Bundesrat agrees Biomass OrdinanceJürgen Trittin: Another element in the switch to sustainable energy

Today's session of the Bundesrat approved the draft of the Biomass Ordinance submitted by Federal Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin. "The Biomass Ordinance is another important element in the switch to sustainable energy which we have started," said the Minister in Berlin today. "It will trigger investments of several billion Marks in this sector, creating jobs particularly in rural areas and resulting in climate friendly energy production from regenerative raw materials such as wood, other plant wastes, and slurry."

The Ordinance has its roots in the Renewable Energy Sources Act of March last year and regulates which substances are defined as biomass, which technical processes for electricity generation fall under the scope of this Act, and the environmental requirements for the generation of electricity from biomass. The entry into force of the Ordinance - scheduled for June this year - will introduce compensation for biomass-generated electricity of between 17 and 20 pfennigs per kilowatt-hour, depending on the plant's installed capacity. The Bundestag must approve the Ordinance before it can enter into force.

In Germany, bioenergy is considered to have a similar high potential to wind power. Germany is currently world leader in wind power generation. The development of power generation from biomass, however, is about 10 years behind that of wind power. Mr Trittin observed that a definite boost was needed in this sector - "to develop an energy supply which is viable for the future, and to achieve our climate protection targets". Experts estimate that under suitable conditions, by 2010 the use of biomass would allow an annual saving of around 5 to 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. Bioenergy is very versatile: A wide range of materials which at present often entail high costs for their waste management - as is the case with wood products - can in future be used to produce electricity, heat or a combination of both (co-generation).