The European Commission’s Joint Research Center on Jan. 25 published a report on the use of woody biomass for energy production in the European Union.
Regarding current sustainability criteria, the report shows that requirements included in the REDII will effectively minimize any negative impacts associated with the use of woody biomass for energy production.
“Bioenergy sits at the nexus of two of the main environmental crises of the 21st century: biodiversity and climate emergencies,” the JRC said in a statement. “Forest bioenergy has the potential to provide part of the solution to both crises, but only when biomass is produced sustainably and used efficiently.”
“To de-toxify the debate surrounding the sustainability assessment and governance of forest bioenergy, these differences should be acknowledged and discussed explicitly. The JRC, as a boundary organization between science and policy, is well placed to lead this effort,” Giuntoli added.
The study includes a quantitative assessment of the supply and use of wood biomass that considers wood-based bioenergy as part of the wider forest bioeconomy.
The study shows that the overall use of wood biomass in the EU has increased by approximately 20 percent over the past two decades. The subset of wood biomass used for energy increased by approximately 87 percent from 2000 through 2013, with growth slowing after that time.
“We support EU efforts to consider risks and ensure they are managed to avoid unsustainable biomass sourcing,” said Ginther, USIPA executive director. “The JRC makes clear that implementation of REDII sustainability criteria will successfully mitigate these risks, and allow the EU to continue relying on sustainable biomass to help decarbonize its economy and reach net zero.”
http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/17680/eu-report-confirms-climate-benefits-of-sustainable-biomass