The role of policy is fundamental when studying the development of bioenergy in Europe. There are different benefits produced by the use of wood biomass for energy, which have been encouraged through different policies. Particularly relevant to understand these aspects is the concept of externalities, whether positive or negative. At EU and national level, there are different policy bodies that are related to bioenergy, related to energy policy, agricultural policy and environmental policy, which are reviewed and described. Finally, the session introduces to different economic instruments that can be used to implement energy targets and directly affect market development. Also, their use by different countries is discussed.
Chapter 1, Markets and policy. In: Pelkonen, P. et al. eds. (2014) Forest Bioenergy for Europe. What Science can tell us, 4. European Forest Institute. pp 109.[PDF]
Ericsson, K., Huttunen, S., Nilsson, L. J., & Svenningsson, P. (2004). Bioenergy policy and market development in Finland and Sweden. Energy policy, 32(15), 1707-1721. [PDF]
Complementary readings:
Chapter 4. Development of bioenergy trade in four different settings–The role of potential and policies.Thrän, D., Hennig, C., Thiffault, E., Heinimö, J., & Andrade, O. (2014). In International Bioenergy Trade (pp. 65-101). Springer Netherlands. [RG] [printouts]