Reacting to European Parliament’s vote on the Directive on the Promotion of the Use of Energy from Renewable Sources (RED II) yesterday, forest owners and managers welcome it as a positive step. The outcome recognises the importance of forests and their role in tackling climate change. In particular, forest owners and managers recognise the efforts made by MEPs to set up a suitable system to verify sustainable forest biomass sourcing (Art. 26). This was achieved by rejecting the devastating amendment on regulating the use of different types of biomass feedstocks. The “risk-based” approach, which was supported in the vote, takes into account existing legislation and tools on sustainable forest management. However, certain sustainability requirements still need to be refined and simplified.
The three organisations – CEPF, Copa & Cogeca, EUSTAFOR – also welcome the fact that MEPs have recognized the important contribution forest-based advanced biofuels make to a more climate-friendly transport sector, with opportunities to increase green growth and jobs in EU rural areas. By keeping feedstocks such as tall oil and pulpwood in the raw material list (Annex IX), Parliament acknowledges the importance of a stable policy environment for current and planned investments.
But forest owners and managers regret that MEPs wants to allow the Commission to remove feedstocks from Annex IX as this could have a negative impact on long-term biofuel investments. The three organisations also urge EU policy-makers to pay attention to the wording on waste hierarchy and market distortions as this could result in the introduction of the cascading use principle into legislation. It has been highlighted also by the Commission, that the principle is not fit for EU legislation and goes against market principles. According to the organisations mentioned earlier these formulations should consequently be removed during the next steps of the legislative process.

The price that solid biomass will be available at in Ireland is a key assumption underpinning the formulation of heat incentive tariffs. As part of efforts to ensure that the RHI in Ireland is designed to meet the target for renewable heat at least cost, SEAI have sought advice from Ricardo Energy and Environment on the price and availability of biomass resources for use in the heat sector in Ireland. The report highlights key information gathered, and important considerations around biomass supply chains, energy security, infrastructure, and sustainability which need to be taken into account when setting a price to use in analysis of the tariff. It is important that the price reflects as accurately as possible the price that biomass developers will see in the marketplace as schemes become operational, if the assumed price in the tariff analysis is lower than is actually seen in the marketplace then uptake is likely to be lower than forecast as switching to biomass will not be an attractive option. Conversely, if the assumed price is higher than is seen in the marketplace, then operators will potentially be over subsidised. The proposed SSRH is unlikely to be operational for several months, and potential applicants to the scheme will be considering the biomass price which they will face in the initial years of operation. Potential applicants may find this report useful in assessing viability, view here (Published 26 Oct 2017

The Western Development Commission (WDC) along with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) are tasked to complete a regional renewable energy analysis on the use of biomass as a local contribution to the national renewable heat target. They wish to develop a range of actions to support the development of renewable energy in the region under the Action Plan for Jobs. This will inform how we support and develop biomass use in this region. They are keen to understand more about how businesses operate their own heating systems and if they have any plans for further biomass investment or use.  They would also like to know your general views on the biomass sector.

All information provided will be treated in strict confidence, you are encouraged to participation in this on-line questionnaire and contribute to the report. Start the questionnaire here