Biomass, a large opportunity for Europe

The official Opening of the 19th European Biomass Conference & Exhibition was held by Martin Faulstich, Chairman of the German Advisory Council on the Environment of the German Government, Head of Institute of Resources and Energy Technology at the Technische Universität München and Managing Director Straubing Center of Science.

7 June 2011

The official opening of the 19th European Biomass Conference & Exhibition was held by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Faulstich, Chairman of the German Advisory Council on the Environment of the German Government, Head of Institute of Resources and Energy Technology at the Technische Universität München and Managing Director Straubing Center of Science. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Faulstich: “Biomass is a renewable raw material with diverse applications. The conference will make an important contribution to forthcoming political decisions, for example the recent European Commission proposal for Common Agricultural Policy regarding the use of biomass in 2013 and subsequent years. Biomass as safe and reliable energy source can contribute to solve two of the most important challenges humanity is facing: climate change and energy supply. One of the major causes of climate change is the generation of energy. The recent events in Japan show in a dramatic way that Renewables are the only sustainable alternative for the mankind. Biomass can serve as a substitute for nearly all types of energy. The decisive advantage is the neutral CO2 balance, if biomass is used in an environmentally sustainable way”.Jean-Paul Malingreau, EC Joint Research Centre, brought the message from the European Commission: “Bioenergy represents a large opportunity for Europe. It will be a critical factor in securing our energy supply, it will stimulate innovation and industrial development and contribute to the sustainability of our cities and landscape. Biomass, however, is confronted with a large number of competing – non energy- uses. The challenge is to develop sustainable approaches which will take into account the demand for energy but also for food, fodder, biodiversity and other environmental services. The European Commission and in particular its Joint Research Centre provides a continuing support to such objectives, it participates actively in the organisation of the present Conference.” Paul Bryan, Biomass Program Manager at the U.S. Department of Energy: “The United States and Europe have many common challenges The U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard calls for the use of 36 billion gallons of biofuels by 2022, of which at least 21 billion gallons will be advanced biofuels that reduce GHG emissions by at least 50% relative to petroleum fuels. The European Union has also defined ambitious targets for the development of sustainable biofuels. In the U.S., we are investing in innovative research and development and partnering with industry to facilitate and accelerate the demonstration and commercial deployment of integrated bio refineries, to produce a range of advanced biofuels, chemicals, and products. We look forward to collaborating with our partners in Europe and around the world to develop the technologies and deployment strategies that will help us meet our common challenges”. Dr. Wolfgang Palz, World Council for Renewable Energy spoke on the contribution of bioenergy to a 100% renewable energy strategy: “Right now after the German decision to phase-out of nuclear power generation it becomes important to mobilize speedily all Renewable Energies in all their variety. Bioenergy should play a privileged role as – unlike Solar- and Wind energy – it is not intermittent in nature and available on demand anytime. Yet today bio power already contributes 5% to Germany’s electricity supply. Germany is even a world leader for modern Biogas, for Biodiesel and wood pellets. Bioenergy, derived from waste streams, agricultural and forestal residues further mobilizes local resources and is a reliable solution for a sustainable energy supply. Expert’s opinion: in the long term Germany could cover up to one third of its energy needs from Bioenergy.” Statement from the Technical Programme Coordinators from the European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Italy & The Netherlands, Dr. Heinz Ossenbrink, Dr. Jean-François Dallemand and Dr. David Baxter: “As the conference motto ‘From Research to Industry and Markets’ already points out, the program covers not only a wide range of options to use our valuable Biomass resources but emphasizes also the roles of all contributors to our program. In Europe, they regard in particular how to get ready for the doubling of bioenergy the European Member states committed in their National Renewable Energy Action Plans. This goal does not come by itself, and the conference will highlight the efforts in each fields: in research for instance towards 2nd generation Biofuels or algae, or how industry scales up advance combustion plants for electricity production. But also policies to accelerate the competiveness and innovation for stronger markets are presented together with guidance or even regulation to not harm the environment by the increased bioenergy demand. As the strongest increase is to be expected in the production of Biofuels, the program touches also upon concerns such as indirect land use change. This underlines that this conference has a much wider geographical scope than Europe, and that we again welcome the communities from North and Latin America, Asia and Africa”. The subjects of the 19th European Biomass Conference cover the entire range of bioenergy issues: availability of resources, conversion technologies, biomass projects, integration of biomass and derived products in the energy system, environmental impact, market deployment, policy and strategy actions. In addition to being a unique networking platform for the European bioenergy community, the conference has now become a global event attracting delegates and exhibitors from about 70 countries. Two official delegations from Canada and Malaysia will be present during the week to highlight the opportunities offered by the growing bioenergy industries in their respective countries and promote business cooperation with EU organisations. Canada for example is home to 10% of the world’s forests and 2.5% of the world’s grain production. Its productive land base of 3.1 million sq. km (8.7 times the size of Germany), combined with manure, municipal and industrial waste offers more biomass feedstock per capita than any other nation. Canada is the largest exporter of wood pellets in the world and its domestic biomass combustion already provides 6% of Canada’s total primary energy supply. The European Union is supporting an EU-Malaysia Biomass Sustainable Production Initiative including an EU-Asia Biomass Best Practices & Business Partnering Conference which will be held in May 2012 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 810 papers are given during the conference week. 231 (28%) are concentrating on Biomass Resources; 265 (33%) are covering the topic Biomass Conversion and 138 (17%) presentations are talking about Biomass Policies. Biofuels with 128 (16%) and the Biomass Market with 48 (6%) will complete the program. With 66 exhibitors from 14 countries this year’s exhibition area offers a comprehensive overview of the latest technologies and projects developed in the multiple niches of the biomass sector. ETA-Florence Renewable Energies Catherina Bernaschina e-mail: <a href=’mailto:pressoffice@etaflorence.it’>pressoffice@etaflorence.it</a> Phone: +39 055 500 22 80, Fax: +39 055 57 34 25.