Nowadays the energy system in Europe is characterized by a strong dependency on imported fossil fuels and growing emissions of CO2 leading to an unsustainable pattern of development governing in the entire continent. The European economy, steadily demanding more energy, is essentially based on oil, coal and natural gas, which make up to four-fifths of its total energy consumption and almost two-thirds of which it imports.

Biomass co-firing represents, compared to other renewable sources, a technically feasible option with the potential of contributing to the EU energy supply meanwhile ensuring sustainable development. Co-firing of biomass with coal offers several advantages, such as the utilisation of large quantities at low combustion rates in the current combustion systems, lower investments and higher conversion efficiencies compared to systems fired exclusively with biomass. The EC has recognised the need of promoting the use of biomass co-firing in order to comply with the Kyoto Protocol which implies a reduction of 8% of the greenhouse emissions between 2006 and 2012. In spite of numerous successful experiences achieved in Europe, this technology still deserves attention in order to find solutions for technical problems as well as to improve efficiency, reduce costs and emission levels. Today, the accession of the 10 new members to the EU 25 brings a new opportunity for the development of biomass co-firing, due to the coal combustion infrastructure already installed, the land availability for energy crops and the current dependency on imported fossil fuels. According to the Council resolution on renewable energies of May 1998, the share of biomass has to be increased from 3.1% in 1995 up to 8.5% in 2010, a target which will not be met unless an unified approach of biomass co-firing in the European level comes into play.

• To encourage the establishment of permanent communication links between research centres, business and other stakeholders in Europe, promoting the know-how exchange and expertise in relation to biomass co-firing.
• To develop adequate recommendations for biomass co-firing implementation in targeted European countries, focussed on the socio-economic, technological, climate conditions, legal and political requirements.
• To initiate and guide future R&D activities on an European level by mapping current research activities and forming research clusters in order to fulfil the scientific and technological needs for the further implementation of biomass co-firing.
• To disseminate and promote biomass co-firing as a sustainable energy source option.

• To assess on-going research in biomass co-firing in Europe, identifying the gaps in knowledge and the barriers for the cooperation of R&D activities in an European scope.
• To document the state-of-the-art in the European biomass co-firing sector, with a special focus on East and Central European applications, in order to identify successful experiences through the region.
• To identify technical and non-technical barriers for the biomass co-firing further implementation in Europe, in order to propose local and global strategies to overcome them.