Final working paper: Development of meaningful statistics for sustainable bioenergy trade and identification of other stakeholder’s initiatives

Abstract

Sustainable management & rational use of natural biomass resources are important drivers for extended (trade) statistics on biofuels. Sustainability criteria & certification of biomass are under development through the EU Biofuels Directive and national initiatives within the EU (UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Finland) as well. Generally, physical traceability is required. Biomass trade for energy is an unrecorded market and involved market parties require transparent information. More comprehensive trade statistics support policy makers, scientific researchers and other stakeholders involved. Renewable sources with stock changes, like solid biofuels & liquid biofuels (IEA Bioenergy Task 40, 2008) are mostly required to be recorded in order to track the growing international trade flows. A good example is the Joint Wood Energy Enquiry, which shows the significance of all cross border wood flows.