g.: - Designer of systems using biomass for energy purposes; - Engineer for implementation and operation of biomass systems; - Plumber for the heating/hot water systems using biomass.

- Higher education institutions - Innovative clusters in the field of biomass - Energy agencies

2014-2016

4.1.b.

New vocational programmes available to experts in biomass use systems within the context of higher education institutions or vocational high schools: - Designer of systems using biomass for energy purposes; - Engineer for implementation and operation of biomass systems; - Plumber for the heating/hot water systems using biomass.

- Technical universities - Vocational high schools

2015-2020

Subarea4.2. Support for the development of national research in the field of using energy from renewable sources/biomass



Funding sources

4.2.a. Developing innovative platforms dedicated to sustainable energy - Technical Universities in the 2015-2020 -EU funding,

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Objective: the creation of institutions dedicated to innovative effort required by applications dedicated to sustainable energy; these platforms are optimum for the creation of networks of specialists in biomass training: starting from the training of designers of systems using biomass for energy purposes, continuing with engineers for implementation and operation of biomass systems and ending with plumbers for the heating/hot water systems using biomass.

Centre Region. - Public funding

Subarea 4.3. Support the development of partnerships with European technology transfer organizations/institutions in the field of renewable energy/biomass



Funding sources

4.3.a.

Promote partnerships at European level to develop projects within the Horizon 2020 programme targeting innovative solutions for the energy use of biomass Purpose: European partnerships in the implementation of biomass projects will lead to a valuable exchange of experience, transfer of know-how and skills at the highest level.

- Energy agencies - Innovative companies - Clusters in the field of biomass.

2014 - 2020 EU programme Horizon 20-20

Strategic Area 5. Improve policies and legislation in the field of biomass It is compulsory to increase coherence in national energy policies and their correlation with the regional and local policies. Currently, the national energy strategy and the national action plans for energy efficiency and renewable energy do not take into account the action plans and strategies in the energy field already developed at local, county or regional level. A few priority actions are: - Setting priorities of Romania's energy strategy about local resources and renewable energy primarily biomass ; - The provision in the NAPRE of clear targets for the recovery of local biomass potential by establishing indicators for each development region; - It is necessary to re-start the national programme “Green House " whose priority was to produce heat from biomass ; - A certification system for various types of biomass is a must in order to fully utilize green certificate support system for the production of electricity from biomass; in the case of wood biomass, this certification is directly linked to sustainable forest management and its own system of certification. - Promoting investment support programmes in the exploitation of biomass at regional level; - The emergence of national programmes dedicated to supporting the transition to individual or collective heating systems using biomass; - Simplification of legislation on public-private partnership will enable this indispensable tool for the development of investment projects in energy production systems using biomass to be applied. Action subareas in this field are:

Subarea 5.1. Improve policies to promote biomass at a regional and national level

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Funding sources

5.1.a.

Promoting regional funding programs for converting individual heating systems and stoves into high efficiency power systems using biomass Purpose: To support low-income households in mountain areas without natural gas networks in transition from traditional stoves using firewood to central heating using locally produced biomass.

- RDA Centre - County councils

2015 – 2018

Public funding, investment funds.

5.1.b.

Initiative to include in Romania's energy strategy some priorities related to the development of local RES resources - especially biomass - through sustainable projects implemented at local/regional level

Purpose: through this strategic priority, national programmes will be initiated to support the sustainable exploitation of biomass at a high level - as a renewable source with the highest potential for recovery nationwide.

- RDA Centre - County councils - Municipalities signatory of CoM - Energy clusters - Energy agencies. The list of signatories can be extended at a national level through associations such as AMR, OER, Mayors’ Club, etc.

2014-2015

5.1.c.

Initiative to include in the targets of the National Action Plan for Renewable Energy-(NAPRE) -targets related to the development of sustainable local biomass potential by establishing regional indicators of recovery

Goal: Including regional quantitative indicators in NAPRE for harnessing local biomass potential would set some clear targets in time, which can be monitored by sets of actions set out at local, regional and national level.


2014-2015

5.1.d.

Initiative to re-launch the national programmes supporting the passage of heating systems in buildings to those using RES (mainly biomass).

Purpose: Reviving national programmes "Green House" or "National programme to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy in the public sector", or similar, will stimulate public interest decisively but also local authorities for use of "green " energy as a viable alternative

- RDA Centre - County councils - Municipalities signatory of CoM - Energy clusters - Energy agencies. The list of signatories can be

2014-2015

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to classical energy; also, it will be a significant boost to the development of markets for works/ RES equipment at local/regional level.

extended at a national level through associations such as AMR, OER, Mayors’ Club, etc.

Subarea 5.2.Improve legislation in the field of renewable energy/biomass



5.2.a.

