European Industrial Bioenergy Initiative (EIBI)
In September 2016, the European Industrial Bioenergy Initiative (EIBI) and the European Biofuels Technology Platform (EBTP) were merged to the European Technology and Innovation Platform Bioenergy (ETIP Bioenergy) that bases on new organisational structures and aims to implement the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan of the European Commission and particular its key action No. 8 "Renewable Fuels and Bioenergy".
To ensure a better understanding of the ETIP Bioenergy and its past, but also its present mission, we still leave some important information related to EIBI activities on the current website.
Download the EIBI Implementation Plan for 2013-2017
See below for further details of the EBTP EIBI Working Group, and Implementation Plan 2013-2017 drafting process, and the EIBI team industry members who also contributed to the update.
What is the EIBI?
The EIBI is one of the industrial initiatives under the SET Plan that aim to prioritise and facilitate 'first-of-a-kind' demonstration of innovative 'clean energy' technologies in Europe. The European Industrial Bioenergy Initiative EIBI was officially launched on 15-16 November 2010, following development of a draft EIBI proposal by the EBTP and the EC in 2009, which laid out the planned objectives and scope of the initiative. The draft proposal was originally presented to the European Community Steering Group for Strategic Energy Technologies at a first EIBI Workshop on 26 June 2009.
How is innovation funded under EIBI?
'Industrial Initiatives' bring together the EC, Member States and Industry to collectively face the challenge of funding and prioritising innovative technologies that offer societal benefits, but are not yet established commercially in the energy market.
In December 2013 an Expert study on Financial instruments for the SET-Plan was published and is available on the JRC SETIS website. Following an FP7 call in July 2012, an ERA-NET Plus activity was launched entitled Bioenergy Sustaining the Future (BESTF). A first BESTF call was launched in January 2013. This activity aims to provide funding and support to collaborative bioenergy projects that demonstrate one or more innovative steps resulting in demonstration at a pre-commercial stage. A second BESTF2 call was launched in December 2013.
In March 2014, it was announced that 3 projects will be funded by ERA-NET+ BESTF: a novel technology to simplify gas clean-up; an improved process for production of grid-quality BioSNG; and production of microbial oils from lignocellulosic sugars from straw, and conversion into advanced biofuel.
In November 2013, the EC published the Horizon 2020 Draft Work Programme for 2014-2015 including the draft work programme for Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy. The energy work programme includes B.2.11.: Supporting first-of-a-kind, commercial-scale industrial demonstration projects in the field of competitive low carbon energy. This action aims to establish a sub-facility for making loans to first-of-a-kind demonstration projects in the field of energy or extending guarantees to financial intermediaries who will make such loans. The projects supported will aim to scale up technologies currently at Technology Reference Level (TRL) 6 to TRL 8.
Updated information and links on current Horizon2020 calls for proposals are included on the funding webpage.
Who takes part in the EIBI?
Since 2009, EBTP has helped shape the EIBI in close collaboration with the European Commission and Member States. An EBTP EIBI Working Group provides internal liaison with EBTP members in the SET Plan EIBI Team, and informed the EIBI Criteria Taskforce (which developed the initial criteria for EIBI projects).
The EIBI team includes representatives of EC, Member States and industry who jointly developed an Implementation Plan 2010-2012 setting out priorities for first-of-a-kind demonstration or flagship plants for innovative bioenergy value chains. This was updated in 2014 by the European Industrial Bioenergy Initiative (EIBI) Boosting the Contribution of Bioenergy to the EU Climate and Energy ambitions - Implementation Plan 2013-2017.
What technologies are covered by the EIBI?
The aim of the EIBI is to demonstrate the technical and commercial efficacy of all steps of a value chain (from feedstock through conversion to end product) on a single site, based on technologies that are not yet commercially available and which could be deployed at large scale (thus excluding existing biofuels and heat & power technologies).
Seven "generic" EIBI value chains have been defined covering the main groups of biochemical and thermochemical pathways for conversion of diverse feedstocks (e.g. agriforestry residues, wastes, microbial/aquatic biomass, and energy crops) into advanced biofuels for aviation, marine and road transport end use, and/or advanced bioenergy.
How does the EIBI operate?
In July 2011, a Call for Expressions of Interest in the EIBI was launched. This showed that there are a number of potential demonstration projects across Europe that are ready to meet the EIBI criteria (as well as several more that will be ready in the near future).
To share the latest EIBI developments and gather input from all stakeholder groups, EIBI Conferences were held in 2012 and 2013. An update to the Implementation Plan covering 2013-2015 is awaiting publication.
