Bioenergy Debate in the Federal Council: Bavarian motion rightly calls for urgently needed adjustments to the EEG
Berlin.A motion by the Bavarian state government to make greater use of bioenergy to achieve climate protection targets is being discussed in the Federal Council of Germany recently. Primarily the motion focuses on proposed amendments to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), which are intended to preserve and utilize the potential of bioenergy and adapt it to the needs of the future. Another motion submitted by Schleswig-Holstein shares the demands and focuses explicitly on improvements for biogas and biomethane.
Berlin, March 22, 2024: Sandra Rostek, Head of the Hauptstadtbüro Bioenergie, welcomes the initiative of the Countries of Bavarian and Schleswig-Holstein and emphasizes: "In the current discussions about bioenergy, there is all too often talk of restrictions so sustainable potential is artificially reduced. At the same time, politicians are incomprehensibly risking to postpone the coal phase-out and consolidating a fossil future through long-term natural gas supply contracts. It is therefore absolutely right to use bioenergy as a problem solver where its specific strengths lie: In the generation of flexible energy, in applications that are difficult to electrify or in the provision of negative emissions."
Among other things, the Bavarian motion calls for an increase in the tendering volume in the EEG for biomass to 1,200 MW per year, an increase in the EEG maximum values, the promotion of flexible electricity and heat supply and the potential for the use and storage of CO2 from biomass. The application submitted by the state of Schleswig-Holstein addresses urgently needed improvements for biogas and biomethane and emphasizes their relevance for the heat transition in rural areas.
Rostek appeals to the state representatives to support Bavaria's motion: "If we really want to master the energy transition, we have to use all renewable technologies with their explicit strengths. We cannot ignore secure and flexible electricity generation from biogas in the power plant strategy, oft he German Ministry for Economics and Climate, nor should we unnecessarily and ideologically risk relevant sustainable potential in the National Biomass Strategy. Otherwise, we will not only jeopardize existing energy generation from biomass, but also irrevocably prevent the rapid defossilization of our energy system."
A detailed list of the proposed amendments to EEG 23 from the Hauptstadtbüro Bioenergie has also been available on the website since October last year.
About the Bioenergy Associations
In the "Hauptstadtbüro Bioenergie", four associations combine their expertise and resources in the field of energy policy: Bundesverband Bioenergie e.V. (BBE), Deutsche Bauernverband e.V. (DBV), Fachverband Biogas e.V. (FvB, German Biogas Association GBA) and Fachverband Holzenergie (FVH). Together, they represent the entire bioenergy sector, including farmers, foresters, manufacturers, energy suppliers, operators, and planners. The capital office Hauptstadtbüro Bioenergie gives the many different stakeholders and various technologies in the bioenergy industry a unified strong voice in dealing with policymakers. Especially in the electricity and heat sectors, it advocates across technologies for the energy policy interests of its member associations. When engaging with political decision-makers, the capital office can draw upon a broad support network and cooperates particularly with the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE).
Contact
| German Renewable Energy Federation(BBE) Bernd Geisen managing Director Tel. +49 2 28 / 810 02 59 E-Mail: geisen@bioenergie.de | German Biogas Association (FvB) Jörg Schäfer Political Communication Tel. +49 30 / 2758 179 15 E-Mail: Joerg.schaefer@biogas.org |
| German Farmers’ Association (DBV) Axel Finkenwirth Press Tel. +49 30 /31904 240 E-Mail: presse@bauernverband.net | Fachverband Holzenergie im BBE (FVH) Gerolf Bücheler Managing Director Tel. +49 30 / 2758 179 21 E-Mail: buecheler@bioenergie.de |