Cramer, 2008
Testing framework for sustainable biomass
The expectations with regard to biomass as a source of sustainable energy are high. But there are also certain risks attached to the large-scale use of biomass. It may lead to damage to nature and the environment and to detrimental social and economic effects. To ensure that biomass as a source of renewable sustainable energy is produced and processed in a responsible manner the Dutch government wishes to incorporate sustainability criteria for biomass into the relevant policy instruments. In the short term this regards the Dutch subsidy arrangement for electricity production and the obligation for biofuels for road transport. In the longer term the Dutch government wishes to promote a wider application of these sustainability criteria. In preparation for the above policy the Dutch government has set up the project group "Sustainable production of biomass". The task of the project group is to formulate criteria for the production and the processing of biomass in energy, fuels and chemistry. Here it does not make any difference if the biomass originates from the Netherlands, from the EU or outside the EU. In this matter the project group has always consulted the different parties involved, to ensure a broad support base. Also as much as possible consistency with similar initiatives in other EU countries has been sought. This report describes the testing framework for sustainable biomass, as it has been worked out by the project group.
