EU urged to back biomass as energy source

Date: 15/05/1997

By Michael Mann

CAMPAIGNERS say the EU must overturn its current farm and forestry policy completely if it is serious about doubling the use of renewable energy sources by 2010.

The European Biomass Association (AEBIOM) claims Energy Commissioner Christos Papoutsis' Green Paper on renewable energy is good on intentions, but sorely lacking in practical measures to fulfil them.

While careful to avoid denigrating other renewable energy resources, the organisation nevertheless stresses that biomass - fuel made from plants - is the only realistic answer if the European Commission is serious about meeting 12&percent; of the Union's energy needs with renewables by the end of the first decade of the next century.

AEBIOM believes this is only possible if around 14 million hectares are turned over to the production of the raw materials required by the industry. This would amount to over 10&percent; of the Union's current agricultural area. “We must completely revamp agricultural and forest policy in the EU. The Commission needs to tally its energy targets with the goals of the Common Agricultural Policy,” said AEBIOM president Heinz Kopetz.

At present, the industry is seriously hamstrung by having to rely on land temporarily taken out of cereal production to grow its raw materials. This makes it totally dependent on movements in the cereals market and decisions on the rate of set-aside which are taken so late that it is difficult to react.

New technologies have made the biomass industry an extremely diverse potential source of future energy. Biodiesel can be produced from oil-seed rape or sunflowers. Ethanol is derived from sugar beet and cereals, and may even be obtainable from wood following research in Sweden and the US. Fast-growing trees and waste from the forestry sector offer enormous potential for the production of heat.

But AEBIOM believes such potential can only be tapped if the Union provides serious encouragement to farmers to produce such crops and undertakes a wholehearted shake-up of taxation policy.

Kopetz denies that the cool reception given to the Commission's plans to extend the minimum excise duty regime to all energy products by a number of EU finance ministers spells the end of his industry's hopes for the future.

“We simply have to introduce a more balanced taxation system because what we have at the moment is totally illogical. We are pleased that the Commission has sparked this discussion on taxes, but its proposals sometimes go well beyond what we are suggesting,” he said.

In pressing its arguments, the industry points to evidence that the Union will become dependent on imports for 70&percent; of its energy requirements within 15 years unless there is a major shift in policy. Biomass producers also point to the benefits they can offer in helping the Union achieve the targets for reductions in 'greenhouse gas' output required by the Rio earth summit.

Biomass made up almost 60&percent; of the EU's renewable energy production in 1995, with 41 million tonnes crude oil equivalent. Hydroelectric power accounted for most of the rest.

AEBIOM believes that with the right policies, biomass production could rise by over 200&percent; by 2010 and fulfil 73&percent; of projected renewable energy needs. But it accuses the Commission of failing to back up its targets with any real suggestions on how to attain them.