The European Commission (EC) has published the EU Strategy for Energy System Integration which provides the framework for the green energy transition across multiple energy carriers, infrastructures, and consumption sectors. Creating smarter and more integrated energy systems will require more innovative initiatives and research-based actions, significant infrastructure investments, as well as a strong cross-sector collaboration in which the European Forest-based Sector Technology Platform (FTP) is ready to join hands.
Energy system integration is introduced by the EC as the coordinated planning and operation of the energy system as a whole, with energy efficiency at its core, and the pathway towards deep decarbonisation of the European economy. It helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the amount of energy needed as well as strengthening the competitiveness of the European economy by promoting more sustainable and efficient solutions across industrial ecosystems related to the energy transition.
FTP welcomes the initiative and effort of the EC in paving the way towards a more efficient and interconnected energy sector, as part of the EU Green Deal roadmap. As a well-integrated value chain with three main sub-sectors: forestry, the woodworking industries and the pulp and paper industries, the forest-based sector has an important strategic role to play as the leading actor in, and enabler of, a sustainable circular bioeconomy, taking into account the smart and sustainable use of forest resources as well as providing a substitute for fossil-based materials and energy.
In line with FTP’s 10 Vision Targets for 2040, the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SIRA) 2030 of the European forest-based sector, published in November 2019, identified for each vision target the most urgent challenges and the research and innovation activities needed to address them. The efficient use of natural resources, including the reduction of energy consumption in biorefineries, as well as providing renewable energy for society, are among the vision targets set by the sector. The SIRA 2030 plays an important role in reaching EU climate and energy policy objectives and the discussion on more ambitious emission reduction targets for 2030.
With its mission to advance the competitiveness and sustainability of the forest-based sector through research and innovation, FTP follows closely with Horizon Europe programme and other related policy developments in terms of taking part in various EU advisory bodies and expert groups as well as advising policymakers on the sector’s RTDI priorities. Among others, FTP has recently joined A.SPIRE, the European Association which is committed to manage and implement the SPIRE Public-Private Partnership dedicated to innovation in resource and energy efficiency enabled by the process industries. In its inputs to the SPIRE roadmap, FTP highlighted the important role of the pulp and paper industries as one of the major recyclers in Europe and suggested to include the pulp and paper as a new sector within SPIRE framework.
With its dedication to a climate-neutral Europe and its ambition to continue growing as a key enabler of the circular bioeconomy, FTP looks forward to working with the EU policymakers and other stakeholders to identify new innovative solutions to improve the efficient use of energy and enhance the use of renewable energy sources. The forest-based sector will continue to be the biggest producer of green electricity and biofuels in Europe.
