92002E0690

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0690/02

by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission

(5 March 2002)

Subject: Wood-fired pyrolysis

Although the EU must continue to support and develop renewable sources of energy generation, this must not be done to the overall detriment of the environment. EU and UK funding is currently being used to research further the technologies used to harness biomass energy resources.

What steps has the Commission taken, in line with the precautionary principle, to assess the risks to the local environment created by plants generating liquid biofuels through pyrolysis processes generally, and wood fired pyrolysis with diesel as a supplementary fuel in particular? What is the nature of such risks and how serious are they in respect of health and safety, both for those working with them and for the general public, and for the environment generally?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2002)

Flash pyrolysis technologies producing bio-oil from biomass feedstocks are indeed under development by various companies and several projects have been supported by Community programmes.

The utilisation of bio-oil, a renewable liquid fuel, for energy production results in significant reduction to environmental emissions compared to all fossil fuels and especially coals.

Based on subsidiarity, it is the obligation of any demonstration plant, irrespectively of the type of the biomass conversion technology, to meet all local environmental requirements and emission limits. Furthermore, the engine manufacturers are aware that unless they will develop engines that can combust efficiently and with minimum emissions the bio-oil, their product will never penetrate the market.

The effects on health and safety are also seriously examined both on a European and international level. The technology developers have recognised that these aspects must be carefully addressed and several studies are under implementation. These issues are the subjects (among others) of a thematic network supported by the Fifth Framework Programme on Research and Technological Development (FP5) and a new proposal has been shortlisted for support during the evaluation of proposals submitted in the 14 December 2001 call for FP5.