COMMENT/IN THIS ISSUE INDUSTRY NEWS T Editorial comment


he use of bioenergy has reached an all-time high in Europe, which is great news given the recent tension triggered by the withdrawal of the US from the Paris Agreement. A new infor- mation campaign entitled ‘Bioenergy Day’ aims to raise aware- ness about bioenergy’s pivotal role in the renewable energy transition. While most Europeans support the transition towards renewables, they often lack a clear understanding of where the EU stands in this process. Take the example of bioenergy: biomass is on its way to surpassing European coal production to become the first indigenous European energy source. Bioenergy is also Europe’s first source of renewable energy, yet this is far from being common knowledge. To help better understand bioenergy’s role in renewables in a mean- ingful and engaging way, the European Biomass Association (AEBIOM) has launched a new campaign that will be relayed in 20 European countries, thanks to the support of national and international bioenergy federations. The ‘Bioenergy Day’ campaign makes use of original analo- gies to explain where the EU stands in the development of renewables, particularly bioenergy. Spreading the projection for Europe’s energy de- mand in 2017 across the calendar year makes it clear that Europe is still relying heavily on fossil fuels and nuclear power for the first 299 days. Renewables follow with 66 days of clean energy, with bioenergy ac- counting for 41 days, starting on 21 November to the end of the year. This is the symbolic date that AEBIOM has chosen to celebrate ‘Bioen- ergy Day’. On a positive note, since the introduction of the Renewable Energy Directive in 2008, this date has never been so early. According to AEBIOM, the bioenergy sector should aspire to move the date to October by 2030, hitting a RES target of 35% with bio- energy continuing to play a central role. Currently being produced from a great diversity of raw materials using innovative technologies, bioenergy has plenty of ways to reach that target. For this reason, the European Bioenergy Day website features 41 inspirational bioenergy stories and a quiz to test your knowledge, so that both experts and novices alike can gain a fresh perspective on bioenergy. Please take a look at the campaign on: www.europeanbioenergyday.eu


David Young Editor


FOREST BIOENERGY REVIEW Volume 7, Number 35 – Autumn 2017 Contact information


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EVENTS Conferences and exhibitions past and future


Front cover: The Verdo pellet plant in Grangemouth, Scotland, creates more than 60,000 tonnes of high quality wood pellets per year – see page 6.


Autumn 2017 1 1 16


In this issue INDUSTRY NEWS


What’s happening in the world of forest bioenergy?


2


2 AEBIOM


The Eickhout paradox: How to reach 45% RES target while jeopardising source?


Plant acquisition to close UK biomass power loop PELLETS


6 5


6


Modernising to meet emissions standards DISTRICT HEATING


FOREST-BASED BIOPRODUCTS Bioproduct mill starts up


EQUIPMENT REVIEW


Introducing new equipment and services REVIEW


Elmia wood bigger than ever 8 11 12 14


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