Energy Taxation Directive

Bioenergy Europe’s Secretariat drafted a position paper on the proposed revision of the Energy Taxation Directive which includes a list of proposed amendments. We kindly ask members to provide us with input by 10 September 2021. The position paper will serve as a contribution to the ongoing open consultation on the Comission’s adoption of the legislative proposal which is open until 27 October 2021. For more information, please contact Michal Dlugosz. 

Fit-for-55 Package

On 14 July the European Commission published a package of legislative proposal collectively called “Fit-for-55″, designed to help the EU meet its climate goals. In addition to a communication on the package, the package includes revisions to: the EU ETS (including changes to aviation and how it will interact with CORSIA), the Effort Sharing Regulation, the LULUCF Regulation, REDIII, EED, CO2 standards for cars and vans, alternative fuel infrastructure, REFuelEU Aviation, FuelEU Maritime, the ETD, and the creation of the CBAM. All of the documents are available on the EU’s website.

Renewable Energy Directive Review – Biomass Sustainability

The proposal includes important changes to the criteria including a lower exemption threshold (above 5MW); establishment of NO-GO areas with the extension of existing land criteria for agricultural biomass also to forest biomass (including primary, highly biodiverse forests and peatlands). Furthermore, new elements have been added to Article 29(6) to minimise the negative impact of harvesting on soil quality and biodiversity inspired by the JRC report on woody biomass for energy. Article 29(10) REDII is amended applying the existing greenhouse gas saving thresholds for electricity, heating and cooling production from biomass fuels retroactively to existing installations: 70% until end of 2025 and 80% from beginning of 2026 (not only new installations). The way biomass support is granted is also addressed by the proposal: Beginning in 2027, support will no longer be allowed for biomass-power only electricity generation unless the plant produces electricity with BIO-CSS or it is located in a region with a European Commission approved just transition plan. Specific feedstock categories are also excluded from support (saw logs, veneer logs, stumps and roots). Finally, the Commission proposes to draft a Delegated Act on how to apply the cascading principle for biomass. The Secretariat has drafted the REDIII Policy Brief to summarise the main changes. The public consultation is open until midnight (Brussels time) 10 September. Bioenergy Europe will submit a reply and encourages members to submit individual replies. For more information, please contact Giulia Cancian.

Renewable Energy Directive Review – Heating & Cooling

The text rightly promotes the switch from fossil fuel heating systems to RES and stresses the need for consistency with the EPBD. The shortage of RHC installers is recognised as a barrier to phasing out fossil fuel systems. Nevertheless, the renewable heat targets in Article 23 remain disproportionally low, setting a business-as-usual approach which will not be enough to achieve the new 49% renewables in buildings target set out in Article 15. For more information, please contact Irene di Padua.

Energy Taxation Directive

The European Commission released the legislative proposal for a revision of Energy Taxation Directive. As one of the main changes, the scope was extended on solid wood products within categories within CN codes 4401 and 4402 which include: fuel wood, briquettes, pellets etc. Moreover, it replaces also the general rule of taxation of energy products based on its volume by their energy content. The Secretariat has drafted the ETD Policy Brief which will guide you through the main building blocks of the revision. The public consultation is open until midnight (Brussels time) 10 September. Bioenergy Europe will submit a rely and encourages members to submit individual replies. For more information, please contact Michal Dlugosz 

Joint Statement on REDIII

Bioenergy Europe published a joint statement with associations representing the forest and forest-based sectors titled: Improper Sustainability Framework for Forest Biomass Could Challenge the EU’s Renewable Energy Ambitions and Harm the Rural Economy. The paper expresses concern regarding the rigid application of the cascading principle, the creation of no-go areas for forest biomass, the application of retroactive measures, and short review timelines. The statement was also signed by CEPF, Cepi, Copa-Cogeca, ELO, EOS, and Eustafor. For more information, please contact Daniel Reinemann.

Fit-for-55 Position Paper

Yesterday, Bioenergy Europe’s Secretariat published a position paper on the Fit-for-55 package calling on policy makers to consider 5 guiding principles when crafting legislation: increase our climate ambition, create non-discriminatory legislation, limit the growth of regulatory burden, include all aspects of sustainability, and do not discriminate on energy feedstocks. For more information, please contact Daniel Reinemann.

Letters on Forestry Strategy by EPP and Member States

The European People’s Party (EPP) wrote an open letter to President Ursula von der Leyen, Executive Vice President Vladis Dombrovskis, and Commissioner Mairead McGuinness, and 11 Member States signed a letter sent to Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans. Both letters highlight the concern with the upcoming EU Forest Strategy which neglects the social and economic aspects of sustainability and that it is an unacceptable expansion of EU competence by proposing a common EU forest policy that violates the subsidiarity principle. For more information, please contact Daniel Reinemann.

Biomass Support Schemes for Heat and Electricity in EU

The report on Biomass Support Schemes for Heat and Electricity in all EU Member States for 2021 is available for our members. The detailed report outlines all existing support schemes currently available for the Heat and Electricity industries, including investment, operational, market-based support and more. See the report in the Members Area. For more information, contact our team.

Position Paper on Heat Decarbonisation

Bioenergy Europe has been working on a position paper on heat decarbonisation, suggesting concrete actions for the revision of key policies and advocating for the replacement of old heating systems with new renewable ones. The position will be published on 8 July right before the “Fit for 55” package. Comments on the draft are welcome until Monday 5 July at noon. For more information, please contact Irene di Padua.