International policy development of biomass market

The biomass market has also been developed through the support of national governments and international organizations. In the second half of the last century, the social and ecological problems of the waste and energy sectors were increasingly evident on a global scale. During the oil crisis of 1973, the dependence of the 'western world' external fossil fuels was noticeable to everyone.

The UN Conference in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 is considered a milestone for a response to global environmental problems. In 2005 the Kyoto Protocol went into effect. It set binding commitments for industrialized countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. In 2008 the European Union Climate and Energy Plan assumed inter alia 20/20/20-company goals listed for green economic growth. One of the objectives is to come for 2020, 20% of total energy consumption from renewable sources. The Netherlands requires an increase to 14%. The European member states have developed their own policies and National Action Plans for Renewable Energy to meet the targets. Biomass is thereby considered as the main source of renewable energy. To achieve the set objectives, the share of energy from biomass should increase sharply. Heat production from biomass is expected to rise by 27 Mtoe between 2010 and 2020. Based on the European Member States' National Action Plans for Renewable Energy has calculated an overall increase of biomass energy of 210 Mtoe (2350 TWh).

Currently over Europe many power plants under construction in wood chips, pellets and other biomass. For example, in Finland and the Baltic states will include the use of wood chips for district heating strongly. Apart from the EU are increasingly in countries, including for example, China and South Korea on the implementation of ambitious plans in the area of biomass for energy production.

After catastrophic nuclear accident at Fukushima in Japan in 2012 is 25 years already shut down its nuclear power plants. Germany has waived within ten years of all nuclear power plants. Germany currently generates 20% of its electricity from nuclear (Netherlands 4%, EU 30%). The global political ambition to boost renewable energy production ensures continued growth of the biomass market.