INTERNATIONAL BIOENERGY TRADE: EXAMPLES, TRENDS AND BARRIERS OBSERVED BY IEA BIOENERGY TASK 40

The aim of this paper is to present a synthesis of the main developments and drivers of international bioenergy trade in IEA bioenergy task 40 member countries. The use of biomass for energy varies in these countries between a few percent of the national energy supply up to significant shares (e.g. 15-25% in Finland, Sweden and Brazil). In many European countries such as Belgium, Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK and, imported biomass forms already a significant part of the total biomass use (between 21-43%). International bioenergy trade is growing rapidly, far beyond what was deemed possible only a few years ago. For example, wood pellets are currently exported by Canada, Finland and (to a small extent) Brazil and Norway, and imported by Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK. In the Netherlands and Belgium, pellet imports nowadays contribute to a major share to total renewable electricity production. Major drivers for international demand are the large resource potentials and relatively low production costs in e.g. Canada, and high demand for biomass due to various policy incentives in importing countries. However, developing the required logistic infrastructure both in exporting and importing countries is required to access larger physical biomass volumes and to reach other (i.e. smaller) end- consumers. Trade in bio-ethanol is another example of a rapidly growing international market. With the EU-wide target of 5.75% biofuels for transportation in 2010 (and the recently announced target of 10% in 2020), exports from Brazil and other countries to Europe are likely to rise as well.