The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the "sustainable bioenergy policy for the period after 2020".

The objective of the survey is to consult stakeholders and citizens on an updated EU policy on sustainable bioenergy for the period 2020-2030, as part of the EU renewable energy package foreseen before the end of 2016.

In 2010, the Commission issued recommendations that included non-binding sustainability criteria for solid and gaseous biomass used for electricity, heating and cooling (applicable to installations with a capacity of over 1 MW). Now the European Commission is reviewing the sustainability of all bioenergy sources and final uses for the period after 2020. In particular, "identified sustainability risks under examination include lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from bioenergy production and use; impacts on the carbon stock of forests and other ecosystems; impacts on biodiversity, soil and water, and emissions to the air; indirect land use ecosystems; impacts on biodiversity, soil and water, and emissions to the air; indirect land use change impacts; as well as impacts on the competition for the use of biomass between different sectors (energy, industrial uses, food). 

Consultation period:10 February 2016 to 10 May 2016.

Due the importance of this topic, EOS will prepare its response to this consultation.

Copy of the Consultation questionnaire is availble at the following link:

https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/BioenergySurvey2016%20final.pdf

A dedicated stakeholder conference is foreseen on 13 April 2016.