European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-plan)
European Industrial Bioenergy Initiative (EIBI)
Tenth EIBI Team Meeting – 10 October 2012
DRAFT Summary of main discussion
1. Introduction
The meeting was chaired by Virginie Rimbert (VR) in the morning and by Bruno Schmitz
(BS) in the afternoon. VR welcomed the team members and especially Megan Cooper
who is the coordinator of the ERA-NET+ project "BESTF" and replaced Chris Dowle for
this meeting, and Emmanuel Desplechin who replaced Anders Lau Tuxen for this
meeting. As Anders Lau Tuxen will change position in Novozymes, the EBTP will inform
the Team about his official replacement shortly.
The minutes of the 9th EIBI Team meeting held on 3 July 2012 were adopted including
the comment received from Franco Cotana (IT) before the meeting. The agenda of the 10th
EIBI Team meeting was also adopted.
2. EIBI Conference 2013
Carlos Alberto Fernández López (ES) and Birger Kerckow (DE) prepared a first draft
agenda for the 2013 EIBI Conference which was presented to the Team.
After discussion, it was agreed to:
• Start at 10:00 and finish at 16:30 in order to allow the participants to travel back
and forth in 1 day.
• Shorten the opening session (30 min) with only 1 speaker while including time for
questions & answers.
• Limit the conference to 2 sessions. One session will be focused on the "financing
of flagship plants" including the policy and regulatory framework. For the second
session, several options were brought forwards: 1) long term R&D needs and
priorities together with their implementation modalities (based on the outcome of
the workshop to be organised by EERA), 2) industry perspective/strategy for the
deployment of advanced biofuels within the context of the bioeconomy, and 3)
end-users needs.
• Organise the EIBI Conference in June or alternatively in September/October
2013.
An ad-hoc working group composed of Carlos Alberto Fernández López (ES), Birger
Kerckow (DE), Carmen Millan (EBTP) and Markku Karlsson (EBTP) will revise the
agenda and propose a date, the content of the second session, speakers for all sessions and
the participants to be invited. The revised agenda will be circulated to the Team members
by 15 November 2012.
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3. Bio-based industries PPP
The European Commission launched on 21 September the public consultation "Bio-based
industries, towards a public-private partnership under Horizon 2020?" (Deadline:
14/12/2012). The industry is currently preparing a Strategic Innovation and Research
Agenda and the EC is working on the Impact Assessment of the potential PPP. The
Director General of DG RTD agreed to start the online public consultation and to work on
the preparation of this possible PPP without any guarantee that it would lead to its
adoption. The renewed target to reach a potential Commission adoption is June 2013.
Internal discussions between DG RTD-Dir E (Food, Agriculture and Biotechnologies),
DG RTD-Dir K (Energy) and DG ENER are on-going notably to exchange views on the
scope and main objective of the potential PPP. For the time being, the major concerns
are:
i. The undermining of bioenergy/biofuels as bio-products,
ii. The balance of effort between R&D vs. demonstration and flagship and,
iii. The relevance of a number of EIBI value-chains in this PPP (notably thermochemical
routes),
These aspects remain to be further discussed and clarified by the EC services and
stakeholders concerned before deciding on the level of integration of EIBI activities in this
PPP.
NL supports the Bio-based PPP and stated that the PPP should seek a balance between the
creation of added-value (via bio-products) and the creation of volume (via the biofuels).
DE promotes the involvement of MS in the PPP and supports the inclusion of
thermochemical conversion of biomass in the scope of the PPP. ES is not in favour of the
JTI instrument.
4. Revision of the EIBI Implementation Plan (IP) for 2013-2015
The SET-Plan Steering Group decided in July to revise all EII IPs by the end of 2012 for
the period 2013-2015 in order to review priorities, actions and targets.
The Team went through the current IP and it was proposed that:
• In the section "Background, Scope & Objectives of the EIBI", the 4% target for
the contribution of advanced biofuels to the EU transportation energy needs by
2020 should be better substantiated in terms of technologies, capacities and
associated costs or alternatively revised notably in the light of the revision of the
RES Directive.
• An assessment of the achievements of 2010-2012 activities (incl. KPIs, set of
eligibility and selection criteria, Call for Expression of Interest, FP7 projects for
demo & complementary activities, ERA-NET+ BESTF, NER300 projects and the
Flight Path Initiative) should be included in the revised IP.
• In the section "Implementation actions for 2013-2015", the overall estimated costs
for 2013-2015 should also be updated. It should also be decided whether the 7
value chains are revised and whether the revised IP focuses on some value chains.
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• In the section "Suggested implementation modalities and monitoring", the funding
modalities for flagships need to be included with the new instruments for access to
risk financing under H2020. It was not considered necessary to launch a new Call
for Expression of Interest in the foreseeable future. The KPIs and the eligibility &
selection criteria can be added in the annexes.
• In the section "Complementary measures and activities", the resources needed
should be updated. The outcomes of the workshops on longer-term R&D needs
and priorities could be added.
• The annexes need to be updated.
