Recently the European Commission unveiled its European Green Deal setting the ambitious goal to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. To reach a 95 percent cut in emissions by 2050, effective policies and measures need to be put in place. Renewables accounted for 17.5 percent of the final energy mix in the EU28 in 2017. According to the 2019 Report on Bioenergy Landscape, biomass - and other renewables - are key to reach EU energy independence and to achieve the energy transition.
Recently the European Commission unveiled its European Green Deal, arguably one of its most important long-term strategies ever, setting the ambitious goal to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. At a global level, only a mediocre agreement at COP 25 held in Madrid, Spain was reached, highlighting the challenge at hand in the global energy shift from fossil sources to renewables.
However, as indicated by numerous renewable energy trade bodies and other civil organizations including Bioenergy Europe, for the EU to reach a 95 percent reduction in emissions by 2050, effective policies and measures need to be put in place to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, replace fossil fuels and increase energy efficiency.
Bioenergy the largest, most versatile job-creating renewable source
According to the 2019 Report on Bioenergy Landscape published by Bioenergy Europe, the EU28 has increased its energy dependency on fossil fuels by 19 percent since 2000 and in 2017, fossil fuels dominated the overall energy mix with a 57 percent share.
Nonetheless, the primary energy production of renewables is increasing within the EU28, up 131 percent since 2000. In the renewables context, bioenergy is the single largest energy source accounting for around 60 percent of all renewables.
Bioenergy’s absolute contribution to EU final energy mix has more than doubled since 2000. In 2017 it represented more than 10 percent of the final energy mix, while all renewables combined accounted for 17.5 percent.
Bioenergy is also a versatile energy source, delivering clean energy to transport, electricity, and heat. It generates and ensures the largest amount of jobs among renewables, with more than 700 000 direct and indirect jobs in 2017. The sector creates local jobs for the whole supply chain – from feedstock to final energy production – fostering synergies between rural and industrial activities.
Bioenergy, together with the other renewables, is therefore key to reach EU energy independence, achieve the energy transition and climate-neutrality goals.
Published by Bioenergy Europe, the 2019 Report on Bioenergy Landscape constitutes the final section of the Bioenergy Europe 2019 Statistical Report, which for the first time since its launch in 2007, is split into 7 different publications, each one covering a different aspect of bioenergy.
