On 25 April, the European Parliament adopted in plenary with 361 votes in favour, 121 against and 45 abstentions the Net Zero Industry Act. The legislation’s aim is to strengthen the European manufacturing capacity of net-zero technologies and overcome barriers to scaling up the manufacturing capacity in Europe.

 

“This vote is good news for European industry and sets the tone for the next term. To achieve all our economic, climate and energy ambitions, we need industry in Europe. This Act is the first step to making our market fit for this purpose”, said NZIA Rapporteur Christian Ehler MEP (EPP, DE).

 

Bioenergy Europe is glad to see that all the technologies used for production of energy from renewable sources, as defined in the Renewable Energy Directive, are included in the definition of net-zero technologies. By including biomass technologies, the legislator acknowledged the essential role biomass will play in ensuring the energy transition and increasing the resilience of EU economy.

 

The European bioenergy sector also welcomes the inclusion of carbon capture and storage technologies (CCS) in the definition of net-zero technologies. This makes it possible for CCS-based removal methods, such as Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) to fall within the scope of the regulation. Nevertheless, Bioenergy Europe regrets that carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is not included in the list.

 

“Europe is unquestionably a leader in bioenergy technologies on a worldwide scale. European companies are at the forefront of deploying cutting-edge bioenergy solutions provided by European technology pioneers. This makes bioenergy a local and sustainable solution that can greatly reduce CO2 emissions. It is key for the EU to support the sector to scale up if the Union is to achieve net-zero by 2050,” says Ennio Prizzi, Bioenergy Europe Policy Officer.  

 

Photo copyright: © European Union 2024 – Source : EP

On 18 April, the Board of Directors, General Assembly and Secretariat of Bioenergy Europe met in a hybrid event in Rovaniemi, Finland. During the meeting, the Bioenergy Europe Board brainstormed on key issues for the sector’s future:

 

1. How does bioenergy complement the electrification of the EU’s energy system?
2. What role could biomass play in reducing the cost of the energy transition for national and local authorities?
3. Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS): What is its potential, and what are the barriers to unleashing it?

 

On 19 April the participants visited Neve Oy’s Suosiola combined heat and power (CHP) plant. The plant currently uses local Lappish fuels, such as wood chips and, to a minor extent, peat. The resulting ash from the plant’s operation is used to produce organic forest fertilizers or raw materials from earthworks.  

The introduction of the flue gas scrubber in 2014 significantly increased the plant’s efficiency to almost 100%.  Today most of the energy is recovered. In addition to energy recovery, the scrubber also significantly reduces particulate emissions.

 

By making use of locally sourced waste and renewable fuels to produce renewable energy, the installation is a perfect example of circular economy. Renewable local heat is verified with a guarantee of origin, which serves as proof to the end user that renewable energy sources have been confirmed as the origin of Renewable Local Heat.  

 

Neve Oy is a diversified group owned by the City of Rovaniemi. The company’s services include electricity transmission, water services, production of district heating and its services, infrastructure services, fiber optic network construction and services, digital services and circular economy products.

On 12 April, the Council of the European Union adopted the overhaul of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). This new version of the legislation will promote renovation and encourage the replacement of old inefficient fossil fuels boilers with on-site renewables, including biomass. 

 

Bioenergy Europe considers the new EPBD is a good step forward in phasing out fossil fuels from the European heating and cooling sector, which represents almost half of the EU’s energy consumption.  

 

Simultaneously with the green energy transition, the EU also needs to incentivise domestic energy production to increase its energy security and mitigate climate change. Bioenergy is an effective and versatile renewable solution that can help achieve both goals and is already responsible for 85% of the EU’s renewable heat. However, the heating sector remains dominated by fossil fuels.  

 

The implementation of the directive is on the horizon. To accelerate the green energy transition and increase energy security, Bioenergy Europe calls for EU Member States to: 

 

• Provide funding to substitute fossil fuels heating appliances, 
• Include the modernisation of biomass heating systems in their national building renovation plans, 
• And propose a plan for strategic biomass hubs. 

