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Winter 2013/2014

IntroductionThe BioPAD project is promoting the wider use of bioenergy and developing applications targeting the whole process from supplying fuel to producing energy. By using bioenergy we can unlock the potential of our local natural resources, provide jobs and stimulate our local economies, make ourselves fuel secure and reduce CO2emissions. The project will help the development of bioenergy and improve our understanding of the links between supply and demand by looking at supply chains for a variety of bioenergy fuels, and different ways of converting these fuels into sustainable energy. Understanding the way in which bioenergy moves from fuel sources to energy provision will help to establish robust and efficient supply services which can match local demand.

If you would like to learn more about any of the initiatives highlighted in this edition, or if you would like further information on the BioPAD project, please visit http://www.biopad.eu/.

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Northern Periphery Programme Regions

Spotlight on Policy for Bioenergy

This edition of the BioPAD eZine focuses on the policy issues surrounding bioenergy in the partner regions. BioPAD project partner, Action Renewables, hosted a Policy Workshop which took place in Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland on 27th November. The aim of the workshop was to discuss the policy framework for the development and promotion of the bioenergy sector in the NPP partner regions, and to highlight key issues that policy makers should be aware of. The workshop was particularly aimed at policy makers at local, regional and national government level and any stakeholders involved in the bioenergy sector who contribute to or influence policy making decision processes for bioenergy. Those in attendance included representatives from Biomass Energy Northern Ireland (BENI), Derry City Council, the Department of Environment (Northern Ireland) and the Department of Agriculture (Northern Ireland), as well as each of the project partners (Action Renewables, METLA, ERI Scotland and Western Development Commission).

Several presentations were given including an outline of the policy objectives of BioPAD by Michael Doran (Action

Renewables), an overview of the BioPAD case studies by Mikko Nivala (METLA), and presentations by each of the project partners on the policy changes needed to stimulate positive growth in the bioenergy sector in their respective NPP regions in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Finland. The presentations can be downloaded by clicking on the link:

Ballymena Policy Workshop

Ballymena Policy Workshop

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B24uisALnoNzbk5QMW1lMHFIcEU/edit

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Policy Trip to GüssingIn April 2013, the BioPAD partners led a policy learning study tour to Güssing, Austria. Over 15 partners, associates and policy makers attended the trip which involved visits to eight renewable energy sites in Eastern Austria. The study tour included a visit to the town of Güssing which has transformed itself over the last 15 years into a centre of excellence for the production of energy from local sources. The region of Burgenland, in which Güssing is situated, aims to source its energy requirements sustainably. It already has biomass gasification plant producing electricity and heat, and a centralised district heating system. The town also hosts the European Centre for Renewable Energy, to share its research and experiences, which has added to the region’s knowledge and reputation and provided more local employment. Key factors that ensured the success of Güssing as a centre for the production and supply for bioenergy are set out below:

Aligned strategic vision with that of the European Union (EU); Established European Centre for Sustainable Energy; Utilised and built on natural resources; Integrated education and training needs; Recognised the value of the spin-off; Gained sound and continuous political support; Developed a related tourist industry; Jobs and wealth created; Addressed the needs of the local community.

Energy Production from Local Resources

Policy Toolkits A key element of the BioPAD project is to provide advice to policy makers on the benefits of bioenergy deployment in the NPP areas. This might include information on how bioenergy can help to achieve broader rural and peripheral regional policies on economy and environment, and the type of policy supports and market interventions that are necessary to unblock barriers to growth and ensure the sector is developed to its full potential. With this in mind, a policy toolkit is currently under development. The policy toolkit will guide policy makers though a series of easy to follow steps that could be taken to ensure the right conditions are created for the expansion of the bioenergy sector. This will be informed by policy learning’s emerging from the BioPAD research and in particular the key success factors identified from the Gussing trip as set out above.

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The Policy Supports Essential for Development and Promotion of Bioenergy Some key factors identified at the policy workshop as necessary for the development and promotion of bioenergy are set out below:

Long term policy commitment and continuous political support; Greater understanding of supply chains – who are the producers, who is involved in supply, what are the logistics, what jobs are created?; More case studies and demonstrations to inspire the confidence of policy makers, potential producers and consumers; Financial assessment of the socio-economic costs and benefits; Technical training and guidance for producers; Support in the preparation of business plan for producers; A greater awareness of the policy gaps and how best to address these gaps; Balance competing demands.

The Bioenergy Tool

BioPAD is a follow up project to RASLRES – Regional Approaches to Stimulating Local Renewable Energy Solutions.

