Publications

Publications - Bioenergy in the BSR

The publications on the site exist on two different pages, publications related to the project on one page and more generall publication about Bioenergy in the Baltic Sea Region on an other page. Here you can find publications realted to Bioenergy in the Baltic Sea Region. Use the filter to the right to find what you looking for.

The Expanding Bio-energy Market in the Nordic Countries – Possibilities and Consequences

The report contains a description of status and potentials of the use of biomass resources, application of bioenergy technology, political framework conditions and environmental issues of an increasing global bioenergy market.

Facts and Figures on the Use of Bioenergy in the Nordic Countries

This report provides a description of the current use and future potentials of bio-energy resources in the Nordic countries in terms of the energetic content of the biomass resource before it’s converted to an energy form.

Current Bioenergy Application and Conversion Technologies in the Nordic Countries

This report provides a brief overview of the bioenergy value chain from a technological perspective. The report also gives an overview of advantages and disadvantages, as well as status and development trends in the Nordic countries for each of the main bioenergy value chain components.

Global Aspects of Bioenergy Imports

This report provides an overview of imports to the Nordic countries from Europe and the rest of the World. Main issues and aspects of a growing import of biomass to the Nordic countries are raised.

Status and Potentials of Bioenergy in the Nordic Countries - Summary

This report is part of a collection of smaller reports under the Nordic Bioenergy Project "Opportunities and Consequences of an Expanding Bioenergy Market in the Nordic Countries", which aims to provide factual background information on the status of bioenergy in the Nordic countries.

Facts and Figures on the Use and Potential of Biomass Resources for Bioenergy in the Nordic Countries

This report is part of a collection of smaller reports under the Nordic Bioenergy Project "Opportunities and Consequences of an Expanding Bioenergy Market in the Nordic Countries", which aims to provide factual background information on the status of bioenergy in the Nordic countries.

Current Bioenergy Policies and Measures in the Nordic Countries

This report provides an overview of the current main policies and measures related to the development and use of biomass resources and technologies in heating, electricity and transport.

Bioenergy resources in the forest of Saaremaa

The study combined the information from different sources (Estonian base map and digital soil map, digital forest maps and inventory data from the State Registry of Forest Data and local administrative maps) in order to achieve the results. The researcher took into account non-forest areas as well (traces, drainage roads ect.) to calculate the potential wooden fuel. Special focus of the research was Leisi municipality, as it is the pilotarea in Saaremaa county. Sufficient available wooden fuel resources are available in Leisi to supply the municipality with district heating.

Using renewable energy in Misso, Võrumaa, Estonia

The study shows in 8 chapters the preconditions and possibilities for the usage of bioenergy in Misso, a small municipality in South-East Estonia. Subjects of special interest also for other Baltic Sea Region states can be the section one (laws and degrees in the European Union and Estonia) and section 8 (risks and influences while using renewable energy sources).

What is IEA Bioenergy?

IEA Bioenergy is an organisation set up in 1978 by the International Energy Agency (IEA) with the aim of improving cooperation and information exchange between countries that have national programmes in bioenergy research, development and deployment.

Challenges of the Developing Bioenergy Markets in Russia

The Wood Industries Confederation of Northwest Russia on behalf of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources has developed the conception of the State Federal program in wood bioenergy for Russia.

European Commission - Bioenergy: Related Documents

Bioenergy Biomass is derived from different types of organic matter: energy plants (oilseeds, plants containing sugar) and forestry, agricultural or urban waste including wood and household waste. Biomass can be used for heating, for producing electricity and for transport biofuels. Biomass can be solid (plants, wood, straw and other plants), gaseous (from organic waste, landfill waste) or liquid (derived from crops such as wheat, rapeseed, soy, or from lignocellulosic material). The use of biomass can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The carbon dioxide it gives off when it is burned is counterbalanced by the amount absorbed when the plant in question was grown. However, generating net greenhouse gas savings also depends on the cultivation and fuel production processes used. Following the Commission's Biomass Action Plan, several Member States have produced their own national action plans. Most recently, the Commission has conducted a study into the permitting procedures of biomass installations, and is assessing the options for developing biomass sustainability criteria (including through recent public consultations).

Global Potential for Bioenergy

A position paper by World Bioenergy Association (WBA) based on a report by the Department of Energy and Technology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) shows that the global potential to produce biomass for energy in a sustainable way is sufficient to meet global energy demand.