 

Find out more in 3 Steps Towards the Energy Transition: Bioenergy Europe’s Manifesto for the 2024 European Elections

On 10 April, the European Parliament’s adopted the provisional agreement on the Carbon Removals Certification Framework (CRCF). Bioenergy Europe considers the framework is a necessary step for the EU to reach climate neutrality by 2050, and praises the leadership of  CRCF rapporteur in the European Parliament, Lídia Pereira, to adopt the CRCF.

 

The The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) clearly stated in their latest report that “The deployment of carbon dioxide removals to counterbalance hard-to-abate residual emissions is unavoidable if net-zero carbon dioxide or GHG emissions are to be achieved.”

 

By certifying high-quality carbon removals, the CRCF ensures that they are transparent and trusted, preventing greenwashing and creating new business opportunities. Aligning with the IPCC on the definition of carbon removals, allows the framework to give certainty for investors and actors seeking to remove carbon, and helps to harmonise a framework that will develop an international market for carbon removals.

 

Among carbon removal technologies, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and biochar can also produce energy while capturing CO2. 

 

“The tech-neutral definition of permanent carbon storage allows for Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) and biochar to play a crucial role for Europe to achieve net-zero and it can lead to negative emissions,” explains Ennio Prizzi, Bioenergy Europe’s Policy Officer.

 

The CRCF is a first step in the right direction, but the European Union needs to do more unlock the full potential of BECCS and biochar. In 3 Steps Towards the Energy Transition, Bioenergy Europe’s manifesto for the 2024 elections the organisation calls for the EU to:

 

• Set ambitious targets with milestones for technological removals and clearly distinguish them from land-based removals,
• Provide stronger policy support and market incentives for the development and deployment of BECCS technologies,
• Support additional BECCS demonstration projects,
• Foster collaboration between governments, industry, research institutions, and civil society organizations,
• And establish a European compliance market for permanent carbon removals.

 

Find out how can the EU unlock the potential of bio-based carbon removal technologies below.

Brussels, 8 April – The Negative Emissions Platform (NEP), of which Bioenergy Europe is part of,  released today the public consultation on CDR Industry Commitments. NEP invites feedback from all stakeholders on the document, aiming to refine and enhance its provisions before finalization.

The CDR Industry Commitments outline a set of principles and pledges aimed at guiding the actions and behaviours of various stakeholders within the CDR community. Emphasising the urgent need for carbon dioxide removal as a vital component of global climate action, the commitments underscore the shared responsibility of the CDR sector in combatting anthropogenic climate change.

Key provisions of the draft commitments include:

• Recognition of the scientific consensus on climate change and on the role that carbon dioxide removal must play in reaching net-zero.
• Commitment to transparency, sustainability, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Pledges to engage with stakeholders, uphold human rights, and foster collaboration within the CDR industry.

NEP is dedicated to ensuring that the finalised commitments accurately reflect the diverse perspectives and expertise within the CDR community. As such, the public consultation process offers an invaluable opportunity for stakeholders to contribute their insights and recommendations.

Commenting on the significance of the public consultation, NEP Secretary-General, Chris Sherwood, stated: “The Carbon Dioxide Removal Industry Commitments represent a critical framework for guiding the actions of CDR stakeholders worldwide. We encourage all interested parties to participate in this public consultation, as their feedback will help shape the final document and contribute to the advancement of responsible carbon removal practices.“

The consultation period will remain open for 4 weeks, during which stakeholders are invited to submit their comments and suggestions via the NEP website. Deadline for the consultation is 8 May 2024. Following the conclusion of the consultation period, NEP will finalise the commitments, having considered all the feedback received.

About the Negative Emissions Platform

The Negative Emissions Platform (NEP) is a Brussels-based partnership of European and international organisations focused on carbon removals. Our members are primarily technology companies, but also include project developers, investors, carbon marketplaces, and buyers of carbon removals. We provide a forum in which diverse like-minded organisations actively collaborate to improve political and public recognition of carbon removals.