The main challenge facing EIBI since 2011 has been to secure financing for demonstration and flagship plants. A SET Plan Workshop on financing was held in Brussels on 21 June 2011. This covered the financing of first-of-a-kind demonstration plants for bioenergy, as well as other energy sources (solar, wind, nuclear, etc.). Presentations and further details are available online. Further meetings on potential avenues of funding wee held during 2012-2014.
Progress is now being made with various innovative funding mechanisms having been identified, 3 initial projects being funded under ERA-NET+ BESTF and opportunities for funding of advanced biofuels demonstratos under Horizon2020.
The EIBI Implementation Plan for 2013-2017
A proposal for an update to the implementation plan for 2013-2017 was initially drafted by the internal EIBI Working Group of the EBTP. European Industrial Bioenergy Initiative (EIBI) Boosting the Contribution of Bioenergy to the EU Climate and Energy ambitions - Implementation Plan 2013-2017.
This follows on from the First EIBI Implementation Plan covering 2010-2012. The EIBI Working Group of the EBTP consisted of:
Henrik Erämetsä, Neste Oil, Finland
Markku Karlsson, Finnish Forest Industries, Finland
Véronique Hervouet, Total, France
Anders Lau Tuxen, Novozyme, Denmark
Ingvar Landälv, Chemrec / TU Lulea, Sweden
Pierre Porot, IFP Energie Nouvelles, France
Kai Sipilä, VTT, Finland
Margarita de Gregorio, BIOPLAT, Spain.
The EIBI Working Group reviewed the goal of 4% advanced biofuels by 2020, which was originally stated in the Implementation Plan in 2010. it was recognised that achieving even a modest number of advanced biofuels facilities in the next 6-7 years will require the rapid introduction of stable support measures to boost investment in demonstration and flagship plants.
The draft implementation plan proposals were passed on for comment and approval by the wider SET Plan EIBI team, which includes representitives of Industry, the EC and Member States.
Industry Members of the EIBI Team
Nour Amrani, Novozymes (EBTP), Denmark
Petri Lehmus, Neste Oil (EBTP), Finland
Eva-Katrin Lindman, Fortum (COGEN/Euroheat), Sweden,
Valentin Ruiz Santa Quiteria, Repsol (EBTP), Spain,
Veronique Hervouet, Total (EBTP), France
Markku Karlsson, Finnish Forest Industries (EBTP), Finland
Carmen Millan, Abengoa Bioenergy (EBTP), Spain
Ingvar Landälv, TU Lulea / Chemrec AB (EBTP), Sweden
The EIBI Value Chains
The EIBI covers seven value chains; 4 thermochemical and 3 biochemical.
EIBI thermochemical value chains View at larger size >>
EIBI biochemical value chains View at larger size >>
ERA-NET+ BESTF - Results of first call for proposals: 3 projects to be supported to demonstrate innovative technology for EIBI values chains
The first three BESTF projects were announced in early 2014. Summary information is included below. More detailed information will be added shortly. All 3 projects will commence on 1 April 2014 and continue for 36 months.
1. BioProGReSS
Partners: Göteborg Energi AB, Chalmers University of Technology, TU Berlin, Renewable Energy Technology International AB (Renewtec)
Countries: Sweden, Germany
EIBI Value Chains: 2, 1, 3
Project summary: Demonstration of a novel technology to simplify gas clean-up following biomass gasification. Chemical looping reforming will be used to reform the tars and the olefins directly after the gasifier.
2. KANE
Partners: DONG Energy Thermal Power A/S, Neste Oil Oyj
Countries: Denmark, Finland
EIBI Value chains: 6, 5
Project summary: Demonstration of microbial oil production from lignocellulosic sugars from straw for production of high quality drop-in biofuels, renewable diesel and jet fuel.
3. BioSNG
Partners: Advanced Plasma Power Limited, National Grid PLC, Progressive Energy Ltd, Schmack Carbotech GmbH
Countries: Germany, UK
EIBI Value chains: 2, 3
Project summary: Demonstration of the production of grid quality BioSNG via gasification in a once-through process, without recycle, a minimum number of reactor vessels, at modest pressure and temperature, and with a high rate of heat recuperation.
ERA-NET+ BESTF and BESTF2
A consortium of seven EU Member States and Associated Countries - UK, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland - is implementing a second phase ERA-NET Plus activity entitled Bioenergy Sustaining the Future 2 (BESTF2). This activity will provide funding and support to collaborative bioenergy projects that demonstrate one or more innovative steps resulting in demonstration at a pre-commercial stage.
The BESTF2 competition launched in December 2013 and the deadline for outline proposals is 10th February 2014. Full details, guidelines and important dates can be found at the BESTF2 website.
View BESTF2 Video presentations
The first BESTF competition launched on 7th January 2013 and the deadline for first stage (full) submissions was 27th March 2013. BESTF funds will be used to support bioenergy demonstration projects that fit into one or more of seven EIBI value chains documented in the call guidance.