The Bioenergy Tool developed under the RASLRES project helps energy users, suppliers, policy makers and the general public to make decisions about their bioenergy requirements. The tool is particularly valuable to policy makers looking for general information on biomass fuels, supply systems and targeted market stimulation models for rural renewable energy biofuels. It also provides practical advice and demonstrations on how the use of renewable energy in rural areas can address a variety of policy agendas, such as energy targets, sustainable regional development, environmental objectives, and so on.

For more information on RASLRES and to use the Bioenergy Tool please click on the link to the project website: http://www.raslres.eu/bioenergy-tool/

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Bioenergy Policy in the West of Ireland

To date, bioenergy production in the west of Ireland has been heavily reliant on wood energy. Counties Donegal and Clare are leading the way in the development of bioenergy sector, but overall progress has been quite slow. Significant potential for biomass from energy crops, grass and waste exists but the development of these sources has been limited to date owing to a general lack of awareness and the absence of a dedicated policy support framework.

Under the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC), Ireland has a renewables target of 16% of total final consumption to come from renewable energy in 2020. This target will be made up of contributions from renewable energy in electricity, transport) and heat and cooling. Policy for meeting this target is outlined in the National Renewable Energy Action Plan, 2010.

To meet these targets, there is a need to focus on developing heat supply chains, which offer significant potential to rural communities with job opportunities for local producers. The forthcoming National Bioenergy Strategy will provide focused bioenergy policies and the actions required to ensure that bioenergy contributes to meeting the renewable energy targets.

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Policy Frameworks for Bioenergy

Bioenergy Policy in Northern Ireland

Bioenergy policy in Northern Ireland is led by the UK Renewable Energy Action Plan 2010. The plan sets a series of overall targets that the UK must meet by 2020 under European law, but specific targets for Northern Ireland are not provided. In Northern Ireland, responsibility for energy policy lies with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI). The Strategic Energy Framework published by DETI in 2010 sets out Northern Ireland’s energy policy for a 10 year period to 2020 and includes a target to achieve 40% of its electricity consumption from renewables sources by 2020. Another important policy document for renewables in Northern Ireland is the Renewable Energy Action Plan 2010 published by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD). The DARD plan identifies priority areas including research based commercialisation of renewable energy, sustainable scale anaerobic digestion and heat based businesses to enable the land based and rural sector to harness opportunities for renewable energy and to assist in the delivery of the 2020 targets.

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Bioenergy Policy in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland

The Highlands and Islands region of Scotland contains many remote communities with limited access to mains gas, meaning there is a strong potential market for renewable energy, including bioenergy. Taking into account the additional resource potential for wind, tidal and hydro energy, the Scottish Government has set a highly ambitious target of 100% electricity demand from renewable sources by 2020, and 11% of heat consumption from renewable sources by 2020. The potential contribution of bioenergy in meeting these targets, specific heat production, is strong. However, the production of energy crops for biofuels is a relatively new and developing area, with biomass from marine sources also in the very early stages of development. At present, biomass production is largely reliant on wood fuel, but there is scope for substantial expansion of this sector. Crucial to the development of biomass from these sources and others, is producer and consumer confidence. The perceived complexity of the supply chain for bioenergy can be a deterrent to entry, as can a lack of technical expertise.

Bioenergy Policy in North Karelia, Finland

The rich natural resource of North Karelia, with 72% of forested land cover has facilitated the develop-ment of a strong bioenergy sector. Renewable energy policy is driven by the European 2020 targets, which include a commitment to achieve 38% total energy consumption by renewable sources by 2020. Other important policy initiatives include a regional promotional project which seems to achieve an ‘oil free North Karelia’ by 2020, and the Innovative Cities Programme 2014 which designated responsibil-ity to Joensuu City, the main urban centre of North Karelia, for coordinating Finland’s entire bioenergy cluster.

Recent legislative changes including stronger green public procurement laws have provided a further boost to the bioenergy sector.

BioPAD is led by the Western Development Commission

It is funded under the European Regional Development

Fund (ERDF) Interreg IVB Northern Periphery

Programme (NPP) . Northern

Periphery Programme Statement: “Innovatively investing

in Europe’s Northern Periphery for a sustainable and

prosperous future”.

BioPAD has partners in Scotland (Environmental

Research Institute, (ERI, ), Northern

Ireland (Action Renewables

and Finland (Finnish Forest Research Institute, Metla

www.facebook.com\BioPAD

@BioPAD_NPP

Search ‘BioPAD’

www.northernperiphery.eu

www.wdc.ie

http://www.metla.fi/

http://www.eri.ac.uk/http://www.actionrenewables.org

For more information on the BioPAD project, and for details on how you can get involved please see:

Official Website: http://www.BioPAD.eu/

Blog: www.biopadbioenergyblog.wordpress.com

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