Media Contact: Media@negative-emissions.org 

On 28th March 2024, Bioenergy Europe together with other 21 sectoral organisations expressed concerns regarding the slow pace of preparation of EUDR-related legislative acts. Signatories draw attention to gaps and delays in the setting of the mandatory Information System, and highlight the lack of implementation guidance for operators and traders.

 

Operators and traders, including those from the Bioenergy sector, are preparing their supply chains, systems and due diligence processes to comply with the EUDR. Their objective is to develop workable solutions to align with the EUDR provisions, while limiting administrative burdens.

Significant information gaps, lack of appropriate technical solutions and misconceptions on the value chain operations, represent an obstacle at this stage. As an integral part of the sector, Bioenergy Europe calls for a workable EUDR implementation.

 

• Urgently resolve legal uncertainty/lack of clarity of essential provisions.
Operators have been calling for practical guidance since the entry into force of the Regulation. But 8 months away from the implementation date, many questions are still pending and the pace with which they are addressed is too slow. Although the Commission has provided some clarity in its FAQs and upcoming guidance document, the information is still insufficient/limited. To make the implementation practically feasible, stakeholders along value chains should be included in the guidance elaboration.

• Make the Information System quickly up to operational standard.
The Information System will be a key element to the implementation of the EUDR by operators and traders. Yet, the pilot test has revealed flows that could hinder compliance, posing unnecessary burdens for operators and traders without any added value to the Regulation goals. Moreover, the current System planning does not provide enough time to train personnel to use the System and connect the internal systems to the Information System. It is essential to include companies in the design of the system.

• Clarity on the timeline of the Country Benchmarking System.
The announcement on the Country Benchmarking System seems to imply that all countries will be classified under standard risk before the benchmarking system is ready. The sector highlights the implications of this, since operators sourcing commodities in countries or regions with low or no evidence of deforestation or forest degradation will not be able to use simplified rules.

 

Download the letter for more details.

 

“To deliver on the 2040 target we need to boost renewables and de-fossilize our energy system. The EU should have a strong strategy to phase out fossil fuels. De-fossilizing the heating sector, which represents almost half of the EU’s energy consumption, is key to delivering the energy transition. Today, sustainable bioenergy is the main source of renewable energy in Europe, especially for heating (55.7% of all renewables and 83,6% of all renewable heating),” stated Jean-Marc Jossart, Bioenergy Europe’s Secretary General. 

 

Released on 6 February 2024, the 2040 Communication rightly identified the significant CO2 abatement potential of the building and industrial sectors, which represent respectively 42% and 25,6% of the EU final energy consumption and remain heavily dependent on fossil-fuel use. However, the undersigned organisations deplored the glaring omission of heating and cooling demands, which represent 80% of buildings’ energy consumption and 60% of industries’ total energy needs.

 

The coalition composed of industry associations and NGOs calls for immediate action to phase out fossil fuels in heating and cooling, accelerate building renovations, and tap into the EU’s vast potential for renewable and recovered heat sources.

 

This call for action builds on the momentum from May 2023, when 11 energy organisations presented a dedicated heating and cooling decarbonisation plan to the European Commission.

 

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Brussels 6 February 2024 – Bioenergy Europe warmly welcomes the European Commission’s Communication on the 2040 climate targets. A 90% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is the right response to the ever-growing threat of climate change and the bioenergy sector is ready to step up and contribute to its achievement.

 

Achieving the objectives set by the Commission will require a herculean push for the European Union in all sectors. Already today, sustainable bioenergy is the main source of renewable energy in Europe, especially for heating. A pragmatic approach paired with robust policy implementation and widespread collaboration among Member States and stakeholders will be essential.

 

Bioenergy technologies are manufactured in the EU and use local resources, making bioenergy an indispensable ally to enhance Europe’s resilience. “The ambition is commendable,” says Jean -Marc Jossart, Secretary General of Bioenergy Europe, “but the Communication lacks a clear emphasis on the need to increase the EU’s resilience. Europe can show the way towards a more sustainable future by relying more on its own resources and on trustable partners”.

