The EU is facing crises of competitiveness, dependency and fossil energy. The European Commission will publish proposals for several key climate and energy legislations this year. Bioenergia ry – the Bioenergy Association of Finland – proposes key principles on how to integrate biogenic carbon capture in the package.
Europe’s energy system is still heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels. In 2024, some 57 % of EU’s energy was imported. The war in Iran and recent unpredictable geopolitics underline the need to cut dependencies on fossil fuels and autocracies. This should also enhance EU’s climate policy. In 2026, the European Commission will publish proposals for several key legislations to implement the recently updated European Climate Law, which entered into force in April.
The EU Commission assessed in 2024 that European climate targets require significant amounts of carbon dioxide removal both naturally and with technologies. Biogenic carbon dioxide capture, utilisation and storage (Bio-CCUS) and biochar systems enable permanent carbon dioxide removal and are therefore well-suited to a transition that aims at ambitious climate targets and enhances a strong and self-sufficient industrial base in Europe. Bioenergy is EU’s largest renewable energy source and up to 95 % domestic. EU’s industrial roundwood production exceeds domestic consumption.
Bioenergia ry – the Bioenergy Association of Finland – calls for a clear and predictable framework on how to integrate Bio-CCUS and biochar in EU’s energy and climate policy architecture. In the forthcoming EU legislative package:
- Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies and biochar can offer multiple sectors opportunities for direct emissions reductions, removal of CO2 from the atmosphere, or the use of sustainable CO2 as a feedstock for various products. The EU regulatory framework should support the emissions reduction pathway in a technology-neutral manner. Decisions on where specific technologies are applied should be left to the market.
- Permanent and reliable carbon removal must have a prominent role compared with temporary and uncertain removals in the current LULUCF sector.
- Bio-CCS, biochar and other solutions delivering permanent carbon removal must be recognised in a strong and predictable EU Emissions Trading system
- A European trading system must be accompanied by complementary national policy measures in line with each Member State’s respective capabilities.
- Carbon removal and the use of sustainable CO2 must have access points to and preferential treatment in the common European CO2 transport infrastructure.
The EU Commission is expected to present a revision of the EU ETS for the next decade in July. Other parts of the European energy and climate architecture, such as national targets and flexibilities, renewable energy, energy efficiency and CO2 transport infrastructure, are expected later this year.
On May the 5th 2026, Bioenergia ry – the Bioenergy Association of Finland with the co-organizers VTT and Finnish Energy and event partners are holding the third edition of the conference series on Bio-CO2 Use and Removal in Helsinki. The conference gathers international experts of carbon capture and carbon removal to Kulttuurikasarmi in the centre of Helsinki.
More information:
Harri Laurikka, Managing Director, Bioenergy Association of Finland, Tel. +358 40 1630 465
Erika Laajalahti, Sector Manager, Carbon Removal and CCUS, Bioenergy Association of Finland, Tel. +358 44 753 0700