A Pellet Road Map for Europe - Aebiom

Energy Balance*Certification, including energy and CO 2balances, is implemented in Belgium18%16%14%12%10%8%6%4%2%0%Sea/river transportLocal transportPelletisingGermanyThe Netherlands* Energy balance calculated as equivalent electricity and fossil fuels used for productionand transport compared with net electricity produced from pellets. Source: Ryckmans, 2008Source: VAPOEU certified professionaleducation schemesSimilar to the European Computing Drivers LicenseECDL that has become a widely accepted standardit should be considered to establish a “EU biomassheating drivers licence” for installers, that makessure that all key issues for the efficient installationand operation of biomass heating systems areknown.Cooperation programswith countries with highbiomass potentialIn the medium term European biomass resourcesmay need to be complemented with biomassresources from countries with high production potentialin terms of climate and available land. In view ofalready visible trends towards resource nationalismaccess to such sources can only be secured by longterm policies of cooperation that establish mutualbenefits.Important will be the assurance that importedbiomass is produced in a sustainable way. Thereforethere is a need of certification schemes which areeasy to use, effective and affordable in order to guaranteean environmentally sound production chainof pellets, whatever its origin (imported or locallyproduced).Baltic Sweden Russia CanadaExperiences have been gained in the last years bypower producers on certification of pellets. It includestraceability of the pellets along the production andtransport chain. Several sustainability criteria havebeen taken into account like forest management,local environmental impacts of the pellets productionplants, and even energy and CO 2balances (forwhich the Belgian system is particularly advanced).Source: GEE EnergyRecommendations forpolicies at nationaland regional levelsVisible demonstration projectsFor countries that have seen no or very little marketdevelopment the starting point for market developmentcan be well communicated demonstrationprojects. Public buildings have particular advantagesin terms of communication and creating trustand credibility for the technology.Procurement policiesfavouring pellet heatingCreating a market is the most important task at thebeginning. Enterprises must have projects to startwith. Procurement policies can be very supportivein this respect.Assessment of suitablemarket niches for pellet useBefore targeted national policies can start it must beclear, where particularly attractive opportunities forpellet use exist. Due to the profound differences inclimatic conditions and heating habits these marketniches can vary from member state to member state.Once they are identified policies can focus theirsupport measures on these promising segments.Financial incentivesFinancial incentives are indispensable for marketstart up. Financial incentives should reduce the highupfront investment costs significantly, they shouldbe predictable (predictably declining is fine), theyshould be linked to quality criteria and include bothmonitoring and communication programmes.Link existing subsidyschemes to RES useIn some member states subsidy schemes mayexist, that just need slight modifications in orderto promote the use of pellets. Schemes supportingthe construction of social housing e.g. could requirerenewable heating systems as precondition for thesubsidy.A Pellet Road Map for Europe 1617 A Pellet Road Map for Europe