BIOMASS PROCESSING FOR ENERGY PRODUCTION: LEGISLATIVE AND PROBLEMS

This article is devoted to the study of legal regulation and disclosure of certain legal issues regarding the processing and use of biomass as an alternative energy source. It is emphasized that the condition for harmonious and stable development of Ukraine and the world, without negative impact on the environment, is the use of renewable energy sources. It is highlighted that the role of biomass in the movement towards sustainable development goals is not yet perfectly defined, but it is extremely promising. On the one hand, biomass has significant advantages over standard and other renewable energy sources. On the other hand, unsustainable production and use of biomass can negatively affect water and forest resources, biodiversity, climate, food security, so there is an urgent need to bring legislation into practice by making appropriate changes to existing legislation, namely the Law of Ukraine «On agricultural cooperation». An analysis of the effective properties of legal regulation based on the provisions of the Law of Ukraine «On Alternative Energy Sources» and the Law of Ukraine «On Alternative Fuels» is presented. The provisions on the regulation of biomass processing established by the EU legislation and the Green Deal are considered. In particular, special attention is paid to the issue of classifying biomass as agricultural products and agricultural relations arising from the processing of biomass by cooperatives and other subsidiaries. Ways of development for the corresponding enterprises for the most successful and effective process of processing of biomass in Ukraine are offered. The article also proposes to adapt to the criteria of energy sustainability and relevant legislation and gradually bring the development of the use and processing of biomass to these standards. However, it is equally emphasized that the introduction of sustainability criteria for biofuels may have the downside of increasing biofuel exports to the European Union and its shortage in the internal market. In order to increase domestic demand for biofuels, it is advisable to turn to effective incentives, such as a «green» tariff for electricity producers.