Bioenergia ry – the Bioenergy Association of Finland – welcomes the Commission’s initiative to revise EU’s energy security framework. We believe that in addition to the identified focus areas, it is also essential to consider the energy security of: (1) the heating system as a whole, not only electricity and gas supply, and (2) the transport system. We also want to highlight the link of the security framework to EU’s objectives with technological carbon removals.
Energy security of heating systems
Heat accounts for nearly half of the EU’s final energy consumption, yet it remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels and insufficiently addressed in current energy security instruments. Bioenergy provides around 85% of renewable heat in Europe, making it a crucial, almost fully homegrown solution. Biofuels often provide a decentralized, regional energy source that strengthens local employment and bioenergy contributes to electricity generation through combined heat and power (CHP) plants. Its dispatchable, storable, and flexible nature makes it a key asset to maintain energy security, reduce pressure on electricity grids, and ensure continuity of supply across seasons.
It is worth noting that a quick electrification of the heating system also significantly changes the arrangements needed to guarantee a high level of energy security in heating. There are new challenges, such as a higher dependency of the flow of electricity and the related reserve capacities, availability of network capacity, and a reliable flow and storage of low-carbon fuels. Also, in the event of a very quick electrification of heating, operating conditions of bioenergy producers may deteriorate, which again risks posing further challenges to European energy security.
District heating and cooling is a useful platform for integrating multiple energy sources and energy storage into a resilient aggregated energy system. A clear benefit of such a network-type heating system is that its energy security is typically administered by dedicated experts and energy professionals. The role and position of district heating and cooling should therefore be recognised and strengthened in the revised energy security framework.
Energy security of transport
In the EU’s transport system, the share of renewable energy sources is still extremely low: only 10.8 % in 2023 (https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Renewable_energy_statistics). Most of the fossil fuels used are imported, which increases geopolitical risks in EU’s transport. These risks can be mitigated by higher self-reliance. A greater emphasis on electrification and the use of locally produced renewable and synthetic fuels both also support the EU’s climate change mitigation goals. This directly links EU’s energy security to the policies dealing with vehicle standards – are low carbon fuels allowed in new vehicles or not? It is also essential how much administrative costs and political risk the EU will place on the use and production of low carbon fuels.
Link to promotion of Bio-CCUS
Carbon dioxide removal and carbon capture are increasingly discussed in EU’s climate policy. New policies have already been decided, and more are planned for their promotion. Bioenergy with Carbon Dioxide Capture and Use/Storage are technologies that can link technological carbon sinks to energy production in both existing and new plants. Therefore, there is also a clear link to the energy security framework that boils down to the future of bioenergy in Europe – does the EU plan to utilise its large fleet of bioenergy plants or does it only focus on electrification and technologies, such as DACCS?