The project aim is to foster and accelerate development and use of biomass in North West Europe. to facilitate the sustainable achievement of 2020 energy objectives. and to make EU a world-class centre for Biomass utilisation. This will be conducted in an innovative and sustainable approach across NWE to developing energy from biomass. It involves organisations from UK. Ireland. Germany. Luxembourg. Netherlands and Belgium. along with observers from France and Switzerland. NWE currently has a strong reliance on imported energy. offering clear potential for greater biomass utilisation. However. municipalities and regions across the NWE are facing common challenges of how they can reduce waste going to landfill and meet energy demands through biomass. Some NWE countries are sharing biomass potential and expertise. but at present this activity is neither co-ordinated nor matched with commercial exploitation. The project will provide useful intelligence to address where transnational cooperation may help to address individual country supply and demand issues around biomass. Innovative pilot projects will inform implementation of biomass energy transformation solutions. Therefore. the project will help to reach the achievement of targets set in National Renewable Energy Action Plans for renewable energy by 2020.These could result in a 34% increase by 2015 and a 69% increase by 2020 but only if there are substantial improvements in the supply chain. ARBOR will encompass natural resources management. site energy efficiency management and enhancement of the natural environment. This project will be delivered by an established cross sector partnership. with representatives from public authorities. private sector. research institutes and private sector intermediaries to ensure consideration of the whole biomass life cycle.