Stakeholder Declaration on Woody Biomass
Lead by Euroheat & Power, over 70 companies and organisations have released a statement to express strong concerns over the European Parliament’s proposal to introduce a new definition of “primary woody biomass” in REDIII, warning it would prevent the efficient and circular use of woody biomass residues, and put EU energy security at risk. Instead, signatories call for revising the sustainability criteria in REDIII and prioritising the efficient and circular use of biomass resources and avoiding waste.
Bioenergy and, in particular, woody biomass are Europe’s most prominent local and sustainable energy source, it represents 10% of the total energy we consume, with over 96% of biomass produced domestically. Prominent stakeholders from the energy and heating industry are concerned that the definition proposed by the European Parliament – in its position on REDIII adopted on 14 September 2022 – does not reflect the reality of forest management and sustainable bioenergy. Rather than promoting a sustainable and resilient framework, it threatens the future of a sector critical to decarbonising and guaranteeing the energy security of many cities and rural areas across Europe.
While signatories fully endorse the need to ensure the sustainable use of bioenergy resources, they point out that a large part of woody biomass is first and foremost harvested for timber production for wood-based products and construction materials, as well as derived from forest management activities. These activities produce residues and non-quality roundwood that cannot be used for other higher-value purposes, in other industries. The current definition of “Primary woody biomass” in the EP proposal would trigger those residues to go to waste, instead of being used for efficient and sustainable energy production.
Read Full Press Release by Euroheat & Power, 30 November 2022
Read Full Press Release by Euroheat & Power, 10 November 2022
