The policy background of the updated (version 4) BioGrace-II GHG calculation tool is the recast of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED-II). The RED-II sets a common framework for the promotion of energy from renewable sources.

The RED-II contains sustainability and greenhouse gas saving criteria for biomass to be used as feedstock for the production of transport fuels or to be converted into electricity, heating or cooling. These criteria are included in RED-II article 29. RED-II article 31 plus RED-II Annexes V and VI are on the calculation of bio-energy GHG emissions.

Further details on GHG calculations under the RED-II are included in the following documents:

• European Commission implementing acts establishing operational guidance on the evidence for demonstrating compliance to RED-II sustainability and greenhouse gas saving criteria. These implementing acts are to be published by the European Commission by Jan. 31, 2021 at the latest.
• Solid and gaseous bioenergy pathways: input values and GHG emissions, JRC Science and Policy Reports plus Excel database. This information can be downloaded from this JRC website. The latest versions of the JRC report and Excel database are from July 2017.

The mandatory RED-II sustainability and greenhouse gas saving criteria for electricity, heating and cooling come in place of the voluntary recommendations that applied in the period 2010 – 2020, see the webpage “former policy framework”. EU member states have to implement the RED-II by July 1, 2021 at the latest. The date of transition from the former policy framework to the RED-II depends on the national implementation date of the RED-II and will therefore vary from one EU member state to the other.