Project Aim

The aim of the project is to support the introduction of sustainability standards for biomass production and trade in Ukraine. Relevant actors in both countries will be better prepared for sustainability certification with particular attention to the requirements of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED). The project will contribute to a deeper understanding of sustainability issues and related trade regulations in the bioenergy sector, both at the level of political decision making and at the level of producers, traders and business associations. 

What we will do

The project has three major streams of activities: 

• Training Ukrainian partners on the role, functionalities and application of certification systems for sustainable biomass, with particular emphasis on the EU RED system. 
• A Practitioners Handbook for farmers is developed which gives an overview of the EU RED criteria and how they can be implemented at the farm level. It will contain information on the different certification schemes that can be used to fulfil the certification criteria (e.g. ISCC, RSB, NTA 8080), how they operate and what they require from their users. 
• Greenhouse gas pilot calculations have been run with actual farm level data in order to evaluate the current GHG emissions status of Ukrainian and Russian biomass production scenarios.  

Materials

Background

As a result of the EU renewable energy policy (EU Directive 2009/28/EC of 23 April 2009, Renewable Energy Directive - EU RED), EU Member States will increase the consumption of vegetable oil for energy production in order to meet the EU renewable energy targets. Under EU RED, member states must have 20% of their overall energy consumption and 10% of the fuel in the transport sector coming from renewable sources by 2020. Currently, only 50% of the vegetable oil used in the EU is grown on the EU fields. For net exporters of agricultural commodities, like the Ukraine and Russia, the EU biofuels market will offer attractive prices. The demand will be of particular relevance for rapeseed from the Ukraine. However, a challenge exists and needs to be tackled: Producers will have to show compliance with EU RED sustainability criteria, otherwise they cannot enter the EU  RED regulated market. Compliance will be possible by using recognised biomass certification schemes. The EU Commission and several Member States are  in the process of recognizing such certification schemes.  The EU RED criteria contain life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (reduction of emissions by 35%, later 50%, compared to fossil fuels), protection of carbon rich areas (wetlands, continuously forested areas), protection of land with high biodiversity value (primary forests, nature reserves, highly biodiverse grassland), and the protection of peat land.  In addition, the entire trade chain from cultivation to final consumption has to comply with traceability criteria (mass balance system).

This project uses the experience of the BMELV-funded German-Ukrainian Agricultural Policy Dialogue in Kiev. The project will run until December 2012.

Project Partners

GIZ

As a federal enterprise, we support the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. Working efficiently, effectively and in a spirit of partnership, GIZ supports people and societies worldwide in creating sustainable living conditions and building better futures. The services delivered by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH draw on a wealth of regional and technical competence and tried and tested management expertise. Since 1 January 2011, GIZ has brought together under one roof the capacities and long-standing experience of three organisations: the Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst (DED) gGmbH (German Development Service), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH (German technical cooperation) and InWEnt – Capacity Building International, Germany. GIZ operates in more than 130 countries worldwide and has more than 17,000 staff members across the globe. 

IER

The Kiev based Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting (IER) will be the implementing partner in the Ukraine. IER is a well-known Ukrainian independent think tank, focusing on economic research and policy consultation. It was founded in 1999 by top-ranking Ukrainian politicians and scientists and the German Advisory Group on economic reforms in the Ukraine, which was part of Germany’s TRANSFORM program. IER has a staff of 30.

Contacts