European Industrial Bioenergy Initiative EIBI Conference 2013
The EIBI Conference 2013 took place at Van Maerlant Conference Room (VM1), Committee of the Regions, Rue Van Maerlant 2, Brussels on 26 June 2013. The event was part of European Sustainable Energy Week EUSEW.
View Presentations and Summary
The first edition of the EIBI Conference in 2012 showed that there is an agreement among the stakeholders that bioenergy will continue to be an important contributor to the energy mix. However, two major concerns were raised by industry and civil society: (i) the need to have a stable regulatory environment, which is a prerequisite for the substantial investments necessary to build sustainable bioenergy plants; (ii) the need for environmental sustainability to be conformed to, including the ILUC aspects.
The second edition of the EIBI Conference 2013, built upon the themes of the previous event, while focusing on the currently most relevant issues. First, it explored the question of sustainability of bioenergy production via innovative EIBI value-chains. Secondly, it examined how bioenergy can bring socio-economic benefits especially in rural areas. Finally, it addressed the difficulties that companies are facing in raising finance for first-of-a-kind advanced biofuel plants and highlighted innovative financial instruments to cope with these high-risk projects in Horizon 2020.
Call for Expressions of Interest 2011 and FP7 Calls in 2012 relating to EIBI
A call for Expressions of Interest for the EIBI was launched on 15 July 2011 and the deadline was extended to 14 October 2011 (from 30 September). In total 52 Expressions of Interest were received, 32 under the thermochemical pathways and 20 under the biochemical pathways. See analysis report on the Outcome of the Call for Expression of Interest carried out by the EIBI Team.
The European Industrial Bioenergy Initiative (EIBI) EoI call provided an opportunity for Europe's bioenergy industrial community to help establish a clear picture of its interest and readiness to participate in new public-private partnerships for demonstration and flagship projects in line with the EIBI specifications.
The aim of the EoI was to help national governments and the European Union to find out in which countries there is a strong interest in EIBI demonstration and flagship projects, and thus also support the estimation of adequate public finding.
Further information and EoI documents on SETIS:
Two topics supporting EIBI were included in the FP7 call 2012 under FP7-Energy-2012-2 and FP7-ERANET-2012-RTD. The deadlines were 8 March 2012 and 28 February 2012.
1) Call FP7-Energy-2012-2: Page 20: Topic ENERGY.2012.3.2.3: Pre-commercial industrial scale demonstration plant on lignocellulosic ethanol (budget: 35 M€)
2) Call FP7-ERANET-2012-RTD, deadline for submission 28 February 2012: Page 45: Topic ENERGY.2012.10.1.1: Era-Net Plus - Bioenergy Demonstration of the European Industrial Bioenergy Initiative (EU Budget: 15 M€)
EIBI Launch 15-16 November 2010
Following meetings in September and October 2010, the EIBI Team (including representatives from industry, Member States and the European Commission) finalised the EIBI Implementation Plan, and the initiative was formally launched at the SET Plan Conference, under the Belgian Council Presidency, on 15th-16th November 2010.
Download EIBI Implementation Plan (309 Kb).
View EIBI presentation by Véronique Hervouet, Chair, EBTP, made at the SET Plan Conference and EIBI launch in Brussels, 15 October 2010 (1.9 Mb).
View a Message of industrial support for EIBI presented by Lars Peter Lindfors, Senior Vice President Technology and Strategy of Neste Oil (1.7 Mb).
Under the guidance and authority of the EIBI team, a Task Force on Selection Criteria, consisting of representatives from EC and Industry, was set up to define eligibility and selection criteria for the EIBI. The Task Force was co-chaired by the EBTP and the EC. A first draft of eligibility and selection criteria was agreed in October 2010.
SET-Plan 2011 Conference and Warsaw Declaration
The SET-Plan 2011 Conference was held on 28-29 November 2011 in Warsaw, Poland as a part of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council.
One of the key outcomes of the conference was a political resolution – the Warsaw Declaration - calling for proper reflection of the SET-Plan technologies in the next financial framework (2014-2020).
In summary, this was a 'commitment' to bring new high performance energy tachnologies to market, such as advanced bioenergy at the industrial scale.
First steps towards a proposal for an EIBI
A document presenting a pragmatic proposal to shape a European Industrial Bioenergy Initiative (EIBI) was originally prepared by the EIBI Working Group of EBTP (formerly known as WG6 Prioritisation) and discussed extensively by the Steering Committee. This discussion document was also made available to Registered Stakeholders for comment.