Legislative proposal to implement a system of certification of origin of various types of biomass. Purpose: Implementation of origin certification biomass types (wood, crop residues, etc.) allows the use of green certificate support system for the production of electricity from biomass; in the case of wood biomass, this certification is directly linked to sustainable forest management system of certification


2014-2015

5.2.b.

Legislative initiative to declare energy recovery from local biomass resources through sustainable and energy efficient energy projects as area of public interest.

Purpose: by declaring energy recovery of local biomass resources as area of general interest will make available special funding for this sector and public-private partnerships can be promoted for the development of sustainable energy and energy efficient projects, of high interest locally.


2014-2015

5.2.c.

Legislative initiative for national programmes to support innovative business clusters

Purpose: Support for the establishment and performance of cluster activity will stimulate and multiply efforts to implement innovative solutions including RES/biomass thus facilitating the passage of inventions/innovations to industrial application.

- RDA Centre - Innovative clusters - Research/education institutions.

2014-2015

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I. Implementation, evaluation and correction of the action plan

The Biomass Action Plan – BAP- must be presented to stakeholders at regional/local level for analysis, addition/rectification. Only after that will the BAP be approved in a Regional Council meeting. To make the task of implementing and monitoring the implementation of BAP in good conditions, it is important that the regional authority that approves BAP in the Centre Region should nominate a "group of analysis and monitoring" in the Centre Region, which could include representatives from: - - County Councils; - - Municipalities, CoM signatories; - - RDA Centre; - - Innovative energy clusters - - Agencies of energy; - - Universities /research institutions; Every two years, a report evaluating the implementation BAP together with proposals for rectification/correction will be made.

Period of implementation of the Action Plan: 2014 - 2020

Possible indicators for monitoring BAP implementation in the Centre Region:

o A study on evaluating the potential of biomass (various types) in the Centre Region - existing; o New energy crops in the Centre Region - more than 6,000 ha; o An information and counselling centre for sustainable energy with branches in each county –

already set up; o Logistic centres for the collection of various types of biomass in areas with high potential -2

in each county; o A public-private partnership to develop a pilot project to use biomass to power a central

heating system , already set up; o SMEs established with the object of activity to collect and exploit biomass energy locally - 3

in each county; o A technology transfer platform for the use of biomass energy solutions –set up; o A regional investment fund for sustainable development projects - established; o A pilot project for the implementation in public buildings of efficient power solutions from

biomass , using "energy performance contract - EPC" - implemented; o Basic occupational profiles targeting biomass energy applications, introduced in the

Romanian Code of Occupations; o Developing professional pathways for specialists in biomass energy applications in

universities/colleges – set up in two universities and three secondary vocational schools; o An innovative platform dedicated to renewable energy / biomass – already set up ; o Projects with European partners to implement innovative solutions using biomass developed

in the programme "Horizon 2020" , minimum 3 implemented; o A Regional Funding Programme for the conversion of separate heating systems based on

stoves into high efficiency power systems using biomass – already set up; o A national system of certification of origin for biomass implemented in Romania ; o A number of projects using biomass energy in important public buildings - minimum 6 in each

county ; o Renewable (biomass) energy annually produced in 2020 in the Centre Region -400 GWh ; o An amount of CO2 emissions avoided by certified biomass energy production - 120,000

tonnes.

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J. List of references

1. Green Paper - A European strategy for sustainable, competitive and secure energy [COM(2006) 105 final]

2. Energy 2020 – A strategy for sustainable, competitive and secure energy [COM (2010) 639]R

3. EU Directive for renewable energy (2009/28/EC)T

4. Biomass Action Plan [COM (2005) 628 final]

5. Renewable Energy Road Map .Renewable energies in the 21st century: Building a more sustainable future [COM(2006) 848 final

6. Energy Roadmap 2050 (15 December 2011)

7. Romania’s Energy Strategy for 2007-2020

8. The National Action Plan for renewable energy NAPRE

9. The National Action Plan for energy efficiency for the period 2007-2010

10. Law 220/2008, to promote energy production from renewable sources

11. “Study on the evaluation of the current energy potential of renewable energy sources in Romania” drawn up by ICEMENERG Bucharest in 2006

12. Strategy to promote renewable energy in the Centre Region: www.adrcentru.ro

13. Energy Master plan of Alba county: www.alea.ro

14. Official ANRE website: www.anre.ro

15. Website of the Environment Fund Administration: www.afm.ro

16. Website of the EC General Directorate for Energy: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/index_en.htm

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi%21celexplus%21prod%21DocNumber&lg=en&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2006&nu_doc=105

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52006DC0848:RO:NOT

http://www.adrcentru.ro/

http://www.alea.ro/

http://www.anre.ro/

http://www.afm.ro/

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

bioenergy_action plan centru region promobio.eu

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