Sustainability Decalogue for Biomass as a Fuel
Ence Energía y Celulosa has developed a Sustainability Decalogue for Biomass as a Fuel, a pioneering action in Spanish companies set up to guarantee its commitment to sustainability in the use of biomass and environment protection in the use of this renewable source of energy.
With such endeavour Ence anticipates the future of biomass generation and guarantees -to all our stakeholders- the sustainable use of biomass and a permanent respect for natural resources. For its preparation, Ence has relied on the criteria required to create biomass sustainability established by some of the most important environmental European organizations.
Ence’s Sustainability Decalogue for Biomass as a Fuel:
1· It shall respect the natural environment:
Biomass management will be respectful of natural resources and will not harm the environment.
2· It shall be compatible with sustainable agricultural and forestry practices:
The agricultural or forestry management of the land where the biomass is produced, and its use and logistics will be compatible with the manuals of good agricultural and silvicultural practices of any crop and species.
3· It shall not burn roundwood:
Ence will not use round wood with a diameter of more than 10 cm as fuel, unless its only possibility of consumption is energy use, nor that it comes from invasive species unless expressly indicated by the competent administration.
4· It shall respect biomass priority uses:
The biomass that Ence will use will not compete with other possible industrial priority uses of biomass (construction and furniture).
5· It shall not use biomass that is in competition with food crops:
You will not use biomass from energy crops on converted farmland suitable for agriculture and food production.
6· It will not compete with livestock uses of biomass:
Ence will not use agricultural biomass that may be required for livestock.
7· It shall respect laws and human rights:
Biomass management will always be undertaken with respect to current legislation, human and community rights.
8· It shall apply the best practices:
In order to minimize the environmental impact and maximize energy efficiency, Ence will permanently apply the best practices in the use, transport, treatment and storage of biomass), as well as the Best Available Techniques in the production of energy with biomass.
9· It shall minimize carbon emissions:
It will minimize its total carbon footprint, considering the balance of greenhouse gas emissions throughout its life cycle, and will determine the supply distances.
10· It shall always pursue the highest energy efficiency with sustainability criteria:
Ence will promote maximum energy efficiency through the development and application of technology to take advantage of the useful residual heat of its plants for other industries and local uses, among others.