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Conference Programme

Reality Check on EU Bioenergy targets, 19 - 20 May 2008, Brussels

Structure of the conference

The conference is designed as a 1,5 day conference, including keynote presentations, work in breakout groups, a panel discussion and a reception after the first conference day to allow further discussion among the participants. The working groups are designed to provide a forum for critical and constructive discussions. Delegates have the opportunity to contribute their views during the working group discussions. For each working group a set of questions will be prepared. The information below gives a first outlook on the issues addressed in each working group and the conference program.

Working Group 1: International Dimension of EU Bioenergy Policies

Questions to be discussed:

How much biomass can be imported that meets EU sustainability criteria for production? Which countries/ regions are most promising as potential importers of those biomass resources?
Do EU sustainability criteria ensure an environmentally friendly and socially acceptable production of biomass in exporting countries?
What are the constraints of guaranteeing imports of sustainably produced biomass in terms of international trade requirements?
What do scenarios imply for the quantity of production that is possible to produce within Europe and biomass that needs to imported?

Expected outcomes:

Conclusions on the quantity of biomass that can be produced inside and outside Europe meeting the EU sustainability criteria and its consequences for the feasibility of EU bioenergy targets.
Identification of trade mechanisms that can support sustainable production of biomass.

Working Group 2: Technologies and pathways of bioenergy production

Questions to be discussed:

What can be a right share of biomass used for the different technologies and pathways given that land restrictions in the European Union limit the amount of available biomass?
What are the future prospects for the 2nd generation biofuel technology?
Does the 10% biofuels target for 2010 support the achievement of the overall renewable target from an energy and cost efficiency point of view?

Expected outcomes:

Recommendations on which bioenergy pathways are the most sustainable and where in Europe they should be promoted taking regional conditions and strengths into account.
To provide a more realistic picture of what can be achieved by 2nd generation technologies and when.

Working Group 3: Bioenergy policy – implementation and best practice on regional level

Questions to be discussed:

How can different policy objectives (environmental protection, food security and biomass for energy supply) combined in an integrated approach? Where are the limitations and how to set priorities?
What are suitable approaches to avoid/solve land use conflicts on the regional level?
Which measures and support schemes could be the most efficient to achieve the national targets?

Expected outcomes:

Recommendations for the development process of national and regional integrated strategies for biomass use.
Conclusions on the applicability of best practise examples for an integrated regional bioenergy strategy in different European regions.

Detailed Programme

DAY one – 19 May 2008

12:00	Registration, Welcome Coffee with fruit an cakes
13:00– 14.30	Session I – Opening and Introduction Opening: Piero Venturi, European Commission, DG Research AGRINERGY- What is it about?: Thomas Dworak, Ecologic [slides] European Bioenergy policy – Recent developments: Paul Hodson, European Commission, DG TREN [slides] Bioenergy as a promoter for sustainable development and innovation in rural areas in Europe: Andreas Pilzecker, European Commission, DG Argiculture [slides] Challenges and downsides of the biofuel target: Christian Hey, European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils (EEAC) [slides]
14:30	Coffee break
15:00 – 17.00	Session II – Working groups Introduction/Background to the working groups (Ecologic), 15 min
	WG 1: International Dimension of EU Bioenergy Policies Moderator: Prof. Johann Swinnen, CEPS Introduction (10 min): Models and limitations to quantify technically and sustainably available biomass potentials: Andre Faaij, Copernicus Institute for sustainable development [slides] Introduction (10 min): Challenges of international biomass trade: Francis Johnson, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) [slides] WG 2: Technologies and pathways of bioenergy production Moderator: Geert Woltjer, LEI Introduction (10 min): Potentials of second generation biofuel technologies: Robert Edwards, Joint Research Centre (JRC) Introduction (10 min): Outlook on biopower technology developments: Herwig Ragossnig, European Biomass Association - AEBIOM [slides] Introduction (10 min): Biomass to energy - environmental priorities: Ayla Uslu, European Environment Agency (EEA) [slides] WG 3: Bioenergy policy – Implementation and best practice on the regional level Moderator: Thomas Dworak, Ecologic Introduction (10 min): Experience from National Biomass Action Plans: Kyriakos Maniatis, European Commission, DG TREN Introduction (10 min): Experiences from Austria: Edita Vagonyte, AEBIOM, Landeskammer für Land- und Forstwirtschaft Steiermark [slides] Introduction (10 min): Experiences from New Member States: Katrin Heinsoo, Estonian University of Life Sciences [slides] Introduction (10 min): Inserting LCA information into tax exemption for biofuels - a swiss example of policy implementation: Mireille Faist, Empa - Materials Science and Technology [slides]
18.00	End of day one, following: Dinner Reception

DAY two – 20 May 2008

9:00	Session III – Reality check - Biomass production in a broader view
	Evaluating bioenergy production - analytical choices, direct and indirect effects: Jan-Erik Petersen, European Environment Agency (EEA) [slides] Outlook on international biomass trade: Theo van de Sande, Directorate General for Development Cooperation (DGIS), Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs [slides] How EU biomass hunger affects developing countries: Rudy Lumuru, Sawit Watch (Indonesia) [slides] Monoculture Tree plantations and "Second generation" agrofuels: Ana Filippini, World Rainforest Movement [slides]
10.15 – 10.30	Coffee break
10:30	Session IV – Report back from first day workshops [slides - WG1, slides - WG3]
11:15	Session V – Concluding discussions and outcomes Chair: R. Andreas Kraemer, Ecologic Panel discussion: Outlook on EU bioenergy targest Conclusions and lessons learned for further research and policy making Panellists: Rudy Lumuru, Sawit Watch, Indonesia Jan Erik Petersen, European Environment Agency (EEA) Nina Holland, Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) Ana Filippini, World Rainforest Movement Theo van de Sande, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS) Jean-Marc Jossart, European Biomass Association - AEBIOM
13.00	End of day two