Biomass Supply Challenges: How to meet biomass demand by 2020? was a half-day workshop held at the Beurs-World Trade Centre, Rotterdam on 15 March 2012. The workshop was jointly organised by the European Biofuels Technology Platform and the Renewable Heating and Cooling European Technology Platform, in co-operation with World Biofuels Markets 2012.

Demand for sustainable biomass is forecast to increase greatly over the next decade for biofuels producers (road, air and marine), biorefineries, utilities and bioenergy producers. This workshop brought together speakers from various sectors across Europe to discuss the challenge of providing reliable volumes of biomass at competitive cost, while meeting sustainability criteria (see Overview below).

Presentations from the workshop are now available. Thanks to all the speakers for their valuable inights into biomass supply and demand issues.

Increasing deployment of innovative bioenergy technologies is required to reach EU 2020 targets for renewable energy use in transport and power generation. This will require reliable supplies of sustainable biomass at greater volumes to meet the growing demands from biofuels producers (road, air and marine), biorefineries, utilities and bioenergy.

In order to meet the competing demands from different sectors, the efficiency of biomass supply chains in Europe needs to be maximised. A wider range of biomass feedstocks need to be made available through improved logistics. And regulatory support is required to enable the commercialisation of innovative technologies. At the same time, feedstock costs need to remain competitive, and sustainabiltiy criteria need to be met.

To maximise the potential of biomass resources in Europe, a co-ordinated approach is required to match the most appropriate feedstocks to the most beneficial end use in the most favourable location.

This joint workshop brought together presentations covering the likely demand for biofuels production, renewable heating and cooling, and for utilities, as well as up-to-date overviews on biomass supply and sustainability issues.

Thank you to all the speakers and everyone who attended and contributed to this very successful workshop.

European Biofuels Technology Platform (EBTP) and the Renewable Heating and Cooling European Technology Platform (RHC TP)

SESSION 1: MARKET DEMAND FOR BIOMASS

Welcome by Moderator
Markku Karlsson, EBTP, UPM-Kymmene Corporation

Biomass Demand for Renewable Heating and Cooling
Kari Mutka, RHC Platform, Vapo

Biomass Demand for Biofuels
Birger Kerckow, EBTP, Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V.

Biomass Demand for Utilities
Jeppe Bjerg, DONG Energy
Chairman of Task Force Biomass, Eurelectric, Association of the Electricity Industry in Europe

SESSION 2: SUPPLY OF BIOMASS

How much biomass demand can be met by 2020?
Eija Alakangas, RHC Platform, VTT
Calliope Panoutsou, EBTP, Imperial College London

Role of biomass in meeting future energy demands
Martin Junginger, IEA and Utrecht University

SESSION 3: SUSTAINABILITY

Moderator: Anders Röj, Volvo Technology

Sustainability issues that constrain future use of biomass
Fanny-Pomme Langue, EC DG Energy

How does sustainability influence compliance with nREAP bioenergy targets?
Jean-Marc Jossart, RHC TP, AEBIOM