This challenge particularly concerns regional/local authorities and energy actors from the Alpine Space who have to meet the binding targets of the Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII) and protect a fragile and unique ecosystem. To date, little effort has been made by individual regions to fully integrate European biodiversity criteria into policies and practices supporting the bioeconomy, focused on local energy resources and local energy needs.

To change this, cooperation is essential to create an Alpine framework with local nuances, capable of delivering a unified approach to bioenergy sustainability. Therefore, DIVERSE partners work with organizations with complementary expertise, setting the scene for the implementation of sustainable and biodiversity compatible bioenergy pathways in the Alpine Space area. The project aims to strengthen the energy diversification approach by integrating biomass with sustainability and biodiversity criteria.

To achieve this, the project partners rely on an open dialogue approach to support a holistic perspective, starting from local energy sources availability and final uses, to sustainable value creation. An Open Dialogue Toolkit will guide the establishment of a transnational pilot focusing on two key Alpine bioenergy and residue-based value chains, by activating Focus Labs in partners’ regions. The joint work will provide Alpine Trajectories for sustainable and biodiversity-positive bioenergy routes.

As a result, PPs will join efforts to update energy plans or strategies, management practices and bioenergy business models through the bottom-up integration of nature conservation concepts. During the 3-year cooperation, DIVERSE intend to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon energy mix in the Alpine Space, strengthening the role that sustainable bioenergy can play for energy sufficiency and net-zero emissions.