Good News from Wed, 20 January, 2010:

Finland wants to direct EU funding for wood-based biofuels

Minister of Economic Affairs Mauri Pekkarinen is a firm supporter of wood-based bioenergy.
European Union funding should be directed specifically for promoting wood-based biofuel technology, rather than raw materials, which also have use in victuals, said the Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs Mauri Pekkarinen in the informal meeting of EU Environment Ministers in Seville, Spain.

According to researches the share of bioenergy from the overall production of energy in the EU could be up to 14 per cent by 2020. Today, some 70 per cent of all renewable energy in the EU is generated from by-products of the forestry and sawmill industry, including bark, sawdust and waste sludge.

The share of renewable energy in Finland is 28 per cent, out of which 70 per cent is forest sourced wood-based bioenergy. Minister Pekkarinen indicated that the Finnish government leans toward excluding grains as a source of energy for biofuel.

– The future of biofuel production should not be based on raw materials which can also be used in victuals, said Minister Pekkarinen.

Finland places new emphasis on advanced second-generation biofuels and biorefineries. According to Pekkarinen the Finnish government is in the process of preparing a renewable transport fuel obligation, which would double the EU target for biofuels to 20 per cent by 2020.

www.tem.fi

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