 

“Bioenergy Europe is glad to see clear and ambitious targets in the Commission’s Communication. Now it is time for actions to follow intentions and set a clear Fossil Fuel Exit Strategy,” declared Irene di Padua, Policy Director at Bioenergy Europe “As demonstrated over the past decades, energy from solid biomass has the ability to replace fossil fuels sustainably and is expected to continue doing so in the future”.

 

Renewables and carbon removal technologies will be necessary to achieve the 2040 target. Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) is the perfect example of coupling renewable energy production and carbon dioxide removal.  The European Commission communication “Towards an Ambitious Industrial Carbon Management for the EU” marks a pivotal moment in shaping the future of carbon reduction strategies.

 

“Bioenergy Europe applauds the Commission’s emphasis on industrial carbon removals. Financial incentives will be needed for their deployment,” says Ennio Prizzi, Bioenergy Europe’s Policy Officer. “It is also encouraging that the EU is exploring ways to establish a compliance market. A successful Strategy implementation will require international cooperation, cross-border transport, storage and technological transfer.”

 

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Brussels, 5 February 2024 – Bioenergy Europe, Negative Emissions Platform, Carbon Removal Alliance and European Biochar Industry stress the importance of clear rules and incentives in the EU’s Green Claims Directive. Climate claims are essential to incentivise investments in permanent and high-integrity carbon removals, and companies should be encouraged to make claims on quality removals, without impeding nor reducing their absolute emissions reduction target.

 

Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions remains the most immediate and effective way of slowing climate change and should be the primary focus of the EU’s climate activity. However, rapid decarbonisation of our economy is no longer sufficient. Each of the 230 scenarios the IPCC has modelled to limit global warming to below 1.5°C includes carbon dioxide removals (CDR) at scale, ranging from 6-10 Gt of CO2 removed per year by 2050. Therefore, in order to achieve the EU’s ambitious net-zero targets, near-term investments in high-quality, permanent carbon removals needs to be incentivised. Given the current regulatory framework, the only source of income for carbon removal relies on state subsidies and voluntary carbon markets. Policymakers should seek to prohibit greenwashing while facilitating near-term purchases of high-integrity carbon removal.

 

Corporate environmental claims play a critical role in carbon removals purchasing and investment decisions, companies need appropriate rules regarding claims in place to incentivise investment into high-integrity, permanent carbon dioxide removals (CDR).

 

Companies should be incentivised to purchase high-integrity carbon removals, provided these claims are transparent and neither impede nor reduce absolute emissions reduction efforts and targets. Allowing companies to make compensation claims with regard to these purchases is critical and will encourage investment in the nascent carbon removals market and support the EU’s negative emissions target.

 

Whilst we support the aim of recent EU pieces of legislation to avoid greenwashing and increase transparency around climate-related claims, we are concerned by the lack of clarity of the current legislative process. The rules under development today do not universally encourage near-term purchases of CDR, nor investment in this sector. It is therefore important that rules around climate claims are designed to support CDR development at scale. Further uncertainty is hindering EU policy objectives and the efficient deployment of negative emissions.

 

Considering this, the signatories urge policymakers to:

 

• Recognise the role of climate claims for incentivising investment in permanent and high-integrity carbon removals, without impeding nor reducing a company’s absolute emissions reduction target.

 

This increases ambition, as it incentivises companies to take additional responsibility for their gross emissions immediately, rather than applying ineffective traditional off-set instruments. Moreover, this aligns with the provisions set out in the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) which requires companies to explain any green claims of GHG neutrality that involve carbon offsets, evidence the integrity of offsets used and prove that this does not impede the achievement of GHG emission reduction targets.

 

• Ensure that removals credits are based on high-quality removals of carbon from the atmosphere/biosphere with emphasis on permanent removals over time, whilst respecting the like-for-like principle.

 

• Assess the treatment of carbon removal credits from outside the EU Market, given that the scope of the CRCF will be limited to carbon removals within the EU.