The European Parliament voted January 17 on its position for the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive, part of the European Commission’s Clean Energy Package. The report sets out tighter targets for renewable energy for 2030 than proposed by European Commission. According to AEBIOM, the Parliament "confirmed and improved" the approach of the Commission to guarantee the sustainability of bioenergy consumed in the EU for the period 2021-2030.
The European Commission had proposed an energy efficiency target of 30 percent and at least 27 percent renewable energy for 2030. The Parliament has increased both targets to 35 percent with European binding targets. MEPs also set stricter requirements for mandatory national action plans for climate and energy.
According to the European Biomass Association (AEBIOM), the Parliament “confirmed and improved” the approach of the Commission to guarantee the sustainability of bioenergy consumed in the EU for the period 2021-2030. This approach will ensure that woody biomass contributes to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions savings compared to fossil fuels and originates from sustainably managed forests, thanks to the risk assessment process.
This approach will allow solid biomass to keep playing a key role in the European energy transition while providing coherent and realistic sustainability safeguards. Regardless, the bioenergy sector will have to remain cautious during the trilogue on critical attempts such as cascading principle, said Jean-Marc Jossart, AEBIOM Secretary-General.
The approach taken by the European Parliament is generally coherent with the Council’s and Commission’s position. AEBIOM has now good hopes that a “smooth and coherent” trilogue process will take place on this specific bioenergy sustainability file.
