Bioenergy Europe welcomes the Clean Industrial Deal as a key step to strengthen EU industry while advancing decarbonisation. However, for it to be truly effective, bioenergy must be fully integrated as a core solution for industrial transformation, said the association.
“Bioenergy is already delivering cost-effective, scalable solutions for energy-intensive industries” stated Bioenergy Europe Secretary General, Jean-Marc Jossart. “The Clean Industrial Deal must embrace its potential and not miss the opportunity to defossilise European Industries while ensuring their competitiveness. Counting only on electrification for the decarbonisation is too risky,” added Jossart.
The Deal rightly emphasises technology neutrality, recognising that different industries need diverse solutions. Yet, bioenergy is overlooked, despite being a cost-effective and proven option for providing high temperature industrial heat to energy-intensive sectors. Bio-based fuels can be up to 2.4 times cheaper than other renewables, making them vital for reducing emissions while maintaining competitiveness.
Bioenergy Europe welcomes the Commission's commitment to phase out fossil fuel subsidies. “Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies is a necessary step toward a fair and competitive energy market for renewables” says Irene di Padua, Policy Director at Bioenergy Europe.
Bioenergy is a local and dispatchable renewable energy source that can help reduce energy costs for industry, contribute to stabilising both energy prices and the grids, while strengthening industrial resilience in fossil dependent energy landscape.
“When combined with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), bioenergy can also deliver the negative emissions needed to compensate for emissions in hard-to-abate sectors, merging concretely the imperative of decarbonisation with industrial competitiveness,” concluded di Padua.
Bioenergy Europe calls for recognition of bioenergy in EU’s Clean Industrial Deal