EU Commission: Biodiverse grassland, biofuels and bioliquids

The EU Commission has yesterday launched a public stakeholder consultation on Biodiverse grassland, biofuels and bioliquids. Below more info. Attached the consultation document. The objective of the consultation is to seek views on possible approaches to define the criteria and ranges of highly biodiverse grasslands. This will feed into the drafting of a Commission Decision on the establishment of criteria and ranges of highly biodiverse grasslands for the purpose of Directive 2009/28/EC. The sustainability requirements of the Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources establish that raw materials used for the production of biofuels and bioliquids may not be produced on land that had the status of highly biodiverse grassland in or after January 2008. The Commission is required to establish such criteria and ranges according to Article 17(3)c of the Directive 2009/28/EC . Consultation period: 14/12/2009 - 08/02/2010 More info at http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/consultations/2010_02_08_biodiverse_grassland_en.htm

Main Report: Bioenergy - a sustainable and reliable energy source. A review of status and prospects.

This report was jointly prepared for IEA Bioenergy by the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), E4tech, Chalmers University of Technology, and the Copernicus Institute of the University of Utrecht. The purpose of the report was to produce an authoritative review of the entire bioenergy sector aimed at policy and investment decision makers. The brief to the contractors was to provide a global perspective of the potential for bioenergy, the main opportunities for deployment in the short and medium term and the principal issues and challenges facing the development of the sector.

IEA Bioenergy News, Vol 21(2),

IEA Bioenergy News is the newsletter of IEA Bioenergy. This issue covers the May ExCo64 meeting in Liege, Belgium. It also features the an editorial on Bioenergy in Belgium, the Noticeboard, and recent publications and upcoming events.

IEA: Better Use of Biomass for Energy

On 15 December 2009 lEA RETD and lEA Bioenergy presented the key findings from a joint project on ‘Better Use of Biomass for Energy’ during the RETD side event at the COP15 in Copenhagen. The project identified opportunities for bioenergy to achieve better greenhouse gas reduction, and for climate policies to achieve better bioenergy development. - ‘Good’ biomass for energy could diversify energy supply at reasonable cost, improve trade balances, and provide rural income and employment. Bioenergy could help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuels. - Biomass for energy could be ‘Bad’ if no safeguards are placed against GHG emissions and biodiversity loss from land use change, food insecurity, overuse of water, and mismanagement of soils. - ‘Better’ biomass for energy is needed to increase sustainable energy in all countries, taking into account costs and efficiency. These issues are addressed in the position paper which was produced by the Implementing Agreements on ‘Renewable Energy Technology Deployment (RETD)’ and ‘Bioenergy’, which form part of a programme of international energy technology collaboration undertaken under the auspices of the International Energy Agency. Details on the findings, recommendations and brief case studies are given in a background document prepared for lEA RETD and lEA Bioenergy by a research team consisting of CE Delft, Oeko-Institut, AidEnvironment and CIEP. This will be available early in 2010.

PROMITHEAS - Newsletter Issue 20

PROMITHEAS Six (6) research centres from Black Sea States initially form the network: KEPA (Greece), GPOGC (Azerbaijan), BSREC (Bulgaria), IPE (Moldova), ISPE (Romania) and ESEMI (Ukraine). Issues related to sustainable energy development, such as security and diversification of EU energy supply, trans-continental energy corridors, energy market development, energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, climate change adaptation and mitigation concerns, regional cooperation and stability affect the policies that the EU introduces to the broader Black Sea region. Cooperation on RTD activities concerning energy and climate policy issues may become the catalyst for enhancing the bonds of scientific cooperation between the relevant societies of EU and Black Sea countries. Such cooperation will encourage and support the mobilization of the pertinent human resources of the region. It will also assist the scientific communities of the region to become familiar with the ERA procedures and activities in order to participate in the FP6 (FP7) programme.

EU Commission(2009): A Technology Roadmap

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying document to the COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS on Investing in the Development of Low Carbon Technologies (SET-Plan) A TECHNOLOGY ROADMAP

ECTP (2009): Mapping of European Networks on Energy

The main mission of the European Networks on Energy (ECTP) is to develop new strategies on Research, Development and Innovation, both to improve the competitiveness of the construction sector and to meet societal needs and environmental challenges. Major objectives of ECTP include: • to regularly update its Strategic Research Agenda Implementation Action Plan and to promote it into European, national and trans‐national programmes; • to promote and follow RDI projects at European, national and trans‐national levels; • to launch and support a Joint Technology Initiative on Energy Efficient Buildings; • to promote the dissemination and exploitation of R&D results within the Construction Sector all over Europe (and even worldwide), in order to improve innovation developments by all the stakeholders of the sector, to contribute to standardisation policies.

