From target to reality: barriers and policy implications for bioenergy in Italy

This paper represents the position, in the Italian bioenergy framework, of the Federation of Renewable Energy Suppliers (FIPER), which currently includes 90 district heating (DH) plants powered by wood biomass (almost the 90% of Italian plants) and 129 plants of biogas production from agriculture and zoo-technical products Fiper promotes the exploitation of bioenergy in Italy through a sustainable land management, considering also the impact on employment. According to the European targets, Fiper suggests to enhance the contribution of bioenergy for thermal uses in Italy and to reconsider issues underestimated by the national plans and rules, e.g. the increase in cooling demand and the potentiality of efficient biomass DH systems. Fiper has defined measures for promoting efficient DH in harmony with the path towards 100% renewable energy systems and coherently to the economic reality, including a method for ensuring a sustainable and cost-effective use of biomass.