The European Biomass Association (AEBIOM) warns against this in response to the EU negotiations on the RED II renewable energy directive. For the first time, sustainability criteria have been established for solid biomass, which must ensure a level playing field. In itself, AEBIOM is pleased about this. The European criteria will help to ensure that biomass is produced sustainably, regardless of its geographic origin, without creating unnecessary administrative burden on small installations and countries with a well-established system of forest management.
The EU directive also recognises the role of co-firing allowing bioenergy to play a key role in energy transition while ensuring that biomass is not prolonging the life of old coal installations. Bioenergy will need to meet 80% greenhouse gas emission savings as compared to fossil fuels in 2026. To give a comprehensive overview on all new criteria, AEBIOM released a dedicated infographic.
