The Norwegian Government has proposed a stimulation package to alleviate the impact of the financial crisis
Among other things 50 million NOK (6 million €) will be appropriated for stimulating employment in the bioenergy and forest sectors, as well as for providing more forest-based raw materials for production of renewable energy, as reported by the Nordic Forest Owners’ Association.
In a supplementary budget proposal for 2009 a further 50 million NOK (6 million €) were appropriated for bioenergy purposes. This means that in 2009 the Ministry for Agriculture and Food will have a total of 100 million NOK (12 million €) available for increasing bioenergy production.
This means that in 2009 the Ministry for Agriculture and Food will have a total of 100 million NOK (12 million €) available for increasing bioenergy production.
The appropriation will be paid in the form of subsidies for timber harvested in first thinning, for felling of deciduous forest, for brushing, cleaning of scrub in cultural landscapes and for collecting debris from harvesting.
The subsidies will be available for forest owners who can demonstrate supply contracts of timber for energy production, or for own use. There will be area-related subsidies of 1.000 – 4.000 NOK (115 – 470 €) per hectare plus operations-related subsidies for up to 40 % of operating costs.
The goal of the Norwegian Government is to increase the use of bioenergy up to 14 TWh until 2020.