EIBI Proposal - Executive Summary (178 Kb)
On 22 Nov 2007, the European Commission proposed a plan to accelerate energy technologies for a low-carbon future, the SET Plan. To put the plan into action, European Industrial Initatives on several energy technologies including bioenergy were proposed, with the aim to strengthen energy research and innovation by bringing together appropriate resources and actors in a particular industrial sector. These initatives are to be focused on technologies for which the barriers, scale of investment and risk can best be tackled collectively by the EU, Member States and industry. The initiatives must also demonstrate measurable objectives in terms of cost reduction or improved performance.
The aims of the SET Plan are in line with many of the proposals made in the EBTP Strategic Research Agenda and Strategy Deployment Document, launched in January 2008, which identified demonstration of innovative technologies as a critical step in achieving the EU's ambitious goals for biofuels. During 2008, a newly established EBTP Working Group on Prioritisation WG6 (now renamed the "EIBI Working Group") developed a pragmatic approach to identify and analyse those innovative biofuels and bioenergy technologies that could bring a significant contribution to the ambitious EU objectives for renewables and sustainable biofuels, in addition to existing bioenergy and biofuels pathways.
The outcome of the work clearly indicated that a focus on conversion technologies is not enough. The value chain approach developed by EBTP WG6 stressed that biomass resources and product markets are integral parts of this analysis. As illustrated at the EBTP 2nd Stakeholder Plenary Meeting held in Brussels on 22 January 2009, industry players already active in the development of these pathways and technologies are willing to pursue demonstration and commercial implementation, provided an adequate framework can be developed around public/private partnership to share financing and manage the main risks (feedstock, technology, market, regulatory, and financial).
In 2009, the value chain approach was integrated by WG6 (now renamed the EIBI Working Group) into a broader contribution to the European Industrial Bioenergy Initiative (EIBI) within the EU SET Plan. EIBI was extensively discussed within EBTP, its stakeholders and the EC. The EIBI proposal was also a key item of two workshops organised by the European Commission and a conference organised by the EC and the Swedish Council Presidency:
Workshop 1, 26 June 2009: Proposal presented to the European Community Steering Group for Strategic Energy Technologies, the European Energy Research Alliance and other relevant stakeholders. See stakeholder section of EBTP website for a summary.
Technical Workshop 2, 25th September 2009: Focused on “Eligibility and Project Selection Criteria”. Around 40 technical experts, European Commission staff and representatives of EBTP discussed eligibility and robust selection criteria for projects of the European Industrial Bioenergy Initiative, which are likely to be closer to deployment and larger than the classical Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) projects.
SET Plan Conference, 21-22 October 2009, Stockholm: The 6 European Industrial Initiatives (wind power, solar energy, bioenergy, carbon capture and storage, nuclear power and smart grids) were a major focus of the SET Plan conference, where the EIBI proposal was presented by EBTP Chair, Véronique Hervouet within the parallel session on Bioenergy. The EBTP presentation was complemented by interventions of Hans-Harald Jahn, European Investment Bank, and Ed de Jong, IEA Bioenergy, Task 42 “Biorefineries: Co-production of Fuels, Chemicals, Power and Materials from Biomass”.
On 7 October 2009, the European Commission adopted the communication Investing in the development of low carbon technologies (SET-Plan), calling for an additional €50bn public and private investments in low carbon technologies over the next decade and detailing the technology roadmaps for the Industrial Initiatives. The next steps for all Industrial Initiatives will be discussions between the European Commission and Member States on different political levels during the forthcoming months.
A SET Plan Steering Group Meeting was held on 25 November 2009. Extensive meeting documents are now available for download.
More recent developments are shown at the top of this page.
EIBI: Original Scope and Objectives (as presented in 2009)
The scope of EIBI is on innovative bioenergy value chains which are not yet commercially available (thus excluding current biofuels, heat & power, biogas) and which could be deployed at large scale (large single units or larger number of smaller units).
Key Objectives of EIBI
- Enabling commercial availability of advanced bioenergy at large scale by 2020, aiming at production costs allowing competitiveness with fossil fuels at the prevailing economic and regulatory market conditions, and advanced biofuels covering up to 4 % of EU transportation energy needs by 2020.
- Strengthening EU world technology leadership for renewable transport fuels for diesel and jet engines, serving the fastest growing area of transport fuels, in the world.
Core Activity of EIBI
- Selection and funding of Demonstration and/or Reference plants projects
- Budget and timeline; 6-8 Billion € over 10 years, to fund 15 to 20 demonstration and / or reference plants
Main Outcomes of EIBI
- Developing use in the EU of sustainable biomass resources for bioenergy applications, adjusted to local context.
- Focusing relevant EU public and private R&D capability on strategic objectives validated at EU level.
- Contributing significantly to the creation of green jobs, to locally and sustainably produced energy and to the development of a healthy bioenergy industrial base.
- Stimulating education and training in the related scientific and technological areas, raising the level of competencies and increasing the number of professionals.