Europe's renewable future with biomass

LONDON, ENGLAND, August 27, 2010 (Press-News.org) The issue of renewable energy has become a key priority for countries across the world, but European states are particularly keen on the issue due to official targets which are in place.
The European Union (EU) has a target to generate 20 per cent of its total energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020, with each member state having specific targets as to how it will contribute to the goal. New research from Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU, has shed light on how each country is coping with meeting their quota, with some faring much better than others.
According to the figures, Sweden was found to have the highest share of renewable energy in total consumption in 2008, with 44.4 per cent of its resources coming from the likes of biomass and wind power. Other top performers in the research included Finland (30.5 per cent), Latvia (29.9 per cent), Austria (28.5 per cent) and Portugal (23.2 per cent).
Those figures, along with the revelation that nearly all member states increased their share of renewable energy between 2006 and 2008, highlight the most positive aspects of the study. However, there were also findings which show there is still a long way for certain member states to go if they are to use the likes of biomass and other renewable energy sources to meet the EU's expectations.
The UK was shown to generate just 2.2 per cent of its resources from the systems. While the latter figure represented a marginal rise from 2006, it also shows that the UK remains far from its target of 15 per cent by 2020.
Energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne recently stated: "The challenge is ambitious but achievable. We're already on track to cut the UK's emissions by 34 per cent by 2020, and will do more if we can win the case for greater ambition across the whole EU."
As the biomass industry in Europe builds momentum within a complex legislative environment it highlights the need for a collective discussion of leading minds from both a government and industry perspective.

Energy IQ has done just this by producing the EU Biomass Forum with the objective to shape debate on European policy, feedstock availability and the economic feasibility of biomass projects.

The event taking place in London will bring together representatives from the European Commission, major energy players and key European governments including:
• Dr Elizabeth McDonnell, Office for Renewable Energy Deployment, Department of Energy and Climate Change, UK
• Emese Kottasz, Policy Officer, Directorate-General for Energy
Unit Regulatory Policy & Promotion of Renewable Energy, European Commission
• Dr Hans Jürgen Froese, Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV), Germany
• Dr Kees Kwant
Senior Expert Bioenergy, Energy and Climate Agency NL, The Netherlands
• Magdalena Rogulska, Senior Bioenergy Expert
Institute for Fuels and Renewable Energy, Poland
• Charles Nielsen, Director of R&D, DONG Energy
• Ben Goh, Senior Biomass Fuel Developer, E.ON Climate & Renewables
• Ian Calvert, Head of Biomass UK, RWE Npower Renewables
-ENDS-

Further information:

Energy IQ's EU Biomass Forum 2010 will focus on the energy sector and the challenging market dynamics and will bring together the world's leading authorities to discuss unique approaches to a sustainable and competitive Biomass framework and combine the perspectives of all stakeholders in the biomass value chain.
Energy IQ, a division of IQPC, is dedicated to providing practical, detailed information through conferences, training courses, webinars and our monthly e-newsletter. By providing accurate, objective and up-to-date developments and trends in various industries, Energy IQ enables organizations to remain competitive and profitable.

The event is taking place from the 27-29 October 2010 at the Rembrandt Hotel in London. Further information can be obtained from Andrew Wilson, Marketing Manager, IQPC.

Call +44 (0) 207 368 9500, visit http://www.euBiomassForum.com or email enquire@iqpc.co.uk for further information.

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