| 3rd GBEP Bioenergy Week: outcomes and news from the Indonesia event
The GBEP Activity Group 3 "Study tour for capacity building and training" (AG3) this year organized its traditional Bioenergy Week in the Asian continent, after 2013 Latin American and 2014 African editions in Brazil and Mozambique.
The 3rd Bioenergy Week took place in Medan, Indonesia, from 25 to 29 May. Hosted by the Government of Indonesia in cooperation with the GBEP Secretariat and the support of the Governments of Brazil and Italy, as well as of the International Energy Agency, the Asian Development Bank and GIZ, the event gathered some 120 participants among scientists, government officials and private sector representatives. Sustainable production and use of bioenergy was at the centre of discussion, with a focus on specific themes of key interest to Asia and on positive experiences that could guide the design and implementation of bioenergy policies in the continent. Furthermore it provided the opportunity to continue a dialogue with the Asian private sector and stakeholders on ways to improve mutual cooperation towards a more sustainable production and use of bioenergy.
A number of interesting presentations were given by the many speakers intervening in the event, which in the first two days revolved around the three pillars of sustainability – environmental, social and economic – touching on best practices related to environmental sustainability of bioenergy, smallholder involvement and development opportunities, and ways to increase energy security and energy access in the region. Participants also discussed of bioenergy development and regulatory frameworks in Asia, with an in-depth analysis of India, Indonesia and Japan. After a field visit to three local bioenergy plants, the Bioenergy Week devoted its fourth day to a round table among policy makers, business sector and international banks/funds, aiming at analysing the opportunities for the sector’s development in the region. A special focus was dedicated to advanced biofuels and its more recent progresses, especially in the aviation sector, and to the potentials of sugarcane as a feedstock for both first and second generation ethanol production. Technology cooperation and project financing opportunities in the region were also discussed.
The event identified several challenges affecting the sustainability of bioenergy and especially of feedstock supply in the region among which land use change, deforestation and potential competition with food production, emissions and air, water and soil quality. In the “Bioenergy Sustainability” session of the event it was highlighted the importance to develop regional level sustainability standards and indicators in consideration of the growing integration of regional markets. However, a number of innovative approaches to sustainability were identified during the event, like the Territorial Unit (KPH) in Indonesia; biomass towns in Japan and pilots in SE Asia; the Village Energy Security Program in India; and the Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) Standard, which applies to all palm oil production, regardless of its end use, unlike most other sustainability certification schemes and regulations.
The Activity Group will discuss about the next year’s edition of the GBEP Bioenergy Week at the next GBEP meetings in November.
Read more about the event on the GBEP website.
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