Foreword
This month there is a lot of
news from the policymakers over at the European Union, which has in some cases
proved controversial. The EU’s ENVI committee has recently voted to completely
phase out crop-based biofuels by 2030, an issue that remains controversial as
those who oppose crop-based biofuels believe their effect on land use is too
great for the amount of greenhouse gas mitigation they achieve, while their
supporters argue that, with proper management, land-use change can be minimised
while still delivering significant emissions reductions. The vote was a close
one, with the motion to phase out crop biofuels passing by 32 to 29, with the
proposed legislation surpassing previous drafts of the revised Renewable Energy
Directive, which had proposed a cap, but not phase-out, of crop biofuels. The
vote wasn’t all bad news, however...
Other News this Month Includes:
Policy
- EU ENVI committee backs biomass power, snubs
crop-based biofuels
- EU's separation of land use and bioenergy
issues prompts anger
- Nigeria to build crop processing plant to
reduce dependence on oil
- Letter argues biofuel palm oil ban doesn't
accomplish aims
Markets
- Microbial fibre company begins trading
- AHDB analysis predicts continuing high UK
wheat prices
- Drax confirms sale of Billington Bioenergy
- Enviva has strong third quarter
Research & Development
- Research identifies sorghum varieties with
higher ethanol yield than maize
- Report finds 27 million tonnes of
bio-material available for use in Scotland
- Metsä bioproduct mill comes online
- Chinese farmers need trust to supply straw
for biomass power
Wood & Crop
- 2016 a record year for Enplus wood
certification scheme
- Update on US pellet production
- Port of Tyne receives record pellet delivery
Events
Feedstock Prices