IEA Bioenergy (2009): Strategic Plan 2010-2016

IEA Bioenergy published its first Strategic Plan in 1995. This was seen as a ‘living document’ which would be amended to reflect the changing needs and aspirations of IEA Bioenergy and its Members. Accordingly, new plans were developed in response to changing circumstances. Now a fourth version has been produced. The drivers of the new Strategic Plan include: In May 2009 the Executive Committee discussed priorities for future work and agreed that the most pressing issues included sustainability issues; the impact of bioenergy on land use change; R&D needs and priorities for the range of emerging bioenergy technologies; evaluation of new potential conversion technologies and crops; and issues associated with the practical implementation of bioenergy systems. • The increased emphasis on security of energy supply by Member Countries and the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. • The increased emphasis on greenhouse gas mitigation through the use of bioenergy technologies by Member Countries. • The need to develop sustainable, non-food biomass resources to be used in bioenergy applications that are environmentally sound and socially acceptable. • The need for large-scale development and deployment of new or improved bioenergy technologies. • The need to increase the strategic role of IEA Bioenergy and to support energy policy development. • The need to enhance the support of IEA bodies in promoting their global energy and environment strategy.

EC: Agriculture and Rural Development - Bioenergy

The EU is committed to combat climate change and to increase security of its energy supply. Bioenergy from forestry and agriculture plays a key role for both. The Common Agricultural Policy helps agriculture and forestry to provide biomass for energy and encourages the use of bioenergy in rural areas.

IEA Bioenergy Task 43: Biomass feedstocks for Energy Markets

OBJECTIVE - To promote sound bioenergy development that is driven by well-informed decisions in business, governments and elsewhere. This will be achieved by providing to relevant actors timely and topical analyses, syntheses and conclusions on all fields related to biomass feedstock, including biomass markets and the socioeconomic and environmental consequences of feedstock production.

Energy Papers - Summary of the Official Journal of the EU

ENERGYpapers is an electronic information service on publications of interest to the energy sector. Its purpose is to keep energy professionals informed about the emergence of new publications that may be of their interest. We would like to introduce one of our highest value-added services, first and only of its kind: our summaries of the Official Journal of the European Union on energy matters, now available in all the official languages in the EU. You can find more information and subscribe to our service on our website.

EU Commission: Biomass Sustainability Report

The Commission adopted 25 February a report on sustainability requirements for the use of solid biomass and biogas in electricity, heating and cooling. The report makes recommendations on sustainability criteria to be used by those Member States that wish to introduce a scheme at national level, in order to avoid obstacles for the functioning of the internal market for biomass.

IEA Bioenergy Annual Report 2009

The IEA Bioenergy 2009 Annual Report includes a special feature article 'Bioenergy – a Sustainable and Reliable Energy Source: A review of status and prospects'. This is the Executive Summary of the strategic paper prepared by IEA Bioenergy. The Annual Report also includes a report from the Executive Committee and a detailed progress report on each of the Tasks. Also included is key information such as Task participation, Contracting Parties, budget tables and substantial contact information plus lists of reports and papers produced by the Implementing Agreement. Please Note: This file contains hyperlinks for easy access to Task information, Appendices and websites.

Energy Papers - Summary of the Official Journal of the EU

Summary of the Official Journal of the European Union on energy issues. This weekly service is aimed at those who must stay abreast of everything that is published on energy in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).

European Commission Energy Research - Newsletter

The European Commission maintains this website to enhance public access to information about its initiatives and European Union policies in general. Our goal is to keep this information timely and accurate. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. However the Commission accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to the information on this site.

IEA ExCo Workshop "Algae - the future for Bioenergy?