It was agreed that the EBTP would take the lead for the revision of the IP. Birger
Kerckow will be the contact point. The first draft of the revised IP for circulation to the
EIBI Team is due on November 15. The revision of the IP is on the agenda of the next
Steering Group meeting of EBTP to be held on 16 October. After this date, the EBTP will
be able to confirm whether the deadline is possible.
[The EBTP Steering Group agreed to provide a revised IP but the exact date has to been
decided yet]
5. Implementation of the EIBI core activities: on-going activities
ERA-NET+ 2012
Megan Cooper, the coordinator of BESTF, updated the Team on the latest state-of-play of
the project. The presentation is attached to these minutes. The timeline is as follows:
• Anticipated start date: 1 November 2012,
• Call launch: 14 December 2012,
• Deadline for stage 1 evaluation: March 2013, deadline for stage 2: August 2013,
• Start of the projects: January 2014.
Biofuels FlightPath Initiative
Kyriakos Maniatis (EC) updated the Team on the activities of the Biofuels FlightPath
Initiative. The presentation is attached to these minutes.
NER300 update:
A Commission working document was published on 12/07/2012 presenting the project
candidates for award decision. The document is attached to these minutes. Six projects for
bioenergy are on the main list: one project on pyrolysis oil using forest residues, one
project on synthetic natural gas from woody biomass, one project on ethanol from energy
crops, 2 projects on BtL from woody biomass producing diesel and bionaphta and one
project on biogas production via an extension of an ethanol production site. The final
award decision will be taken by the end of 2012.
6. Implementation of the EIBI core activities: future activities
New ERA-NET+ topic for demo projects in WP2013
A new ERA-NET+ topic was included in the Work Programme 2013 to support
demonstration projects in bioenergy with an EC contribution of 20M€. Megan Cooper
(coordinator of the ERA-NET+ BESTF) said that the majority of the BESTF partners
want to see the outcome of the current ERA-NET+ before getting involved in another one.
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However, UK is supportive of the new topic. NL is also interested but needs to investigate
internally to know whether a budget could be available.
BS indicated that it was somehow disappointing to be confronted to this lack of interest at
this stage reminding that a number of MS stated before the publication of the 2013 call
that (i) the EC budget of the 2012 ERA-NET+ call was not sufficient, (ii) we had to
speed-up the implementation of demonstrations and (iii) supported the launch of a new
ERA-NET+ call in the Work Programme 2013.
Working Group on the financing of bioenergy flagship projects
Nadia Boukhetaia (FR) presented the progress made by the working group on the
financing of bioenergy flagships. The presentation is attached to these minutes.
BS clarified that there was no specific split in the H2020 non-nuclear energy budget for
any sub-areas for the time being. He reminded that Horizon 2020 would provide access to
risk finance with an amount of 3,5 b € for all Challenges, which would help to the
financing of bioenergy flagships. Besides this amount which will be consumed based on
the principle of "first-come, first-served", every Challenge might have the possibility of
transferring part of their budget to the access to risk financing budget. The Structural
Funds can be another source of EU support to flagship projects. In the context of the
current definition of priorities for the allocation of Structural Funds at national level, the
MS representatives are encouraged to promote bioenergy flagships in their national
priority list.
FR explained that the financial engineering of flagship projects is different depending on
the value chains mainly because of the different nature of industrial players in the
different technologies. Then, it was agreed that the WG would start working on the more
mature value-chains. They will select 2-3 value-chains based on the outcome of the call
for expression of interest and the NER300 call.
It was also agreed that the mapping of the different sources of financing (e.g. grants,
loans, and guarantees) at the different levels of technology development would be
worthwhile at national and EU level. FR will prepare a template to be circulated to MS to
get a list of national funding agencies, related schemes and amounts available. The EC
will also carry out this mapping exercise for the existing EU funding schemes. FR also
pointed out that state aids requirements for funding flagships need to be clarified. The
deadline to get the contributions from MS and EC is mid-December 2012.
Nadia Boukhetaia informed the Team that she would leave the French Ministry of
Ecology and therefore the EIBI Team in the coming months. She will be replaced but the
new representative has not been appointed yet. More participants to join the WG are
encouraged to volunteer, as it only consists of 4 MS and 2 EBTP representatives so far.
The EC will help where necessary.
7. Implementation of the EIBI complementary activities
The presentation made by Francisco Girio (FG) is attached to these minutes. It was
decided that the two workshops will be held on 18 and 19 December 2012 on EC
premises. The first workshop will be on the most promising today technologies, while the
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second will be on identifying future breakthroughs. The workshops are on invitation only
and a maximum of 50 participants is foreseen. Rapporteurs will be assigned for each
workshop. FG pointed out that the organisers are still looking for experts in the
thermochemical technologies and also for industrial experts to participate in the first
workshop on "accelerating the development of most promising existing bioenergy
technologies". The deadline for setting the list of participants is on 24 October. Team
members and especially EBTP are encouraged to provide with names of experts by 24
October.
