Bioenergy Europe

05/06/2026

🔥 2025 was the EU’s worst on record.

More than 1 million hectares burned, and around 43 megatons of CO2 were released back into the atmosphere.

That’s why today, on , we’re resharing the trailer for .

The full documentary and three local stories from , and focus on what can still be done before the next headline, reducing fuel build-up, strengthening forest resilience, and supporting the people and systems that make prevention possible.

Watch the documentary, the trailer and the local stories: https://bioenergyeurope.org/fuel-the-solution/

04/06/2026

🔥 are getting closer to where people live. In peri-urban forests, a spark can turn into a fast-moving fire when dead, dry vegetation builds up.

🏛️ This story rom Attica ( ) shows how the Green Biomass Points approach helps municipalities organise collection and handling at scale. With a local route to chipping and bioenergy use, what was a fire hazard becomes a usable resource, supporting regular maintenance instead of one-off clean-ups.

🔗 Find out more: https://bioenergyeurope.org/fuel-the-solution/

Made by Compagnia delle Foreste with the participation of Nikos Damatis, Ελληνική Εταιρεία Ανάπτυξης Βιομάζας - Hellabiom, Christos Aidonis, Mayor of , Athanasios Reppas, Forest Policy implementation of Attica.

03/06/2026

🔥 Last year was the EU’s worst fire season on record.

More than 1 million hectares burned in 2025, beating the previous record in 2017.

As Europe enters a new fire season, we need to focus on what reduces risk before the next emergency.

That’s why we brought the documentary “Fuel the solution, not the fire” to the European Parliament, hosted by MEP Sakis Arnaoutoglou.

Three local stories from Attica, Tuscany and Catalonia show what prevention looks like on the ground, before the next big fire hits.

After the screening, we held a panel on prevention and how sustainable forest management can reduce fuel build-up and strengthen forest resilience, with Jérémie Geelen (Bioenergy Europe), Hélène Koch (CEPF), Josep Milà-Puigdomènech (EUSTAFOR), moderated by Irene di Padua.

📰 Press release: https://bioenergyeurope.org/fuel-the-solution-not-the-fire-premieres-at-european-parliament/

▶️ Watch the documentary and stories: https://bioenergyeurope.org/fuel-the-solution/

02/06/2026

🔥Fire season is back🔥

And once again, the question is whether we only react when flames are already on the horizon, or whether we invest in what reduces risk beforehand.

This morning we’re releasing the trailer of "Fuel the solution, not the fire: stories about wildfire prevention and biomass valorisation".

The videos follow local voices from Attica, Tuscany and Catalonia, showing what prevention looks like in practice, from reducing fuel build up and improving landscape resilience to building the local skills and systems needed to act early.

Later today, the full documentary will be premiered at the European Parliament, hosted by MEP Sakis Arnaoutoglou. After the screening, we will hold a discussion on fire prevention and the synergies with bioenergy, with speakers including Jérémie Geelen (Bioenergy Europe), Hélène Koch (CEPF), Josep Milà (EUSTAFOR), moderated by Irene di Padua (Bioenergy Europe).

Watch the trailer and stay tuned for the full release after the event


Avebiom Ελληνική Εταιρεία Ανάπτυξης Βιομάζας - Hellabiom AIEL - Associazione Italiana Energia dal Legno FIPER

27/05/2026

What happens when policymakers and industry meet where technologies are actually tested?

At Stûv’s facilities, Bioenergy Europe and representatives from the European Commission’s DG ENER exchanged views on the ongoing revision of Ecodesign and Energy Labelling for solid-fuel local space heaters.

From laboratory testing to real-world implications for consumers, the discussion helped connect policy ambitions with the practical realities of appliance development and deployment.

As the revision moves forward, technical exchanges like this matter. Building effective and workable rules starts with understanding how technologies perform in practice and how they can continue to support affordable, efficient renewable heating.

🔎 Read more about the visit:
https://bioenergyeurope.org/bioenergy-europe-and-stuv-host-dg-ener-for-technical-exchange-on-ecodesign-and-energy-labelling/

On 21 May, Bioenergy Europe and Stûv welcomed representatives from the European Commission’s DG ENER to Stûv’s facilities for a technical exchange on the ongoing revision of Ecodesign and Energy Labelling requirements for solid-fuel local space heaters.

22/05/2026

Yesterday, Bioenergy Europe and Stûv welcomed representatives from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER) to STÛV’s facilities for an exchange on Ecodesign and Energy Labelling for solid-fuel local space heaters.

The visit helped connect EU policy discussions with the technical reality of appliance design, testing and performance assessment. Especially, the tour of STÛV’s laboratory provided a clear understanding of upcoming technological developments in the sector.

Key points discussed included:

🟢future requirements and environmental performance
🟢how to keep efficient renewable heating solutions affordable for consumers

As the revision of Ecodesign and Energy Labelling progresses, constructive exchanges between industry and policymakers like this are essential to build a framework that is effective and achievable in practice.

Thank you to the representatives from DG ENER for the engagement and to the STÛV team for hosting this valuable visit.

21/05/2026

19/05/2026

Energy communities can lead the energy transition by building on what they already have.

Ispaster, a small town in the Spanish Basque Country, has combined biomass district heating with rooftop solar PV, electric mobility and energy sharing to reduce fossil fuel dependence and keep more value in the community.

The biomass used in the system is sourced locally and comes from sustainable forest management practices, turning nearby resources into reliable renewable heat.

The results are concrete:

💚Average energy costs dropped from 19.4 c€/kWh to 12.4 c€/kWh

💚Emissions fell from 303 g CO₂/kWh to just 16.4 g CO₂/kWh

Biomass brings an essential element to the energy community: stable, dispatchable heat that supports the system when and where it is needed. Hybrid renewable energy communities that rely on local realities are more resilient.

The project was also recognised with the Covenant of Mayors Award under the HeatPlan for Cities and Heat Coalition initiatives.

📖 Discover the Ispaster model here:
https://eu-mayors.ec.europa.eu/en/com-munity-stories/energy-community-ispaster-model-small-towns

18/05/2026

In a letter sent yesterday to President von der Leyen and relevant Commissioners, the Board of Bioenergy Europe urges Europe to fully recognise the contribution of sustainable bioenergy in addressing Europe’s energy security and shaping future legislative frameworks.

15/05/2026

📌 Last week, Bioenergy Europe joined the Irish Bioenergy Association - IRBEA’s National Bioenergy Conference in Ireland

🔎 It was a great opportunity to exchange with industry representatives and local stakeholders on the role of in Europe and .

Find out more on Europe's contribution to the event https://bioenergyeurope.org/renewable-heat-in-focus-at-irbea/