Carbon neutral and resource sensitive Alpine region

SO 2.1 - Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

 

Project description

DIVERSE deals with the conflicts between the production of bioenergy and the conservation of biodiversity. It examines the conditions under which biomass is a viable energy source in the Alpine region with regard to both aspects. This is a particular challenge for regional/local authorities, which have to meet the binding targets of the Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII) on the one hand and protect a sensitive and unique ecosystem on the other.

So far, little has been done in the individual regions to fully integrate the EU biodiversity criteria for the promotion of the bioeconomy into policy and practice. To strengthen these efforts, supra-regional cooperation is essential to create an Alpine framework that enables a uniform approach to the sustainability of bioenergy, taking into account the respective regional specificities.

DIVERSE brings together organizations that use complementary expertise to create the framework for implementing sustainable and biodiversity-friendly bioenergy pathways.

With an open dialog approach, the project partners support a holistic view that ranges from the availability and use of local energy sources to sustainable value creation. An “Open Dialogue Toolkit” will support the implementation of a transnational pilot project focusing on two important Alpine value chains in the field of bioenergy and biomass residues. Focus laboratories will be set up in the regions of the project partners for this purpose.

Building on the development pathways for biodiversity-enhancing bioenergy use, the project partners are pooling their efforts to update energy strategies, management practices and bioenergy business models through bottom-up integration of nature conservation aspects and concepts.

DIVERSE will help to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon energy mix in the Alpine region and emphasize the importance of the sustainable use of bioenergy in the energy supply and in achieving net zero emissions.