Theme 4: Sustainable bioenergy

The bioenergy sector faces major constrains to growth and competitiveness. Some key barriers identified are: i) high production costs that make it difficult to compete with fossil-based alternatives; ii) limited availability of certified feedstock hindering biogas and biomethane plants from classifying their output as renewable energy; iii) slow development of innovative bioenergy technologies, and iv) slow adoption of advanced biofuels; v) growing energy insecurity, which underlines the urgent need for diversified and locally sourced renewable energy solutions.

Solutions should partially or totally solve one or more of the following issues:

• Increase the availability and mobilisation of certified local biomass for renewable bioenergy production.
• Reduce the production cost of bioenergy.
• Bridge research and innovation (R&I) with market deployment, particularly for advanced biofuels in the transport sector (road, aviation, and marine applications).
• Improve access to piloting and upscaling facilities, and to technology.
• Adequate funding and other instruments to accelerate deployment of demonstrators and market uptake.

We are looking for ideas, concepts or prototypes at different stages of development, close-to-market or market-ready solutions, to address –but not limited to– the following areas:

• Certification and compliance tools, such as practical systems, services, or trainings that make it easier for feedstock suppliers and producers to meet sustainability requirements.
• Solutions for next generation biorefineries combining energy, fuels, and materials processes to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and enable circular business models.
• Solutions that lower barriers for demonstration projects, such as piloting and scale-up initiatives, shared infrastructure, or innovative funding models to accelerate market deployment.
• Advanced transport biofuels and sectoral innovation enablers, such as novel technologies, new partnerships, or digital tools that make biofuels for road, aviation, and maritime transport more competitive, sustainable, and attractive.