EERA will finalize the draft agendas by 16 October so that it can be circulated at the
EBTP Steering Group meeting to help getting names of industrial experts. Invitations to
experts will be sent soon after.
8. EIBI website on SETIS
David Baxter (EC) presented the plan developed by the JRC to promote and support the
EIBI with a public website and a team space (=intranet) on SETIS. His presentation is
attached to these minutes. The team space will be put online in the coming weeks. All
Team members will receive a login and password.
9. AOB
A public consultation has been put online by the infrastructure programme which is meant
to help identify future topics for Integrating Activities (such as BRISK project in
thermochemical routes). This consultation is open until October 22nd. The Team was
asked to contribute and to circulate this information. Kees Kwant (NL) together with
EERA colleagues prepared a short document supporting the need for research
infrastructure for biochemical conversion pathways. However, they will revise this
document by adding that the needed support should focus on networking activities of
existing infrastructure in Europe. The document will be adapted by Kees Kwant and
circulated to the Team. The document will then be submitted as a contribution to the
online public consultation.
Henrik Erämetsä (HE) pointed out that biofuels are being discriminated by the marine
transportation sector since different tankers are currently required to transport biofuels,
which increases biofuels transport costs. He informed the Team that Neste Oil and the
Finnish Ministry of Transport have launched an initiative to tackle this discrimination
towards biofuels and he requested the MS representatives of the Team to support this
initiative in their own country. BS asked HE to prepare a short paper (1-2 pages) that
explains the situation and that could be used by the MS representatives.
HE also requested a modification of the layout of the SDR1 meeting room as it is difficult
to hear participants and to see the screen, or alternatively to book more pleasant meeting
rooms for future meetings.
10. Next meeting
It was agreed that the next team meeting would be held in the second-half of February
2013.
[After checking room availability, it is proposed to organise the next meeting on
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February 2013 in Brussels]
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ACTION POINTS
Actions for Industry / MS
• The ad-hoc working group composed of Carlos Alberto Fernández López (ES), Birger
Kerckow (DE), Carmen Millan (EBTP) and Markku Karlsson (EBTP) to revise the
agenda and propose a date, the content of the second session, speakers for all sessions
and the participants to be invited. The revised agenda to be circulated to the Team
members by 15 November 2012.
• EBTP to revise the Implementation Plan - deadline by 15 November 2012 (to be
confirmed)
• Nadia Boukhetaia to prepare a template for the mapping exercise regarding funding
possibilities at national level and to send it to the team - deadline for contribution:
mid-December 2012
• Francisco Girio together with EERA colleagues to prepare the list of participants and
the agenda for the Workshops on middle and longer term R&D needs. Deadline for
draft agendas: 16 October 2012, deadline for list of participants: 24 October 2012.
• EBTP to propose industrial experts to participate in the workshop on "accelerating the
development of most promising existing bioenergy technologies".
• Kees Kwant (NL) to revise the document supporting the need for research
infrastructure for the biochemical pathways, to circulate it to the Team and to submit
the contribution to the online public consultation.
• Henrik Erämetsä to prepare a paper explaining the discrimination of biofuels by the
marine transportation sector – deadline: mid-November 2012.
Actions for EC
• EC to contribute to the mapping exercise in the context of the WG on financing
flagships.
• EC to set the date for the next EIBI Team meeting
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List of participants:
Representatives of MS/AC
Ballesteros Mercedes, CIEMAT, Spain, x.xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xx
Boukhetaia Nadia, Ministère de l'Ecologie, France, nadia.boukhetaia@developpement-
durable.gouv.fr
Cooper Megan, DECC, UK, xxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xxx.xx
Cotana Franco, CRB, Italy, xxxxxx@xxxxxx.xx
Fernández Lopez Carlos Alberto, IDEA, Spain, xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xx
Girio Francisco, LNEG, Portugal, xxxxxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxx.xx
Johansson Sebastian, TEKES, Finland, xxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xx
Kerckow Birger, FNR, Germany, x.xxxxxxx@xxx.xx
Kwant Kees, Agency-Energy and Climate Change,Netherlands, xxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xx
Representatives of Industry
Desplechin Emmanuel, Novozymes (EBTP), Belgium, xxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
Erämetsä Henrik, Neste Oil (EBTP), Finland, xxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
Karlsson Markku, Finnish Forestries (EBTP), Finland, xxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xx
Millan Carmen, Abengoa (EBTP), Spain, xxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx.xxx
EC representatives
Baxter, David, JRC Petten, xxxxx.xxxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx
Georgiadou Maria, RTD-K3, xxxxx.xxxxxxxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx
Le Boulch Olivia, ENER-C2, xxxxxx.xxxxxxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx
Maniatis Kyriakos, ENER-C2, xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx
Pantzalis Vasileios, ENER-C2, xxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxxx@xxx.xx.xxxxxx.xx
Rimbert Virginie, RTD-K3, xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx
Schmitz Bruno, RTD-K3, chair of the EIBI Team, xxxxx.xxxxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx
Van Delsen Vicky, RTD-K3, xxxxx.xxxxxxxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx
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