The Campaign

It’s not always easy to understand where the EU stands in terms of renewables. This is particularly true when considering the case of bioenergy: who knew that biomass is the first European energy source generated on the continent, surpassing coal, or that according to Bioenergy Europe’s estimations, made up to 62% of the total share of clean energy produced in Europe in 2020 –  with 131.489 kilotonnes of oil equivalent (ktoe)?

Sounds like great news, but can you visualise it? Let’s take the calendar year and break it down according to statistics on European energy consumption (Bioenergy Europe’s predictions): in 2021, Europe relies on fossil and nuclear energy from January 1st to October 8th, for a total of 282 days. From then until the 12th November, Europe is fueled by renewables for a total of 35 days! Then, until the end of the year, bioenergy alone contributes with 49 days!

This means that from November 13th until December 31st, Europe could exclusively rely on bioenergy for all of its energy needs! The European Bioenergy Day, falling on 13th November this year, therefore marks a symbolic date that falls earlier and earlier each year, at both EU and national levels!

Definitions

The definitions of bioenergy, other renewable energy and non-renewable energy are used in accordance with Eurostat’s methodology. The term non-renewable energy encompasses all fossil fuels (natural gas, crude oil and other hydrocarbons, solid fossil fuels), nuclear and non-renewable wastes. Other renewable energy refers to hydropower, geothermal, wind, solar and ocean energy, while bioenergy comprises all solid biomass, biogas, biodiesel, bioethanol, other liquid biofuels and renewable waste (municipal wastes), using multiple counting on biofuel as defined in Directive 2009/28/CE.

The Bioenergy Europe Network

Bioenergy Europe is the common voice of the bioenergy sector with the aim to develop a sustainable bioenergy market based on fair business conditions. Bioenergy Europe is a non-profit, Brussels-based international organisation founded in 1990 that brings together 41 associations and 143 companies as well as academia and research institutes from across Europe.

The European Pellet Council (EPC) is an umbrella organisation of Bioenergy Europe founded in 2010, aiming at representing the interests of the wood pellet sector and at ensuring its sustainable development at European level. EPC members are made up of 16 national pellet associations and related organisations from 16 countries, and 3 observing members.

European Bioenergy Day Partners

The European Bioenergy Day campaign is locally represented by over 30 national bioenergy associations and supported at EU-level by a dozen sectorial organisations involved in the development of bioenergy throughout the value chain:

About the campaign

The campaign is powered by Bioenergy Europe and relayed across Europe by both national and international partners supporting the belief that bioenergy is more than a renewable energy source, it is also a reliable path that will lead Europe to achieve its renewable energy transition in the shortest span of time.