European Regions Launch Network for Wood Energy

September 11, 2026

Source: E & M powernews

Bavaria, Styria, and several Spanish regions founded the Wood Energy Region Network (WERN) in Brussels to strengthen sustainable wood energy within European policy.

Several European regions founded the Wood Energy Region Network (WERN) in Brussels on September 9. The network aims to connect regions with strong forestry, wood, and bioenergy sectors and to represent their common interests in European energy, climate, and heating policy.

The founding members include Bavaria, Styria, and the Spanish regions of Castile-La Mancha and Castile and León. The German Wood Energy Association (FVH), based in Berlin, which represents the interests of the wood energy sector in Germany, is one of the network’s co-initiators.

Through WERN, the participating regions aim to develop common positions on the role of sustainable wood energy and raise its profile at the European level. This effort is driven, among other things, by the upcoming decisions regarding the European Union’s energy and climate policy framework for the period after 2030.

The network builds on the “Bavarian Wood Energy Pact,” which the participating stakeholders signed in 2024. This led to the creation of the State Initiative for Wood Energy. WERN is now extending this approach to the European level.

At the network’s launch, Marlene Mortler, Chair of the FVH Board of Directors, highlighted the importance of wood energy for regions with extensive forest areas and active forestry and timber industries. These regions understand the role of wood as an energy source in climate protection, security of supply, and regional value creation, she explained.

Using Wood as a Renewable Resource

With regard to European heating policy as well, the FVH is calling for greater consideration of wood energy. During an expert panel at the event, Mortler said that the energy transition can only succeed if the heating transition also moves forward. Wood energy is already contributing to this today and must therefore be given appropriate consideration in European strategies and action plans for the heating sector.

The European Commission is currently working on the energy and climate policy framework for the post-2030 period. From the FVH’s perspective, the establishment of WERN offers regions the opportunity to contribute their experiences and positions to this process.

According to the FVH, the potential of sustainable wood energy has, in some cases, not been sufficiently taken into account in European drafts and strategies in recent years. The network is therefore intended to serve as a joint advocacy group for the participating regions and to continue to grow.

EU Commission Should Draw on Experiences

Mortler called on the European Commission to incorporate the regions’ experiences more fully into future proposals. The regions have demonstrated in practice the contribution that wood energy can make to climate protection, the heating transition, security of supply, and regional value creation, explained the FVH chair.

WERN was presented at an event held at the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the European Union in Brussels. It brings together regions with strong ties to forests, wood, and bioenergy. In addition to establishing a common political stance, the network aims to include additional regions from across Europe.

Author: Susanne Harmsen