The overarching aim of the Energy Union by 2030 and 2050 is a secure, affordable, competitive, efficient and decarbonised European energy system. Bioenergy is flexible and storable has a key role in providing all forms of energy in such a system. This project aims to support the contributions of biofuel and bioenergy stakeholders to the Energy Union and, more specifically, the Strategic Energy Technology (SET)-Plan. The project will assist the European Biofuels Technology Platform (EBTP), which, following decisions taken in the frame of the new SET-Plan governance in 2015, is currently preparing for the transition to a European Technology and Innovation Platform Bioenergy (ETIP Bioenergy), in providing these contributions. Key elements are to facilitate • contributions to the SET-Plan activities and strategy, e.g. on renewable energy integration, technology cost reduction and upscaling • defining priorities, strategies, R&I investment decisions and programmes; • collaboration between stakeholders in addressing energy system integration challenges; • identification of technical and non-technical barriers to the delivery of innovation to the energy market; • assistance to the European Commission and Member States in defining the research programmes, financial instruments, and addressing the mentioned barriers for the areas of advanced biofuels and bioenergy. Building on a 10 year track of support to EBTP, the ETIP Bioenergy-SABS project will aim at an increased cohesion of bioenergy stakeholders by motivating discussion and interaction on hot topics related to advanced and innovative bioenergy. Key instruments to achieve this aim will be the ETIP Bioenergy website, factsheets, reports, newsletters and networking events at different scales. The project will compile scientifically sound, fact based information on technical and non-technical bioenergy issues.

ETIP-B-SABS 2 will support and empower renewable fuel and bioenergy stakeholders’ contributions to the Energy Union and, more specifically, the Strategic Energy Technology (SET)-Plan. The European Technology and Innovation Platform Bioenergy aims to actively engage with these stakeholders and link their needs to policy making of the European Commission, and the project´s objective is to support ETIP-Bioenergy in this task. Specific objectives are to facilitate the following activities of ETIP-Bioenergy: • contributions to the SET-Plan activities and to the Strategic R&I Implementation Plans; • collaboration and interaction with other relevant initiatives addressing renewable fuels, decarbonisation of transport, bioenergy and biomass valorisation/ bio-based value chains; • constant provision of scientifically sound, unbiased, up to date information on the status of the renewable fuels and bioenergy sector • engagement with stakeholders as to better understand the actor perspective and the socio-technical aspects of technology development and implementation; with a special focus on support for outreach and engagement of actors in the civil society • assistance to the European Commission and Member States in defining research programmes, financial instruments, while addressing lower TRL research needs as well as advancing close to market technologies.

The European Technology and Innovation Platform Bioenergy - Support of Renewable Fuels and Advanced Bioenergy Stakeholders 2022-2025 (ETIP-B2022-2025) project aims at triggering collaborative efforts of stakeholders from research to innovation to implementation in the field of renewable fuels and bioenergy. The project will support and empower stakeholders´ contributions to the Green Deal and the Strategic Energy Technology (SET)-Plan. The European Technology and Innovation Platfrom Bioenergy (ETIP Bioenergy) aims to actively engage with stakeholders and civil society, link their needs to policy making of the European Union and Member States, and to provide advice to industry. The ETIP-B2022-2025 project´s objective is to support ETIP Bioenergy in this task. To achieve these objectives, the project will facilitate Steering Committee and Working Group meetings for ETIP Bioenergy, provide information on research and innovation activities, related technologies and policies on the ETIP Bioenergy website, engage with stakeholders from all involved sectors for information exchange and to provide a basis for ETIP Bioenergy documents, form citizen´s panels to develop citizen´s visions on the role of renewable fuels and bioenergy, and develop policy recommendations. Specific features will include facilitating an update of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), a biofuels and bioenergy innovation challenge (BBIC), a policy workshop, two Stakeholder Plenary Meetings (SPM) and the development of a financial independence plan for ETIP Bioenergy. All activities will be widely communicated through newsletters, social media postings and dissemination events.

Bioenergy is the main source of renewable energy today and it is expected to continue playing a key role in the decarbonisation of the European energy and transport sectors, a prerequisite to achieve the long-term targets of the EU, the Paris Agreement and sustainable development goals. The Implementation Plan of Action 8, Bioenergy and Renewable Fuels for Sustainable Transport (IP8) set detailed targets for the development, demonstration and scale-up of the sector. In order to achieve a step-change, six complementary stakeholders engaged in bioenergy and renewable fuels, joined forces to enable successful implementation within SET4BIO. The overall objective of SET4BIO is to support the full execution of the IP8, i.e. both for research and innovation lines and large-scale projects, acting as competence centre and complementary resource for the Implementation Working Group (IWG8). Industry, academia, institutes, EU Member States and Associated Countries as well as the European Institutions and functions play a key role for successful implementation of IP8. SET4BIO will propose solutions and pathways to overcome essential barriers identified in the IP8 and will engage and coordinate key stakeholders through a participatory approach. The project will identify and promote best practices for development, demonstration and scale-up through a competition-based innovation approach, monitor development, develop a financing roadmap as well as provide policy recommendations and disseminate results. A wide-ranging network must strive towards the same goal and SET4BIO will facilitate the coordination. Several beneficiaries are involved in the IWG8 set up by the European Commission. Commitment and understanding of SET-Plan ambitions on Industry and Member State/Associated Country level will be crucial to the successful implementation. SET4BIO will take an active role in supporting IWG8 and be a catalyst to facilitate the implementation of the actions which are set out in the IP8.