Agriculture & Land Management
Our Work
Latest in Bioenergy
-
Ensuring the carbon sustainability of biomass
Ensuring the carbon sustainability of bioenergy requires a new approach in EU policy. This IEEP report spells out a different pathway to the one proposed by the European Commission in the recently released “winter package”.
-
Biofrontiers – sustainability critical to the development of advanced biofuels
Adherence to effective and workable sustainability criteria is an essential requirement when using public support to incentivise advanced alternative fuels.
-
Understanding the consequences of changing biomass demand for energy
Understanding the consequences of increased biomass demand for energy on the environment is central to the development of future policy on renewable energy in Europe. This study seeks to help answer this need by modelling different levels of biomass demand for energy and the consequences for land use and forest based industries.
-
The cascading use of woody biomass in the EU – challenges, opportunities and policy solutions
Improving the resource efficient use of wood through cascading the resource from one use to another, requires action throughout the wood flow. Current efforts focus on recovering and re-using waste wood but more could be done with the production and utilisation of wood processing residues and improving the balancing between the material and energy use of wood.
-
Mapping study on the cascading use of wood products
Promoting the cascading use of wood through policy is one approach to improve resource efficiency and increase the overall availability of wood for use in a variety of sectors.
-
New report launch: Call for a new vision for responsible renewable energy with a clear European dimension
Claude Turmes MEP hosted an event launching both IEEP’s report and a debate on the future of renewable energy in Europe. In the our report IEEP present how a resource efficient energy system might be delivered in a way that minimises impact on biodiversity and the wider environment.
-
New report: delivering low carbon transport fuels post 2020
How should EU policy support the transition to low carbon transport fuels post 2020? A new IEEP led report argues that future policies should be differentiated to tailor support towards specific objectives and technologies that offer the greatest potential for a low carbon future.
-
New report is out: delivering low carbon transport fuels post 2020
How should EU policy support the transition to low carbon transport fuels post 2020? A new IEEP led report argues that future policies should be differentiated to tailor support towards specific objectives and technologies that offer the greatest potential for a low carbon future.
-
How to stimulate a bio-economy based on waste? – A study for the UK Government
Waste resources have the potential to provide a core component of developing bio-economies across the globe. A new IEEP report reviews how waste has been incorporated into existing bio-economy strategies, and the conditions that have enabled this.
-
Conclusion on ILUC in sight
After five years of discussion, a landmark moment has been reached whereby the indirect land use change (ILUC) impacts of biofuels almost certainly will be addressed in EU law.
-
Building a high value bioeconomy in the UK: opportunities from waste
The UK is exploring opportunities to develop a high value bioeconomy based initially on waste. IEEP is helping to identify international best practice examples in order to maximise the environmental and economic benefits of this new Government initiative.
-
Space for energy crops – An assessment on the potential contribution of Europe’s energy future
The overall energy potential that can be produced from growing dedicated energy crops on ‘spare’ land in the EU is low. This new report explores the potential for the additional production of energy crops in Europe on land not already used for food production, forestry, or providing other important services, and assesses some of the challenges associated with increasing output.
-
Press release - Biofuels don’t deliver but bioresources have promise
Biofuels produced from conventional agricultural crops deliver only limited reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and compete for limited supplies of land.
-
Shifting away from conventional biofuels
The UK has ample potential to use wastes and residues for advanced biofuels and create jobs in this emerging industry – but safeguards are key to ensure this is done in an environmentally sustainable way.
-
The sustainability of advanced biofuels in the EU
Using wastes and residues for biofuels has many advantages. But ensuring sustainability and including safeguards in EU legislation are critical issues.
-
Alternative means of reducing CO2 emissions from UK road transport
Up to 2020 greater use of renewable electricity is the leading alternative to biofuels to reduce the carbon intensity of car and rail transport fuels. To realise this potential requires a mix of responses, including: increasing the decarbonisation of existing transport fuels; improving the energy efficiency of vehicles; and changing the way vehicles are used.
-
Addressing ILUC? The European Commission’s proposal on indirect land use change
The European Commission’s proposal on indirect land use change – what’s in it for mitigating emissions? Read IEEP’s latest Biofuel ExChange briefing.
-
Biofuels and Agricultural Commodity Prices: A Review of the Evidence Base
EU biofuel use will increase the global prices of agricultural commodities, most notably oilseeds and vegetable oils. This requires close attention by policy makers.
-
Mobilising Cereal Straw in the EU to Feed Advanced Biofuel Production
This IEEP report, commissioned by Novozymes, considers the existing barriers, environmental risks and opportunities and the potential agricultural policy stimuli needed in order to mobilise cereal straw for advanced biofuel production in the EU.
-
Responsible Bioelectricity – Renewables Obligation Consultation Response
The Renewables Obligation (RO) is the UK’s keynote policy for the support of renewable electricity; but currently it fails to reflect the diversity of bioenergy feedstocks. IEEP is calling on the UK government to amend the RO’s bands to allow elevated support – an ‘environmental bonus’ – for the most environmentally responsible bioenergy solutions.
Related
-
Developing a sustainable future for biofuels
Disseminating knowledge and informing the debate around the future of biofuel policy in the EU.
Highlights
-
Ensuring the carbon sustainability of biomass
Ensuring the carbon sustainability of bioenergy requires a new approach in EU policy. This IEEP report spells out a different pathway to the one proposed by the European Commission in the recently released “winter package”.
-
Understanding the consequences of changing biomass demand for energy
Understanding the consequences of increased biomass demand for energy on the environment is central to the development of future policy on renewable energy in Europe. This study seeks to help answer this need by modelling different levels of biomass demand for energy and the consequences for land use and forest based industries.
-
The cascading use of woody biomass in the EU – challenges, opportunities and policy solutions
-
New report: delivering low carbon transport fuels post 2020
-
How to stimulate a bio-economy based on waste? – A study for the UK Government
-
Biofuels and Agricultural Commodity Prices: A Review of the Evidence Base
-
Mobilising Cereal Straw in the EU to Feed Advanced Biofuel Production