Context and main objectives Policy and decision makers in the EU
have put energy policy objectives high on the agenda, including
the promotion of the use of biomass as an energy source.
European Community policy aims for a strong increase of
renewable energy in the EU´s overall energy mix (from a little
over 10% today, to 20% by 2020) and a considerable increase of
the share of biofuelsin the transport sector, with a target of
10% of vehicle fuel by 2020. To achieve this increase it is
envisaged in the National Renewable Energy Action Plans, which
have been compiled by the 27 EU countries, that the energy
generated from biomass will nearly double to 2020. Although the
relative importance of biomass in the renewables sector is
expected tp decrease slightly from about two thirds, it will
nevertheless continue to play a very important role within the
renewable sector. Reliable knowledge of the biomass potentials
for energy in Europe is therefore essential. In order to achieve
the challenging European policy targ