This workshop was held in conjunction with ExCo64 in Liege, Belgium on 1 October 2009. At the workshop presentations were given by 8 invited speakers and consisted of four sessions as follows: Session 1: What's the overall state-of-the-art for the different feedstocks and technology options? Session 2: Marine macro-algae Session 3: Micro-algae in open ponds Session 4: Micro-algae in closed systems

Global Potential of Sustainable Biomass for Energy

This report is a synthesis of information and its relative distribution in the bioenergy field, obtained through a review of global data and literature. The report contains two main sections organized around bioenergy issues, including an information survey and a literature review. The overwhelming amount of research focused on bioenergy compared to all other renewable energy types illustrates the role of bioenergy as the most important renewable energy source for the near- and medium-term future. Based on existing literature, the review seeks to identify some key trends and shifts in bioenergy topics related to the sustainable potential of global biomass.

EC becoming a partner in the Global Bioenergy Partnership

EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The European Commission (hereafter referred to as ‘the Commission’) shall participate as a partner in the Global Bioenergy Partnership. Article 2 The Commissioner for Energy, or his designated representative, is authorised to sign the Terms of Reference for the Global Bioenergy Partnership on behalf of the Commission.

Nordic Energy Solutions - Bioenergy

The Official Showcase for Nordic Sustainable Energy Strongholds - Bioenergy

EU Biofuels Target Borderline Sustainable - Report

Going beyond a 5.6% share of biofuels in transport fuel could harm the environment, found a new report made public by the European Commission yesterday (25 March), suggesting that the EU's current target is only borderline sustainable. The report, compiled for the Commission by the International Food Policy Institute (IFPRI), concludes that indirect land-use change has "an important effect on the environmental sustainability of biofuels". Nevertheless, it argues that current EU renewable energy targets are small enough to safeguard the environmental sustainability of biofuels.

Nordic Energy Research Annual Report 2009

Nordic Energy Research presents its results and achivements for 2009. A turmoiltous and busy year that saw much change, but also the steady continuation of our core activities, the research projects. Please read more by downloading our report.

IEA Bioenergy: Developing Sustainable Trade in Bioenergy

This workshop was held in conjunction with ExCo65 in Nara City, Japan on 12 May 2010. At the workshop presentations were given by 8 invited speakers and consisted of four sessions as follows: Session 1 – Overview and Scene Setting Session 2 – Trade in Solid Biofuels Session 3 – Trade in Liquid Biofuels Session 4 – Sustainability and Trade Session 5 – Discussion and Conclusions

Sustainable Biofuels (Top-Level Research Initiativ)

Top-Level Research Initiative(TFI): Projects within the sub-program "Sustainable Biofuels" Four research projects, with leaders from Finland (VTT), Norway (SINTEF & NTNU) and Sweden (Chalmers) and participants from all Nordic countries, have been granted funding from TFIs sub-program "Sustainable biofuels".

EU - Biofuels: Sustainability Criteria

To your info, please notify that the Commission has recently released two additonal Communications and one Decision regarding the practical implementation of the sustainability scheme for biofuels and bioliquids:http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/biofuels/sustainability_criteria_en.htm.

IEA Bioenergy News, Volume 22(1), June 2010

IEA Bioenergy News is the newsletter of IEA Bioenergy. This issue covers the May ExCo65 meeting in Nara City, Japan. It also features the an editorial on Bioenergy in Japan, a focus on Task 32, the Noticeboard, and recent publications and upcoming events.

GBEP Newsletter 8/july 2010

Global Bioenergy Partnership (GBEP) The recent G8 Summit held in Muskoka, Canada, renewed the Global Bioenergy Partnership’s mandate, calling for it to move forward in defining its sustainability criteria and indicators and work on capacity building. In their final communiqué, the summit leaders said they recognised the potential of bioenergy for sustainable development, climate change mitigation and energy security. They added: “We welcome the work of the Global Bioenergy Partnership and commit to facilitating swift adoption of voluntary sustainability criteria and indicators, as well as on capacity building activities.” GBEP is succeeding in attracting an ever greater number of countries and international organisations to become partners – with the total number now at 33. Another 28 take part as observers. This broad participation makes the GBEP’s work increasingly authoritative and relevant and means that bioenergy experts and decision-makers worldwide are contributing to its goals.

