Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development
Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development
Sustainability regulation for solid biomass for energy in NL, BE & UK
Dr. Martin Junginger
Copernicus Institute, Utrecht University Conference on Biomass and Sustainability
19 October 2015, Copenhagen, Denmark
Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development
Short history of sust. criteria for solid biomass
2010 EU recommendations to MS to follow more or less the biofuels criteria:
• GHG accounting to include end-use conversion, small bioenergy installations (below 1 MW) to be exempted & biomass origin and quality in small-scale uses (e.g. households) to be monitored by MS
• Ongoing review of the effectiveness of such approach, considering new market and policy developments
=> End of 2013: no SC on EU level before 2020
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Overview of national policies
Four countries in EU with (development of) governance
frameworks for solid biomass
1. Belgium (Flanders/ Walloon regions): Binding legislation
since 2002
2. United Kingdom: legislation in place since 2013, closely
following EC recommendations
3. Netherlands: Sustainability criteria to be developed,
including carbon debt and iLUC, for co-firing of solid
biomass in National energy agreement (sept 2013).
4. Denmark: industry agreement (covered by next speaker)
Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development
Overview of National Schemes
Country Schemes & Aims
Belgium Green Certificates
- Support renewable energy & optimise GHG emissions
Denmark Industry Agreement
- Ensure sustainable use of solid biomass
The Netherlands Energy Accord, Contracts for Difference (SDE+)
– Support production of sustainable energy from biomass
The United Kingdom Renewables Obligation, Renewable Heat Incentive, Contracts for
Difference
- Deliver real GHG savings, assure solid biomass is sustainably produced &
cost effective
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UK
Sustainability Criteria
Details
1. Fuel Classification Clarify what exemptions available for reporting against the
sustainability criteria
2. Land Use
2.1 Timber Standard - In accordance with EU Timber Regulation
- Sustainable harvesting rates, biodiversity protection & land use rights
for indigenous people
2.2 Land Use - Derived from RED
- Land category: to clarify compliance
3. GHG emissions - A minimum of 60% GHG emission saving (2017) compared with
1990 level, to increase to 75% saving by 2025
- GHG calculations: follow methodology defined in Annex V of RED
(emissions from collection process to processing, transportation
and distribution stages)
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UK
Reporting requirements Details – for generators over 50 KW
Monthly reporting Report against land use/ timber standard criteria and GHG
criteria
Annual reporting Provide sustainability audit report (TIC ≥ 1 MW)
Recognition of voluntary schemes
Land criteria
(land use/ timber standard)
- Category A evidence: FSC and PEFC
- Category B evidence: through collection of bespoke
evidence
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Belgium
Sustainability Criteria
Details
1. Fuel Classification - wood, waste wood and wood pellets: sustainably sourced; no
commercial value
2. Land Use Not included
3. GHG emissions Differ between regions (Wallonia & Brussels-capital region, Flanders)
Wallonia & Brussels - GHG reduction regarding biomass fed for electricity production
Flanders - GHG reduction regarding efficiency of green energy production
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Belgium
Reporting requirements Details
Quarterly reporting - Wallonia Report electricity production to receive GCs grant
Annual reporting – Flanders Submit specific number of GCs to Vreg to prove compliance
with certificate obligation
Recognition of voluntary schemes
Land criteria
(land use/ timber standard)
- Recognition of FSC, PEFC certification schemes
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Danish Industry Agreement
Sustainability Criteria
Details
1. Fuel Classification - Not defined
2. Land Use Only timber standard included
Legality; biodiversity/ecosystems protection; maintenance of forests’
productivity; forest health & functioning; labour rights
3. GHG emissions Reduction percentage follows EU guidelines & UK on GHG emissions
reductions
- GHG reduction: 70% (2015) and 75% (2025)
- GHG emissions calculation: to be decided
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Danish Industry Agreement
Reporting requirements Details
Annual reporting - For generators ≥ 20 MW
Recognition of voluntary schemes
Land criteria
(land use/ timber standard)
- Recognition of FSC, PEFC certification schemes
Land Criteria & GHG emissions - SBP
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Source: Peter-Paul Schouwenberg, RWE Essent
Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development
Source: Peter-Paul Schouwenberg, RWE Essent
Start year project
# years of pellet mill certification
Forest certification required starting in …
Required for nr of years
2015/16 6 2021/22 2 2017/18 5 2022/23 3 2019 4 2023 4 2020 3 2023 5 >2020 0 2021 8
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Source: Peter-Paul Schouwenberg, RWE Essent
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Dutch Energy Agreement
Sustainability Criteria
Details
1. Fuel Classification - Defined for biomass both originating from agriculture and forests
2. Land Use - Forest biomass: legislation & regulations; ecological, economic &
management aspects; CoC
- Agricultural & waste residues: mainly about compliance with
legislation & CoC
3. GHG emissions - Requirements for GHG emissions reductions; conservation of carbon
stocks; ILUC
- Average> 70% savings, each batch >60% savings
- GHG emissions calculation: EU methodology + default values
- Carbon debt:
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Dutch Energy Agreement
Reporting requirements Not yet published
Recognition of voluntary schemes – not yet published
New verification protocol will provide more guidance on methods and indicators to demonstrate compliance with the principles and indicators.
