Since the publication of the Clean Energy Package on 30 November, many European associations and stakeholders organizations in the energy sector have stated their positions with press releases. In this post you can find a summary of the main positions and comments expressed by those organizations covering the bioenergy sector as of 2 December.
Leaders of Sustainable Biofuels
The Leaders of Sustainable Biofuels, welcomed positively the European Commission review of the Renewable Energy Directive. We believe that by recognizing the role of advanced biofuels as a fast track option for the EU transport sector, the European Commission has made a significant step to enhance the EU innovation capacity and stimulate green growth, the LSB stated. The group also commented positively on the establishment of a binding target for advanced biofuels, indispensable for creating a stable and predictable business environment and for triggering new substantial investments in advanced biofuels production capacity.
Full press release: “Leaders of Sustainable Biofuels welcome Commission proposal on advanced biofuels to decarbonise the transport sector“.
European Renewable Ethanol Association
The European Renewable Ethanol Association (ePURE) regretted the European Commission’s intentions to phase out, or significantly reduce, the use of conventional biofuels in Europe, contained in the proposed Renewable Energy Directive for the period post-2020. “This political decision is not justified and ignores the Commission’s own science which shows that ethanol is a low carbon fuel. The biofuel sector feel betrayed by the Commission because of its complete disregard for the investments made in good faith on the basis of EU policy”, said Robert Wright, Secretary-General of ePURE.
Full press release: Commission’s proposal to phase out conventional biofuels ignores science and jeopardises biofuel investments.
European Biodiesel Board
According to EBB the proposal reveals a worrying weakening of ambitions by the EU in addressing climate change, energy security and the decarbonisation of the European transport sector. Moreover, the proposed phasing-out of first generation biofuels, by imposing a gradual decrease of the current 7% cap by more than 50% in 2030, will result in a dramatic reduction of the co-produced protein animal-feed and worsen the large EU protein deficit. Raffaello Garofalo, EBB Secretary General said “the exclusion of conventional biofuels from the incorporation obligation of fuel suppliers is unacceptable. With the high costs for decarbonisation in transport, this exclusion would likely mean an increase of fossil fuels in transport due to lack of availability of advanced biofuels, and an abandonment by the EU of the COP21 ambitions and objectives”.
Full press release “EC back tracking on biofuels risks reversion COP21 achievements, seriously threatens EU agriculture and will result in more fossil fuels imports”
European Farmers and European Agri-cooperatives Associations
Chairman of Copa & Cogecas Working Party Mr. Klein said “The EU Commission plans to substantially reduce the share of conventional biofuels in transport fuel from 7% in 2021 to 3.8% by 2030 and to allow Member States to set up national targets below the one of the EU which is totally unacceptable“. Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen added “We welcome plans to gradually phase in the use of advanced biofuels which are still in their early stages of development. They must be promoted in order to be substituted for fossil fuels. But we oppose the Commission proposal to replace conventional biofuels by advanced biofuels. Conventional and advanced biofuels are part of the solution to ensure a more climate-friendly transport sector as well as a sustainable EU agriculture sector, growth and jobs in EU rural areas”.
European Biogas Association
EBA didn’t release any official statements on the EC proposal (as of 2 december) however, the association published a position paper on 22 of November in which it pointed out its view. The main points are:
Targets
- At least 30% RES target;
- Binding and higher advanced biofuels dedicated target ;
Sustainability Criteria
- Based on GHG emissions saving limit to ensure technology neutrality
- No bioenergy cap but respect of the waste hierarchy
- Threshold for less than 0.5 MWel power plants
- More default values for biogas feedstocks allowing averaging GHG emission values
Biomethane Market Design
- Fuel comparator djustment
- Mass-balancing
- Guarantees of Origin for biomethane
Full document: EBA Position on the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive and its sustainability criteria – Transport
AEBIOM, EHPA, ESTIF
A combined press release of European Biomass Association (AEBIOM), European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC), European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF) commented the publication of the Clean Energy Package expressing concerns for the support to fossil fuels. Despite steps to increase the share of renewables in the heating sector, the Commission proposal does not remove the regulatory loopholes supporting new fossil fuel installations. How is the EU planning to reach its 2050 objectives and its COP 21 commitments by keeping endorsing fossil fuels in its energy system?” stated Jean-Marc Jossart, Secretary General of the European Biomass Association (AEBIOM). The general lack of ambition of the package is a missed opportunity to develop different renewable sources of energy, including those capable of decarbonising the heating and cooling sector, such as geothermal, solar thermal, biomass, and efficient heat pumps.
Full press release: Is Winter coming for renewables? Clean Energy Package: EU still supports fossil fuels for heating and cooling
AEBIOM about sustainability criteria for bioenergy
AEBIOM also commented positively on the introduction of sustainability criteria for bioenergy. AEBIOM President Didzis Palejs said “this proposal is an important step for the European bioenergy industry, which has been calling for an EU harmonised policy over the past years. As wood can be used to make biofuels or produce heat and electricity, the Commission’s approach addressing sustainability of forest biomass, whatever its energy end use, makes sense”. However, AEBIOM criticized that the introduction of sustainability criteria has not been comlpemented by the definition of single greenhouse gas emission savings for all bioenergy. AEBIOM is also concerned that by giving flexibility to Member States in defining additional sustainability rules, the Commission’s proposal may not set an equal playing field for the whole sector. “
Full press release: Bioenergy Sustainability Criteria Finally Gain Clarity
European Association for the Promotion of Cogeneration
COGEN Europe welcomed the renewed commitment to the “energy efficiency first” principle in the Clean Energy Package. To unlock the potential of high efficiency cogeneration, the ‘energy efficiency first’ principle should be consistently applied across all the legislative proposals in the Package, and across the whole energy system, from customers right to generators, taking an integrated approach across heat and power. According to COGEN Europe, the newly released package introduces provisions that could enable Member States to create stable and predictable policy frameworks, creating new opportunities for the CHP sector or more fairly rewarding the added value of cogeneration.
Full press release: EU Clean Energy Package: “Energy efficiency first” approach a step in the right direction
Union of the Electric Industry
EURELECTRIC welcomed the publication of the Clean Energy Package and said it clearly underpins market integration and the removal of some regulatory interventions which distort the functioning of the market. “Market designs are not carved in stone and they are bound to evolve, but it is crucial that energy, flexibility and capacity are adequately valued to ensure cost-efficiency and security of supply,” said Hans ten Berge, EURELECTRIC Secretary General.
Full press release: EURELECTRIC Clean Energy Package stimulates market integration and cost-efficient renewables – lacks consistency on market design and consumer empowerment
More about the Clean Energy Package
