Improving sustainable biomass utilisation in North West Europe (NWE)

With increasing dependency on fossil fuels, biomass is a key to ensure the security of supply of sustainable energy. Biomass currently accounts for around half (44-65%) of all renewable energy in the EU, meeting 6% of the EU’s energy needs. Based on the Renewable Energy Action Plans for NWE Member States in 2010, it is estimated that biomass production for energy in NWE could increase by 69% to 2020, but only if significant improvements to the supply chain are made, e.g. through the energetic use of currently disposed waste streams or the sustainable production of biomass on non-agricultural land.