European Biofuels Technology Platform (EBTP)

An electronic version of the European Biofuels Technology Platform (EBTP) Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) Update 2010 is now available online at: http://www.biofuelstp.eu/sra.html A short run of the printed version will be available in September. The 2010 SRA update presents a synthetic view on the key issues that drive, shape and enable biofuels developments (regulations, sustainability, feedstocks, technology) to highlight priority areas where further research, development and demonstration is needed. The EBTP was established in 2006 to contribute to the development of cost-competitive, world-class biofuels technologies, and accelerate the deployment of sustainable biofuels in the European Union, through a process of guidance, prioritisation and promotion of research, development and demonstration activities (R&D&D). For more information on the European Biofuels Technology Platform please visit www.biofuelstp.eu

The 18th European Biomass Conf. and Exhibiton - PROCEEDINGS

The 18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition in Lyon has been a successful forum for information exchange in the field of bioenergy for all delegates and exhibitors from 72 countries around the world. We are pleased to inform you that the Conference Proceedings jointly elaborated by ETA-Florence Renewable Energies and WIP-Munich are now available for purchase. The Proceedings on DVD contain contributions submitted and presented in Lyon: 441 papers, 176 presentations and 264 poster files. Given the broad range of topics covered at the Conference, these Proceedings certainly represent a significant up-date on the status and prospects of the global biomass sector.

FAO: Jatropha - a bioenergy crop for the poor

Jatropha - a bioenergy crop for the poor 22 Jul 10 22 July 2010, Rome - Using the energy crop jatropha for biodiesel production could benefit poor farmers, particularly in semi-arid and remote areas of developing countries, according to a report published by FAO and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). But the report stresses that jatropha is still essentially a wild plant sorely in need of crop improvement. Expecting jatropha to substitute significantly for oil imports in developing countries is unrealistic. "Many of the actual investments and policy decisions on developing jatropha as an oil crop have been made without the backing of sufficient science-based knowledge," the report said. "Realizing the true potential of jatropha requires separating facts from the claims and half-truths." http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/44142/icode/

EU Biodiesel 2009: Ups and downs

EU biodiesel 2009: ups and downs 26 Jul 10 On the surface it all seems good news for Europe’s biodiesel industry with capacity growth at 16.6%, but a worrying number of idled plants put its true potential at bay. The total production figure of 9 million tonnes is overshadowed by the EU27’s two-thirds idle capacity, said to be due in part to unfair trade practices on the global biodiesel market. The European Biodiesel Board (EBB) says the region's biodiesel production capacity grew by 5 million tonnes to 21 million tonnes despite the closure of some smaller plants. In 2008, Europe produced 7.75 million tonnes of biodiesel from a capacity base of 16 million tonnes, putting idle capacity levels at 51%. http://www.biofuels-news.com/industry_news.php?item_id=2398 Read EBB press release

EU FP7/Energy Research Info Day - 2011 Calls

On this page you will find access to live Internet broadcasts and video recordings of conferences in Brussels and elsewhere in Europe, as well as European Commission documentary videos on various policies. The portal features a user-friendly interface integrating video, audio, slides, speaker information, interactive chat, polling mechanism and other useful information on a single screen. Conferences, Workshops, Programme Information Days, and other events are combined, at times, with interactive chats or polls enabling online participants to ask questions at the actual event and to discuss related topics amongst themselves and with European Commission staff. This allows an easy to use, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly interactive communication. Video recordings will be made available online a few days after the events.

European Biomass Conference and Exibition - PROCEEDINGS

ETA-Florence Renewable Energies and WIP Renewable Energies, organisers of the European Biomass Conference and Exhibition (EU BC&E), announce that the Conference Proceedings from the 18th EU BC&E (2010 in Lyon, France) have now also been published online.

IEA Bioenergy Updates available in the Biomass and Bioenergy Journal

These updates were produced by the Implementing Agreement on Bioenergy, which forms part of a programme of international energy technology collaboration undertaken under the auspices of the International Energy Agency.’

Renewabe Energy Projections as published in the National Renewable Energy Action Plans of the European Member States

The Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) has recently extracted key data from the published NREAPs and has made these available for further analysis and comparison in a database. The database which contains energy consumption and renewable projections up to 2020 for the 19 countries is available for download in CSV format. In addition, ECN published a report which integrates and aggregates the renewable energy projection data from the individual European countries, presents tables in various cross-sections and offers graphical representations of the data. Also, derived indicators (average annual growth, full load hours for electricity options, per capita and per area indicators) are presented. You can find the repoprt attached. The database is available at http://www.ecn.nl/units/ps/themes/renewable-energy/projects/nreap/ The work has been financed by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

FAO: Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010

4 October 2010, Rome - The world's forest biodiversity is threatened by a high global rate of deforestation and forest degradation as well as a decline in primary forest area. In many countries, however, there is a continued positive trend towards the conservation of forest biological diversity via dedicated conservation areas. These are some of the key findings of the final report of FAO's Global Forest Resources Assessment 2010 (FRA 2010), the most comprehensive assessment of the state of the world's forests ever undertaken. The final report of FRA 2010 was published today at the start of the latest biennial meeting of the FAO' Committee on Forestry and World Forest Week, in Rome.

