Welcome to the enercoast project designed to boost bioenergy in the North Sea Region. The task is ambitious but the potential is high.
“The EU currently meets 4% of its energy needs from biomass. If it made full use of its potential, it would more than double biomass use by 2010 (from 69 mtoe in 2003 to about 185 mtoe in 2010) – while complying with good agricultural practice, safeguarding sustainable production of biomass and without significantly affecting domestic food production“ (Biomass Action Plan SEC(2005) 1573). As part of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan the biomass objectives seek to attain “a diversification of Europe’s energy supply, increasing the share of renewable energy by 5% and reducing reliance on imported energy from 48 to 42% (offering) direct employment for up to 250-300 000 people, mostly in rural areas.”
For these targets to be reached a wide range of policy, infrastructure and market initiatives need to succeed. In respect of the biomass targets the Commission has highlighted the need for supply chain improvement in its Action Plan.
Enercoast puts bioenergy targets into a regional context. The key aims of the project are to
- Reduce regional dependency on imported energy through activation of domestic resources
- Intensify co-operation between producers of biomass, waste management and energy infrastructure authorities and stakeholders
- Diversify the deployment of alternative bioenergy resources in respect of environmental criteria
- Boost regional bioenergy production through enhanced supply chain economics
- Strengthen the energy co-operation within the Region’s coastal societies.
- Deliver a clear North Sea regional contribution to the EU renewable energy target.
The project running time is 2008-2012 – four years for an ambitious agenda.
