European countries bio energy domain policy
Netherlands
In accordance with Kyoto agreement requirements, the Netherlands should decrease, the atmospheric emissions for 6% in comparison with the one, indicated in 1990 at energy sector and decrease by 10% the amount of atmospheric emissions at renewable energy domain. In order to support Kyoto agreement requirements the Netherlands government has signed CO2 emission reduction agreement with electricity manufacturers. According to this agreement coal electric stations have to balance with gas plants the CO2 emission per generated kWhe. It will mean the energy production volume reduction per 5.8 Mtons. The biomass, in the equivalent of approximately 12% of energy basis, will be used to replace coal.
Plus, electric stations will need to make important review of their production cycle in order to implement such cofiring percentage. Nevertheless, as agreement states, the government promises to give financial aid and means, necessary to reach the internal return rate of 12%.
Industry experts say, that, due to the lack of domestic biomass supplies, the Netherlands will import biomass in a great amount in order to cover coal agreement obligations - as its' domestic supplies are not enough to cover coal agreement obligations ( 2,5 Mtons - for coal electric stations, except 1,6 Mtons from existing and new projects).
Denmark
Due to serious cut of state budget for renewable energy, made by new Danish government, from over 300 MDKR to 40 MDKR in November 2001, bioenergy sector has encountered great problems. Among Danish Kyoto targets for CO2 reduction per 20% in 2010 only 12-14% from specified amount had been reached. As for the remaining part - the government gave permission to use flexible tools like (JI, CDM). Partially the reduction had been obtained due to biomass agreement between government and electricity producers in 1992, where electricity domain gave promise to use 1,4 Mtons of biomass. And some 900 ktons of haulm are applied together with 500 ktons of wood fuels.
UK
According to UK obligations concerning renewable energy this country electricity companies are to produce 10% renewable energy by 2010 and pay fine of 30 £/MWhe for these obligations non- fulfillment. This resulted in pull price drop from 20-25 £/MWhe to 15 £/MWhe, which caused Renewable Energy Certificates trade. The industry experts say British government can implement their policy target plans of 20 % renewable energy for year 2010 only in case if offshore wind and biomass cofiring will be used on a large scale (especially in Wales/England)
European Commission
The FP5 mortgaged 35 M€ per year on biomass among the total renewable energy budget amount. This means that under of FP6 as a whole (duration of 4 years), the amount will make approximately700 M€ with 100..150 M€ for biomass. The specified sum is planned to spend on full conversion chain short or medium term projects. Taking into account the specified sums various companies forwarded to European Commission about 15.000 applications covering various topics related to renewable energy, which will make the commission to apply significant efforts to give preference to some of them
Sweden
This country implements various developments, related to bio energy domain, such as wood pellets use increase. It is shown at pellets production volumes increase to 800 ktons/y, having the power to produce about 1 million tons of pellets per year Taking into account that the country has about 30.000 pellet burners and stoves, the experts point out the level when priced grow and supplies lack is being detected. Nevertheless, most of smaller district plants still use pellets or crush them in pulverized burners.
