Consideration to highly biodiverse grasslands in sustainability certification and other regulation: implications for bioenergy supply potentials

Research Project, 2016 – 2017

Grasslands and pastures are considered attractive for bioenergy due to assessed large potential and since possible greenhouse gas emissions associated with conversion to bioenergy cultivations are lower than when forests are converted to such cultivations. The binding sustainability criteria for biofuels in the Renewable Energy Directive prohibit the use of raw material from land with high biodiversity value, including grasslands. The aim in this project is to investigate how consideration to highly biodiverse grasslands in sustainability certification and other regulation can influence the biomass supply potential. A review of relevant scientific and regulatory documents will be made with the purpose to: (i) assess the consideration to highly biodiverse grasslands in sustainability certification and other relevant regulation, with focus on the EU policy context; (ii) investigate how highly biodiverse grasslands have been taken into account in estimates of the global biomass supply potential for energy; (iii) compile available information related to grassland whose preservation requires specific management with biomass extraction; and (iv) make recommendations for future bioenergy potential studies as well as for policy and regulation.