Forest-based bioenergy policies in five European countries: An explorative study of interactions with national and EU policies

Sustainability Frames in the Context of the Energy Wood Conflict in Germany

“…However, the abovementioned estimates for bioenergy in the German National Renewable Energy Action Plan for 2020 [22]-taken from the Biomass Action Plan [21]-appear to lack close integration with domestic forest policy. This is despite the fact that intensive utilization of domestic forest potential will be needed to materialize such an increase, and that biomass import could be an alternative [20][21][22]. In addition to the lack of policy integration, most policies lack outlines of how to deal with potential negative effects of bioenergy production on e.g., saw mills and fiber board industries, biodiversity conservation, or recreational and cultural heritage values, which are likely to emerge through the Plan's implementation [20].…”

“…This is despite the fact that intensive utilization of domestic forest potential will be needed to materialize such an increase, and that biomass import could be an alternative [20][21][22]. In addition to the lack of policy integration, most policies lack outlines of how to deal with potential negative effects of bioenergy production on e.g., saw mills and fiber board industries, biodiversity conservation, or recreational and cultural heritage values, which are likely to emerge through the Plan's implementation [20]. Based on these factors, the up-and-coming, climate-neutral, storable, and re-growing resource wood is fuelling the classic conflict between (timber) production and forest protection [17,18], and accordingly between forestry and conservation groups.…”

“…These targets are described in the German National Biomass Action Plan, which stipulates that bioenergy should make up 11% of total primary energy use [20,21]. Although there is no target specified for forest-based bioenergy [21,22], incentives for energy wood use do exist, such as financial support for investments in wood-based heating systems in private households [20]. Therefore, wood energy plays an increasingly important role in Germany, especially in the heating sector: the largest proportion of thermal energy from renewable energy sources is biomass (~87%); thereof the main shares are biogenic solid fuels in private households (~43%), in industry (~16%) and in heating plants and combined heat and power stations (5%)-mainly in the form of firewood, wood chips and pellets [23].…”

“…Globally, wood energy is as important as all other renewable energy sources taken together (hydro, geothermal, wastes, biogas, solar and liquid biofuels) and provides over 9% of the total primary energy supply [19]. In Germany, the demand for bioenergy is being stimulated with different policy instruments in order to reach the 2020 energy and climate targets [20]. These targets are described in the German National Biomass Action Plan, which stipulates that bioenergy should make up 11% of total primary energy use [20,21].…”

“…In Germany, the demand for bioenergy is being stimulated with different policy instruments in order to reach the 2020 energy and climate targets [20]. These targets are described in the German National Biomass Action Plan, which stipulates that bioenergy should make up 11% of total primary energy use [20,21]. Although there is no target specified for forest-based bioenergy [21,22], incentives for energy wood use do exist, such as financial support for investments in wood-based heating systems in private households [20].…”