AVEBIOM believes it is essential to increase the participation of bioenergy in the energy mix in the new PNIEC

The Spanish Biomass Association considers it positive and necessary to expand the objectives aimed at combating climate change and increasing the country's energy independence . However, biomass suffers an inexplicable underestimation both in the current National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) and in the first draft for its update recently presented by the government to the European Commission.

Once again, the objective for electricity generation with biomass is not very ambitious (1.4 GW out of 166.2 GW total renewables in 2030) and, in the thermal use of biomass, the plan does not even propose a specific objective, expressed in a form numerical.

While the draft plan correctly recognizes the need to reduce the forest fuel load to mitigate fires and facilitate suppression, it does not present actions to harness the resulting biomass, for example, as biofuel instead of fossil fuels .

Since the 90s, in Spain only a maximum of 40% of the annual growth of wood in forests has been used (according to the national forest inventories IFN 2, IFN3, IFN4), which has resulted in the stock of standing wood having decreased. duplicate.  

To facilitate the reduction of said excess forest biomass, it would be very effective to establish a Roadmap with clear objectives for its sustainable use.  

AVEBIOM proposes the construction of at least 200 new heat networks with forest biomass or, expressed in power: 2,800 MW, which would require the mobilization of 1,200,000 tons of biomass; that of replacing at least 500,000 obsolete heating equipment with modern biomass equipment, which would consume 530,000 tons of certified biomass; and the construction of 500 MW of electricity in medium power plants (10-25 MW) strategically located in forest areas that need to reduce biomass density.

In relation to the energy recovery of pruning of woody agricultural crops , mainly olive groves and vine shoots, proposing their use in the residential area in the form of chips and pellets is not very appropriate. Agricultural activity generates almost 13 million tons of dry matter from herbaceous and woody remains every year in Spain, which could replace millions of liters of fossil fuels in industrial boilers (from 200-300 kW) and be used as a source of energy in new heat networks and biomass power plants.

The use of poorly processed biomass allows significant savings in greenhouse gases and energy by avoiding the drying, transportation and pelletizing process. On the other hand, this biomass, lacking impregnations and polluting agents, is sometimes referred to in the PNIEC as waste, when in reality it is not .

Regarding emissions of particles linked to biomass , the draft attributes primary PM2.5 emissions to biomass as the main polluting source. However, it is essential to distinguish between types of biomass and their use. Current boilers and stoves (complying with ecodesign and fuel certification regulations) have very low efficiency and particle emissions, unlike obsolete devices.

In fact, current emission factors do not adequately evaluate modern boilers, something that needs to be updated as soon as possible, as has been done in other European countries. 

Finally, the draft does not mention the possibility of integrating carbon capture technologies in power plants and heat networks fueled by biomass (BECCS or biochar production) . This option is crucial to achieve negative emissions and generate renewable energy, as recognized by organizations such as the International Energy Agency.

The Spanish Biomass Association has sent its allegations in relation to biomass and the measures proposed in the draft PNIEC.