Resume

Essential element of global economy, the prevalent energy supply model is basically founded on fossil resources and presents clear and concerning signals of exhaustion: climbing energy costs, environmental degradation and energy insecurity, imposing to define and build urgently new and more sustainable scenarios. In this context, a transition to greater use of renewable energy is mandatory, but requires a full revision of present energy planning practices within private and governmental circles, typically based on narrow and short time perspectives, poorly integrated and essentially focused on the supply side. This speech will present and discuss some basic guidelines to be adopted to promote sustainable bioenergy, taking into account legal, regulatory and economic actions. Among them, can be mentioned to set a minimum share of bioenergy in specific sectoral energy demand, establish a balanced tax regime, able to include life cycle impacts and other externalities and define proper fuel specification for biofuels and fossil fuels. Some actual experiences will be commented as well, mainly at governmental level, towards to foster properly sound bioenergy systems, aimed to produce modern biofuels and bioelectricity, especially in the context of developing countries.