TY - ABST

T1 - Implementation of voluntary sustainability criteria for forest biomass - a case study for Denmark 2016-2018

AU - Larsen, Søren

AU - Bentsen, Niclas Scott

AU - Stupak, Inge

N1 - Conference code: XXV

PY - 2019/10/5

Y1 - 2019/10/5

N2 - During the last few decades there has been a substantial growth in forest biomass consumption for the Danish heat and electricity sector, but questions about its sustainability have been raised. Since 2016 Danish energy companies have addressed sustainability issues through a voluntary industry-initiated agreement. This agreement introduces sustainability criteria on forest biomass sourcing. We have analysed the Danish energy sector’s biomass sourcing, compliance and deployment of sustainability criteria during 2016-2018 based on public sustainability reports. Additionally, we analysed supply chain levels and feedstock use of Danish medium to large energy companies. Results show that 57 % and 70 % of the biomass sourcing was in compliance with the sustainability criteria in 2016 and 2017 respectively with even larger volumes expected for 2018. Most of the volume is sourced by only a few large companies and wood pellets are sourced in much larger volumes than wood chips. Danish energy companies source woody biomass from different supply chain levels: local to global, but especially from the regional supply chain around the Baltic Sea.The Danish voluntary sustainability criteria have been effective in governing biomass sourcing. Overall, the Danish experience shows it is possible within a short time frame to implement sustainability governance with risk-based criteria on multiple energy companies sourcing solid biomass in the megaton scale. A similar approach has been chosen by the EU and will be implemented from 2021.

AB - During the last few decades there has been a substantial growth in forest biomass consumption for the Danish heat and electricity sector, but questions about its sustainability have been raised. Since 2016 Danish energy companies have addressed sustainability issues through a voluntary industry-initiated agreement. This agreement introduces sustainability criteria on forest biomass sourcing. We have analysed the Danish energy sector’s biomass sourcing, compliance and deployment of sustainability criteria during 2016-2018 based on public sustainability reports. Additionally, we analysed supply chain levels and feedstock use of Danish medium to large energy companies. Results show that 57 % and 70 % of the biomass sourcing was in compliance with the sustainability criteria in 2016 and 2017 respectively with even larger volumes expected for 2018. Most of the volume is sourced by only a few large companies and wood pellets are sourced in much larger volumes than wood chips. Danish energy companies source woody biomass from different supply chain levels: local to global, but especially from the regional supply chain around the Baltic Sea.The Danish voluntary sustainability criteria have been effective in governing biomass sourcing. Overall, the Danish experience shows it is possible within a short time frame to implement sustainability governance with risk-based criteria on multiple energy companies sourcing solid biomass in the megaton scale. A similar approach has been chosen by the EU and will be implemented from 2021.

UR - http://iufro2019.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Anais_Iufro_Final_08_10.pdf

M3 - Conference abstract for conference

SP - 445

EP - 445

T2 - IUFRO World Congress XXV

Y2 - 29 September 2019 through 5 October 2019

ER -