At present, the foreign energy dependence in Spain exceeds 80% and its imports of oil and gas account for 90% of the trade deficit. The need to ensure energy supply in proper time, quantity and prices is vital for the survival, the economic development and the competitiveness of any nation. In 2003 the European Security Strategy declared that energy dependence and the competition for natural resources –notably water– were special concerns for Europe, a fact that was confirmed in 2006 and 2009 due to the two gas crisis between Ukraine and Russia. In both cases, the risk of missing a strategy to minimize dependence and secure energy supply was evidenced. Being aware of this problem, China and other emerging powers have significantly increased their presence in Latin America, Central Asia and Africa, in order to control the exploitation of raw materials and natural resources.The NATO Strategic Concept judges that some allied countries will become more dependent on foreign energy suppliers and on foreign energy supply and distribution networks for their energy needs. In other words, energy security depends to a large extent on the vital communication, transport and transit routes. Therefore, the Alliance will try to develop the capacity to contribute to energy security, including protection of critical energy infrastructure and transit areas and lines, cooperation with partners, and consultations among Allies on the basis of strategic assessments and contingency planning. However, in this regard NATO is not playing its more proactive role.The first reason that explains the NATO's low activity is the different national interests in this issue, which is considered an internal matter. This is the same approach of the EU, where the Commission has failed to get the member countries to jointly manage their energy supplies. The second reason is the Russia's dominant position in the European energy scenario. The different degrees of dependence on Russian gas have caused the Allies to keep distant positions regarding Russian foreign, security and energy policies. Third, NATO's contribution to energy security is designed to complement the activities of more relevant actors in this field, such as the EU, the OECD, the International Energy Agency and the private sector. The last reason for the Alliance discretion is its military nature and the consequent refusal of the allied countries to get this organization deeply involved in an economic matter. Therefore, national interests and NATO's structural limitations have hindered the development of a systematic allied energy security policy. However, NATO has been able to outline four main lines of activity that make up its strategy in this field:

• The sharing of information and intelligence between Allies, partners and the private sector, with particular attention to infrastructure, transport routes, terrorist groups and the fuel supply for operations.
• The promotion of stability in partner countries of Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Middle East and the Gulf region.
• The protection of critical energy infrastructure and the monitoring of sea lanes and territorial waters.
• The NATO-led operations in the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean, aimed to guarantee the freedom of movement of energy resources.

NATO's energy strategy, proper of a functional security organization, addresses an aspect of the question and, therefore, raises insufficient solutions. Energy security is a complex issue that requires a number of different actions, including the development of alternative energy sources. Not surprisingly, energy diversification reduces dependence on fossil fuels and, if priority is given to local and renewable energies, it also improves the balance of trade and boosts the national economy.As is well known, renewable energy comes from resources which are continually replenished, is inexhaustible on a human scale and, in general terms, is environmentally friendly. Among the currently available sources (wind, hydro, tidal, geothermal and biomass), biomass has a potential that, if properly developed, would contribute significantly to energy diversification and would have a positive impact on the territory and on the generation of jobs (between 10 and 20 jobs per MW electrical-thermal). Biomass is the organic matter from trees, plants and animal waste that can be transformed into energy by generating heat, electricity and biofuel. As energy source, it has some advantages over fossil fuels:

• It is abundant enough to be suitable for mass consumption.
• As local resource, it reduces the dependence on foreign energy, promotes the national economy and contributes to keep rural settings.
• As renewable energy, it helps to mitigate global warming and facilitates the management forest, agricultural and urban residues.
• Forest biomass in particular, reduces carbon dioxide emissions and the risk of forest fires. It is also an opportunity to create processing industries in typically underdeveloped areas.

However, there are some disadvantages in obtaining biomass, namely its relatively low energy density, its potential competition with other uses and the presence of some environmental risks. Rural settings in Europe are based in intensive farming systems, therefore the generation of biomass for energy purposes may enter into direct competition with the production of food, feed, textiles, paper and other products. This competition could lead to tensions in the market, as indeed already happened between 2005 and 2009 when speculative escalation caused the skyrocketing prices of food and energy commodities. Moreover, the transformation process consumes energy and water, and emits air pollutants and greenhouse gases. In this regard, a study by the European Environment Agency states that the sharp increase in the production of agricultural, forestry and waste biomass could harm plant biodiversity and reduce the availability of land and water. To avoid this, the Agency proposes to establish the sustainable production level, i.e. the maximum amount of biomass that can be obtained for energy without increasing environmental pressure to unacceptable levels that threaten to erode the soil and cause deforestation and desertification. In any case, the study concluded that proper management can reconcile the production of significant amounts of bioenergy with environmental preservation. In short, it seems that bioenergy, like any other local renewable energy, can contribute significantly to strengthen national energy security by decreasing foreign dependence. In particular, biomass provides added value in the form of environmental, economic and social benefits, but it should be implemented production processes that minimize environmental impacts and ensure sustainable development, which is what ensures the satisfaction of our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
Jaca (Spain), 19^th march, 2013