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Overview
National Support Schemes for Solid Biomass
RO, RHI, CfDs - UK GCs - BE IA - DK EA - NL
I. Strictness of certification Mandatory Mandatory Voluntary Mandatory
II. Timeline of implementation End of 2015 Already
implemented
2016 In 2 years
time?
III. Sustainability Criteria Coverage
A. Greenhouse Gas Emission
B. Land Criteria:
- Fuel classification ±
- Timber Standard
- Sustainable Forest Management ±
- Land use
- Biodiversity protection
- Ecosystems conservation ±
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Overview
National Support Schemes for Solid Biomass (continued)
RO, RHI, CfDs -
UK
GCs - BE IA - DK EA - NL
III. Sustainability Criteria Coverage
- Carbon debt →
C. Cascading biomass →
D. Compliance with other related laws &
local rights
±
E. Chain of Custody →
F. Mass balance →
V. Recognition of other voluntary and
obligatory international schemes
→
Legend
Covered
± Partly covered
→ To be covered in the future
Not covered
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GHG emission calculations
RO, RHI, CfDs - UK GCs - BE IA - DK EA - NL
Calculation Follow BioGrace II tool &
based on EU SWD 2014*
Own method Follow BioGrace II
tool & UK approach
To be identified –
based on EU SWD
2014
Limit (compared with 1990
baseline level)
60% (2017) –
75% (2025)
No limit (?) 70 % (2015) –
75 % (2025)
70% / 60% for indiv.
batches
Time of Implementation End of 2015 Already implemented 2016 To be identified
Possible harmonisation? - Calculation method and emissions limits in Danish, Dutch and the UK schemes
are comparatively aligned: Follow BioGrace II tool & based on EU SWD 2014
- Implementation timeline needs to be further identified in Danish IA and Dutch EA
- Belgian approach of calculation is different
Harmonisation might be possible if format & type of GHG emissions data
collection are similar. Emissions limit could differ per country (-> leakage
possible)
* Report - State of play on the sustainability of solid and gaseous biomass used for
electricity, heating and cooling in the EU
Harmonisation possible?
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Harmonisation possible?
• SFM certification: strongly depending on eligibility of existing schemes in the different countries. “FSC or equivalent” main issue in the Dutch negotiations for the past 2 years; full forest certification after 2023 challenging
• Carbon Debt: Dutch approach first attempt to tackle the issue, EU & UK developments to be awaited
• Competition between use for materials and energy: different Belgian and Dutch approach
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Discussion points
• Current developments will likely hinder international wood pellet trade; industry-developed SBP system will need to evolve
• Leakage possible: imports from US & Canada are increasingly also used for small—scale residential use (e.g. Italy)
• Same in the sourcing areas themselves (e.g. use of legal but ‘unsustainable’ biomass in the US, sustainable biomass export to EU)
• => move for moderate but universal/global criteria for all end-uses
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Thank you for your attention!
More information?
Dr. Martin Junginger, [email protected]
Thuy Mai-Moulin, [email protected]
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