Exploring the Role Biomass and Alternative Fuels in District Heating

With the Biomass and Alternative Fuels in District Heating Conference, Lublin on October 17-18, Magazyn Biomasa brought together key players in Poland’s energy and district heating sector. With nearly 50% of Europe’s energy consumption going into heating, the event emphasized the role of biomass and alternative fuels in securing a more sustainable and independent energy future.

Bioenergy currently represents a fundamental piece of renewable heating in Europe, accounting for over 80% of renewable heat and around 55% of the renewable energy mix. Moreover, Bioenergy contributes to energy security, representing just 1% of the total EU energy imports. Bioenergy Europe highlighted this and other key takeaways on bioenergy during the first session.  Senior Policy Officer Ennio Prizzi, also shared valuable technical insights on bioenergy’s role in the energy transition in his presentation.

The presentation offered an in dept coverage of the lates policy developments, including updates on the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III). Technical aspects such as the cascading use of resources and sustainability criteria were discussed in detail. Finally, the analysis explored biomass’s involvement in the EU Emissions Trading System and examined the potential effects of the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) on the biomass and bioenergy sectors, highlighting new opportunities for Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS).

The conference was an opportunity to understand the significant role of biomass in shaping the future of the heating industry and the broader energy landscape both in Poland and Europe.