Crucial six months for bioenergy in Europe

Colin Ley analyses what 2023 might have in store for the European bioenergy sector, with thoughts from Christian Rakos, president of the World Bioenergy Association. The urgency surrounding energy provision in Europe as we embark on 2023 should be driving the bioenergy sector forward at pace. Instead, there appears to be growing frustration across the industry at the way in which biomass, biogas and more, are being treated at both a political and legislative level. Talk of renewable energy expansion has never been more prominent than in recent months with output targets and market share objectives being raised in response to the energy supply pressures caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine just under a year ago.  Translating fine words into practical action is always the difficult part, however, a truth which can be applied to the legislative and support framework which has been laid, or at least promised, for bioenergy developers across the continent.  Three recent headlines, however, stand out...