Bioenergy Europe’s General Assembly on 28 November elected 5 members for the Board of Directors

Congratulations to the new board members!

  1. Katarzyna (Kasia) Wilk – Drax Group 
  2. Morten Hultberg Buchgreitz – CM Biomass

And congratulations to those who renewed their mandate!

  1. Andrew Georgiou – Enviva
  2. Gerolf Bücheler – Bundesverband Bioenergie (BBE) – German BioEnergy Association
  3. Pablo Rodero Masdemont – AVEBIOM – Spanish Biomas Association 

During the General Assembly members also approved the budget and the work plan for 2024.
Click here to read the minutes from the General Assembly and here to see the presentation.

REDIII published in the OJ

The final text of the Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII) has been officially published in the EU’s Official Journal (OJ) and will enter into force on 20 November. Member States will now have 18 months (until 21 May 2025) to implement it at national level. For more information, please contact Daniel Reinemann.

EUDR Database Trial

The European Commission announced during the last meeting of the Deforestation Regulation Multistakeholder Platform that they will pilot test their database with 100 companies, which will have the opportunity to test the Information System’s functioning and report bugs and issues. Bioenergy Europe has applied for this Multistakeholder Platform and if accepted, members will be able to apply. The deadline is 17 November. For more information, please contact Daniel Reinemann. 

EU ETS Delegated Regulation

The European Commission provisionally published the Delegated Regulation amending the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/11229. The Regulation lays down requirements concerning the Union Registry provided for in Directive 2003/87/EC and applies to allowances created for the purposes of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). For more information, please contact Ennio Prizzi. 

Commission annual reports

The Commission released the State of the Energy Union and a Report on Energy Subsidies. Bioenergy is confirmed as the main renewable source in the EU (around 60%). In addition, the delays in implementing RED’s rule on sustainability criteria for bioenergy were acknowledge as one of the main causes of the drop in the renewable shares in several member States. Concerning energy subsidies, biomass is the third renewable in terms of public subsidies (EUR 15 billion), following solar and wind. For more information, please contact Jérémie Geelen.  

Net-Zero Industry Act

The report on the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) by MEP Christian Ehler was adopted by the European Parliament ITRE Committee with 43 in favor, 12 against, 3 abstentions and is expected to be voted in plenary on 20 November. The representatives of EU member states are still discussing their position on the NZIA and aim to adopt their position (general approach) by early December. For more information, please contact Ennio Prizzi. 

2023 EU Bioenergy Days campaign is on!

The EU Bioenergy Days campaign is up and running! Bioenergy Europe is collecting success stories under the theme “Getting rid of fossil fuels” to feature the diverse use of bioenergy at an individual, residential, local or national level. Please, contribute to the campaign by sharing stories on the significance of the sector for energy security and independence from fossil fuels. Send your success story (text around 500 words + pictures; optional: video material, factsheets, etc.) to Clara Puig De Torres-Solanot. 

Taskforce on National Advocacy

On 21 September, advocacy experts from all member organisations met online to discuss National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), the Energy Taxation Directive (ETD), the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) and the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA). Members were encouraged to reach out national governments to support Bioenergy Europe’s standing on these files and to sign and share our Open Letter about NZIA. For more information, please contact Irene di Padua. 

EU Advocacy revendicated at Lobbying Seminar

Last week, Bioenergy Europe hosted an in-person EU lobbying seminar for members in Brussels. During the seminar, the Advocacy Team went over the EU legislative process and showed the importance of having members reach out to their national EU representatives and governments. For more information, please contact Irene di Padua.