AIEL - Associazione Italiana Energie Agroforestali
AIEL
L'Associazione Italiana Energie Agroforestali (AIEL) è un'organizzazione che promuove e diffonde l'utilizzo di fonti energetiche rinnovabili provenienti dall'agricoltura e dalla foresta.
ID: 535669595014-71
Lobbying Activity
Response to Heating and cooling strategy
9 Oct 2025
Executive Summary of AIEL's Position on the EU Heating and Cooling Strategy On behalf of the Italian Agro-Forestry Energy Association (AIEL), this document presents our detailed response to the European Commission's call for evidence on the new Heating and Cooling Strategy. We recognize the critical importance of decarbonizing Europe's energy system but argue that a successful transition requires a technologically neutral and diversified approach that fully acknowledges the role of sustainable bioenergy alongside electrification. The accompanying document, a comprehensive position paper, elaborates on several key concerns. First, we highlight that the Commission's current strategy, which has largely focused on electrification, has not yielded the desired results, as evidenced by the stagnation in the share of renewables for heating over the past decade. This suggests a need for a new, more inclusive strategy. We challenge the notion that electrification alone can meet Europe's vast and varied heating and cooling demands, pointing out that a combination of technologies is essential for building a resilient and secure energy system. Our paper underscores the vital role of sustainable solid biofuels, which offer a reliable, dispatchable, and locally sourced heat supply. Furthermore, we address the Commission's approach to biomass, which we believe unfairly focuses on its challenges while overlooking the significant opportunities and benefits of modern technologies. We are ready to provide scientific evidence, to demonstrate that sustainable woody biomass has a far lower carbon footprint per kWh than fossil fuels and the average European electricity mix. We clarify that our position is based on the use of biomass from sustainably managed forests and residues from the wood industry, which contributes to a circular economy and does not lead to deforestation. The position paper also highlights a critical omission in the Commission's analysis: the decarbonization of high-temperature heat for hard-to-abate industrial sectors. In these areas, sustainable biofuels represent one of the few viable and competitive solutions currently available. In conclusion, AIEL urges the Commission to adopt an innovative strategy that is truly technology-neutral, data-driven, and designed to foster a diversified and resilient energy system. The attached position paper provides a comprehensive analysis and concrete recommendations to support the development of a strategy that ensures energy security, enhances the competitiveness of European industries, and meets the needs of all citizens. We are committed to collaborating with the Commission and providing any necessary data and expertise to achieve a successful and sustainable energy transition.
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