The hot topics at the moment are climate change, sustainable climate politics and development, globalization, the climate conference and emissions. All these words can be more or less combined with bioenergy. The Minister was requested to share her thoughts on these current issues.

Along new decade we need to check the goals for the bioenergy production and use, if we wish to promote bioenergy. “Wood energy offers great possibilities in heat, power and biofuel production”, says Minister Anttila. “In order to increase the current use we have to create good technical and economical conditions, and make sure that working methods are environmentally sound. To achieve the goals, both carrots and sticks are needed, for example, in taxationof coal use.”

Sustainable ways of working are fundamental

The Bioenergy Promotion project emphasises international cooperation especially in the Baltic Sea Region. As general targets, Minister Anttila sees technology cooperation, expertise exchange, education, and common markets. “Great potential lies on agriculture and there is a lot to learn from each other. I believe we will see a wave of big development soon. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to find a joint sustainable way of working.“

One of the goals of the Bioenergy Promotion project is to disseminate the information about local best practices and cases on national and international level. The Minister sees that many important national scale projects are going on currently. “All this needs to be brought on the international level, too, because we could utilise better and faster exchange of know-how from other countries.“

Criteria providing sustainability

Sustainability criteria has a great importance in the Bioenergy Promotion project. One of the Work packages concentrates on the development of sustainability criteria for biomass production and use. “Discussions on this are going on in the EU, since at the moment the Renewable Energy directive contains sustainability criteria only for liquid biofuel production”, says Minister Anttila. She sees that increasing bioenergy production must not destroy the biodiversity or dispose of forests or wetlands. Excessive administrative burden for concerned parties must also be avoided.

At the time of the interview, the report on requirements for a sustainability scheme for energy uses of biomass other than biofuels and bioliquids, was expected from the Commission. It was published in the end of February.

In order to promote the use and production of bioenergy both changes of attitudes and dissemination of information are needed. Both consumers and the authorities must be active. “More than 90% of the energy production in Helsinki is based on fossil fuels, mainly burning coal. Consumers could consider alternative choices and favour renewables. Likewise the state authorities as well as council policymakers must think about the future and make definition decisions in favour of renewables,” says Anttila.

Enhancing competitiveness

To enhance the competitiveness and export possibilities of bioenergy, one option is to invest in technology. ”We need to scale up cooperation within the country in order to reach international markets. Collaboration between farmers, researchers as well as technical and marketing experts is vital,” says Minister Anttila. In addition, she points out that the smaller actors on the field must not be forgotten. Their chances to enter the markets have to be ensured as it also enhances competitiveness.

All in all, technology development, cooperation and communication and exchange of expertise, must all be promoted in the new decade. We have to act together. As for the future, Minister Anttila visions Finland soon to be in the front line of bioenergy knowhow and sustainable use of natural resources.

Elina Ojala, Motiva

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry