The potential of bioenergy cooperation in the Nordic-Baltic region is to be explored in cross-sectoral networks promoted by the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Council announced at the closing of the BDF Summit in Gdansk on October 26th.
The Nordic Council of Ministers wants to promote cross-sectoral synergies to further the development of bioenergy expertise in the Nordic-Baltic region.
The Nordic-Baltic region has great potential in the development of bioenergy and biomass usage. There is a very effective forestry industry and the use of surplus products from agriculture is extensive. That was among the main points put forward by leading experts at a session on bioenergy organized by the Nordic Council of Ministers at the BDF Summit in Gdansk on October 26th.
The NCM now wants to promote the cross-sectoral cooperation across the region to explore potential synergies between sectors like forestry, agriculture, energy and waste management.
- We must move away from using fossil fuels towards biobased sustainable societies and here in this region we have developed the technology needed to make this move. We have the possibility to meet the challenges and if we can explore these possibilities, we can also help others along this way, said Halldór Ásgrímsson, Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) at the session.
Gustav Melin, CEO of the Swedish Bioenergy Association and President of the European Biomass Association, also sees the Baltic Sea Region as potentially paving the way for a biobased society.
- Bioenergy makes out 69 % of all renewable energy in Europe, much more than wind and solar. Most of this comes from forestry and the Baltic Sea Region has much to offer here and leading know-how in a number of technologies, he stressed in his presentation.
Earlier this year, the Nordic Council of Ministers hosted the conference “Green Growth in the Baltic Sea Region” along with the EU Commission and the Baltic Development Forum.
Now the NCM will explore further possibilities to push the bioenergy agenda along with the Commission. The first workshop will take place in March of 2012 at the European Environmental Agency in Copenhagen in collaboration with the Nordic forestry network under the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Mads Randbøll Wolff
Phone
+45 29 69 29 33
Email
mrw@norden.org