Italy forecasts industrial biomass growth

June 15, 2011, London, UK – Italy's use of
biomass for power production should reach 19% of all power produced from
renewable resources in 2020 compared with 8.3% in 2005. Power generation from
solid biomass in Italy in 2020 will amount to 7.9 TWh, according to the
country's national renewable energy action plan. The country generated 4.4 TWh
in 2009 and 3.5 TWh in 2005. The main feedstock sources are agricultural and
forestry residues, according to the European Commission joint research centre's
institute for energy.

“Italy's domestic biomass resources are
sufficient for 2020 demand, but the issue is mobilization of these resources,”
said Nicolae Scarlat, the institute for energy's technical support officer, at
the 19th European Biomass Conference in Berlin, Germany, on June 8, 2011. “The
country currently imports 450,000 tonnes/year of wood pellets, which is one of
the biggest markets, but it is mainly for residential heating.”

The institute forecasts that total biomass
consumption in Italy is set to rise to 34.7% of renewable energy use in 2020,
from 31.4% in 2005.