Sandra Rostek, Head of HBB, is delighted with today's expected decision on the future of bioenergy and emphasizes: “The tailwind comes at a crucial time for the bioenergy sector! If we want to transform the energy system in the short term in a cost-effective and climate-neutral way, we must utilize the potential of the 10,000 existing bioenergy plants instead of initiating a massive dismantling of our infrastructure. Otherwise, thousands of bioenergy plants will be irretrievably decommissioned in the next few years after their 20-year remuneration period expires!
According to the statements already made public by Energy Ministers Goldschmidt and Willingmann, the resolution to be passed today is essentially about making better use of bioenergy for a cost-effective and climate-friendly supply of electricity and heat in Germany. Against the backdrop of the Power Plant Security Act (KWSG) and the associated plans to increase the use of fossil fuels in the electricity and heating market, the EnMK's motion supports the significantly greater use of flexible biogas plants. In August, Federal Minister Robert Habeck also pointed out the advantages of bioenergy as a flexibility option in the electricity and heating market and announced that he would quickly present a package of measures.
“As the Bioenergy industry, we have repeatedly emphasized in the past, that we can upgrade from 6 gigawatts (GW) today to 12 GW in 2030 in a very short time without having to use additional biomass. While the KWSG talks about the construction of new fossil gas-fired power plants, which will only have to switch to the use of hydrogen after many years, biogas plants and wood-fired CHP plants can supply green electricity and heat immediately and at significantly lower costs than hydrogen,” says Rostek. A study by Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Nürnberg-Erlangen (FAU) also comes to this conclusion.
“In order to leverage the great potential of bioenergy, we must firstly increase the EEG tender volume to 1,800 MW per year for the year 2025. Secondly, the investment subsidy for the flexibilization of biogas plants must be increased to 120 euros/kW for the year 2025. Because there is a lot at stake in terms of energy policy! There is agreement across all party lines regarding the increased use of bioenergy as a guarantor of flexible electricity and heat production. This decision, which is so important for Germany, must therefore no longer be postponed! There must be real prospects for our plant operators as early as the next tendering process in spring 2025,” concludes Rostek.
About the bioenergy associations
Four associations pool their expertise and resources in the field of energy policy in the "Main Bureau Bioenergy": the German Bioenergy Association (BBE), the German Farmers' Association (DBV), the German Biogas Association (FvB) and the German Wood Energy Association (FVH). Together they represent the entire bioenergy sector, from farmers and foresters, plant and machinery manufacturers, energy suppliers to operators and planners. The Bioenergy Capital Office gives the many different players and various technologies in the bioenergy industry a strong common voice in the political arena. Particularly in the electricity and heat sectors, it advocates the energy policy interests of its supporting associations across all technologies. In its contacts with political decision-makers, the Capital City Bioenergy Office can draw on a broad network of supporters and cooperates in particular with the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE)
