[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The European Union (EU) Commission is preparing a new 'Renewable Energy Directive' that does not recognize some biomass as renewable energy, and some EU member states such as Sweden and Finland are reportedly opposing this, according to major foreign media on the 16th (local time).
Biomass is a scientific term referring to substances that provide bioenergy. In Brazil, bioethanol, which can be used as fuel, is produced using sugarcane. In this case, bioethanol is bioenergy, and corn is biomass. Biomass refers to living organisms including plant bodies and fungal bodies generated through photosynthesis by plants and microorganisms receiving solar energy, as well as animals that feed on them. It includes various types such as saccharides represented by sugarcane, starches like sweet potatoes and potatoes, fibers including grasses, and woody materials like wood.
The EU plans to exclude some biomass produced from forests from renewable energy, and Finland and Sweden are opposing this.
Biomass accounts for two-thirds of the EU's total renewable energy, indicating its high proportion within the EU. Especially, Finland and Sweden, which possess vast primeval forests, have a high proportion of biomass within the EU.
However, environmental activists argue that all biomass produced from forests should be excluded from the EU's renewable energy classification standards. They point out that cutting down trees to produce bioenergy actually generates greenhouse gases and reduces the carbon dioxide absorption capacity.
As this controversy continues, the EU intends to make the criteria for classifying which biomass is considered eco-friendly energy more stringent.
According to internal documents of the EU Commission, trees from primeval forests are known to be excluded from the biomass criteria. Biomass from primeval forests accounts for 18% of the EU's total biomass.
The Commission plans to unveil a reform bill for greenhouse gas reduction next month, and as part of this, will disclose the revised Renewable Energy Directive. Additionally, the Commission is expected to raise the renewable energy target for 2030 from the current 32% to 40% in the reform bill.
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