Bioenergy

Bioenergy is a common priority of smart specialisation for several regions across EU. Accordingly, in 2016 the smart specialisation platform on energy has supported the creation of an interregional partnership for bioenergy and smart specialisation which is currently working in four priority areas: biofuels, biomass, biogas and knowledge transfer.


This bioenergy partnership is led by the regions of Lapland (FI) and Castile and Leon (ES) and engages the participation of 20 other regions committed to being frontrunners in developing forest-based as well as non-food agriculture-based bioenergy as the basis for sustainable regional growth. In line with the EU goals, bio-energy represents about two-thirds of the renewable energy production in the European Union and is one of the main energy sources contributing to fulfil the 20% objective with renewables for 2020.

With this interregional partnership initiative, participant regions aim to develop common ground for cooperation through the common elaboration of tasks such as mapping, pilot activities and joint investments.
 

Based on the first steps (survey, workshops, etc.) undertaken in the partnership, some specific areas for cross regional collaborations have been identified:
 

• Biomass installations in rural areas/communities
• Biogas installations (materials, cooperatives, etc.)
• Thermal Energy – Heating and Cooling
• Forest management models
• Small scale generation of electricity using pellets and wood chips
• Awareness creation and exchange of best practices

• For more information on Bioenergy, please also visit the webpage of the JRC EU Science Hub on Biofuels and Bioenergy
• Related project: Interreg Europe APPROVE (Advancing Public Participation and stakeholdeR engagement fOr the improVement of renewable Energy policies)

Monitoring reports containing a management report and a progress report prepared by the lead regions are available here: