Policy News

A consortium of trade associations representing the renewables industry and related sectors has sent a joint open letter to UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak, making the case for renewables to be “embedded” into the government’s stimulus packages to address the economic recession caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, while addressing climate change. In the letter, the Anaerobic Digestion and…
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The World Bioenergy Association (WBA) has joined the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (CPLC) as a partner. The CPLC is a voluntary partnership of 34 national and sub-national governments, over 164 businesses from a range of sectors and regions, and more than 85 strategic partners representing civil society organisations, NGOs and academic institutions that agree to advance the carbon…
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Bioenergy Europe said it 'regrets' the terminology used in the European Commission’s new biodiversity strategy, which references minimising the use of ‘whole trees’ in energy production. Within the Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Commission said that to better understand and monitor the potential climate and biodiversity risks, it is assessing the EU and global biomass supply and…
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The Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) has in recent weeks circulated its bioenergy proposals to representatives across the political spectrum. The organisation is lobbying for Ireland’s Programme for Government to incorporate bioenergy measures and support to assist economic recovery, emissions reduction targets and climate action. Ireland has a “considerable natural advantage” when it…
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Bioenergy Europe has launched the first chapter of its Statistical Report 2020 on bioelectricity, providing an in-depth analysis of bioenergy’s role in the decarbonisation of the European Union’s (EU) power grid. According to the organisation, the EU needs strategic vision and concrete measures to support a “profound change” in member states’ energy mix. The figures show renewables…
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China has joined the IEA Bioenergy Technology Programme (TCP) to “usher in a new era” of bioenergy development in the country. According to the organisation, China possesses significant biomass resources, which could be harnessed to produce sustainable bioenergy. The country has already made progress in this area, deploying bioenergy in the power sector, scaling up biomass heating…
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The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is seeking input from stakeholders in Australia’s bioenergy sector to develop its Bioenergy Roadmap. ARENA’s roadmap is being developed to identify the role that the bioenergy sector can play in boosting the country’s energy transition, stimulating regional development, enhancing energy security and helping Australia to cut emissions. The…
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Bioenergy Europe has joined forces with 180 stakeholders to form a European alliance for a Green Recovery. The initiative, led by Pascal Canfin, chair of the Environment Committee and the European Parliament, is formed of national and European decision-makers, business leaders and trade associations. The European alliance for a Green Recovery calls for the mobilisation of post-crisis green…
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The New Jersey Senate gave final legislative approval for its food waste bill on 5 March. The bill, which was released from the Senate by a vote of 22 to 17, requires large generators of food waste to recycle instead of sending it to landfill. Under the bill, every large food waste generator located within 25 miles of an authorised food waste recycling facility, and that generates an average…
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Bioenergy Europe has welcomed the new European Industrial Strategy, which underlines the need for transformation of the European renewables sector. In a statement, the organisation said it was 'particularly happy' that the European Commission conveyed an important message that the EU "will need a more strategic approach to renewable energy industries [...] and the supply chain underpinning…
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New UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered his first budget on 11 March, outlining funding for several green initiatives. One of the key announcements made in the budget was the extension of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), a move welcomed by the campaign group Biomass Heat Works!. The RHI scheme had been due to end in 2021, with many in the bioenergy sector wondering what, if anything,…
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Green jobs could increase by 85% in 10 years with government support, according to the Renewable Energy Association (REA). Employment in the renewables and clean technology sector stood at 128,954 in 2017/18, but there is potential to boost the number to 238,000 by 2030. The REA predicts that 46,000 of the new jobs that could be created with greater support from the UK Government are expected…
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Biomethane could deliver 30% of the UK’s carbon budget in the hardest-to-decarbonise sectors, according to the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA). In a newly-released report, launched by Alan Whitehead MP at the House of Commons in London on 2 March, ADBA claims that biomethane could provide ‘green heat’ to 6.4 million UK homes and create 30,000 jobs by…
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The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) released a statement announcing that it will redouble its efforts to highlight the potential of biogas following the UK Government Cabinet reshuffle last week. The Cabinet reshuffle took place on Thursday 13 February, welcoming new MPs into roles concerning the environment and climate change. Alok Sharma MP was appointed as the new…
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