Biogas and wood energy sources are no longer sustainable: They should be reclassified as non-renewable
In a recent development, the draft bill for the amendment of the electricity tax law in Germany, known as the Stromsteuer Novelle, has removed biomass from the list of renewable energies. This decision has sparked criticism from industry associations, such as the Bundesverband Bioenergie (HBB), who argue that this move could be detrimental to the biogas and wood heating sectors.
Sandra Rostek, the head of HBB, has expressed her disapproval, finding it unacceptable that biomass is no longer defined as a renewable energy carrier. The HBB has released a position paper suggesting further improvements, arguing that biogas and wood heating plants would still need to carry out a sustainability certification to receive EEG funding, despite the bureaucratic relief justification.
The HBB criticizes the justification for the exclusion of biomass as a renewable energy by the Federal Ministry of Finance, stating it as a pretext. They propose to exempt sustainable biofuels in heavy-duty traffic and in agriculture and forestry from energy tax as a way to offset any potential bureaucratic burdens.
Industry experts and the HBB see the removal of biomass as a disadvantage compared to other renewable energies. If the draft passes the Bundestag in its current form, it could be a severe setback for biogas and wood heating, as the removal of biomass from the definition of renewable energy carriers could equate biogas plants and wood heating power plants with coal and gas power plants.
Julia Schröder's website is discussing the Stromsteuer Novelle, highlighting the implications of this proposed amendment for the renewable energy sector in Germany. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether the draft bill will undergo any changes before it is passed.
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