Biomass and Bioenergy Updates 01 - 46

IEA Biomass and bioenergy Updates available in the Biomass and Bioenergy Journal http://www.ieabioenergy.com/DocSet.aspx?id=3&ret=lib

EU FP7 Energy Mid-Term Evaluation

This report presents the mid term evaluation of the non nuclear energy research and demonstration projects supported by DG Energy 1 under the 7th Framework Programme (FP7).The approach followed has been: · Programme data an alysis: A review of the available data on applications and approved projects. · Literature review: To illustrate the policy context and to help update / reconstruct the objectives of the programme. · A participant survey : Covering all project partners involved in the target group of FP7 projects plus another survey of recipients of FP6 funding who have not yet applied for FP7 funds. · Consultations: A series of structured interviews with high level stakeholders, DG officers and project coordinators and partners f rom 10 current projects. The report presents our findings and conclusions against each of the main evaluation questions and then presents and describes a series of recommendations structured via the main stage s of the programme life cycle. The evaluation questions, our findings and recommendations are summarised below.

The European CCS Demonstration Project Network

The European CCS Demonstration Project Network To help fulfil the potential of CO2 Capture and Storage (CCS), the European Commission is sponsoring the world’s first network of demonstration projects, all of which are aiming to be operational by 2015. The goal is to create a prominent community of projects united in the goal of achieving commercially viable CCS by 2020. The CCS Project Network will foster knowledge sharing amongst the demonstration projects and leverage this new body of knowledge to raise public understanding of the potential of CCS. This will accelerate learning and ensure that we can assist CCS to safely fulfil its potential, both in the EU and in cooperation with global partners. The European Commission is coordinating the work of the Network and is looking forward to developing the Network into a leading community for CCS deployment. CCS Project Network Advisory Forum 2010 The first Advisory Forum meeting of the CCS Project Network was held in Brussels on 17 September 2010. To guarantee that the work of the Network is valuable to the wider energy community in Europe, this annual Advisory Forum has been established to review progress and specify the knowledge that can most usefully be generated as outputs of CCS Project Network activities.

Sustainable Energy Systems - Call for proposals

On the 25th of October 2010 Nordic Energy Research launched a new research call on Sustainable Energy Systems worth 100 million NOK. The aim is to develop integrated solutions between Renewables, Low-Carbon Transport and Grids & Markets. Cooperative Nordic research consortia are invited to submit pre-proposals before December 16th 2010.

IEA Bioenergy: Thermal pre-treatment of biomass for large-scale applications

This workshop was held in conjunction with ExCo66 in York, UK on 12 October 2010. At the workshop presentations were given by seven invited speakers and consisted of five sessions as follows: Session 1 – Overview of processes Session 2 – Pyrolysis Session 3 – Gasification Session 4 – Torrefaction Session 5 – Environmental best options A proceedings of the workshop will be made available in the near future

Regionale Bioenergie-Beratung / Newsletter Nov. 2010

„Energie für Morgen – Chancen für ländliche Räume“ ist das Aktionsprogramm des Bundesministeriums für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz (BMELV) zur Förderung des Ausbaus von Bioenergie im ländlichen Raum überschrieben. Neben dem Klimaschutz und der Unabhängigkeit von Energieexporten soll es vor allem dezentrale Ansätze zur Energieerzeugung in ländlichen Räumen befördern. Im Auftrag des Ministeriums informieren deshalb zwölf Beratungsteams in allen Flächenbundesländern land- und forstwirtschaftliche Unternehmen zur Bioenergieerzeugung und -nutzung und klären die Öffentlichkeit über den Energiepflanzenanbau auf. Im Rahmen der diesjährigen BioEnergy Decentral in Hannover stellen sich einige der Teams vor und informieren über ihre bisherige Aktivitäten, zeigen aber vor allem anhand von konkreten Projekten Ansätze zur erfolgreichen und innovativen Bioenergieerzeugung und -nutzung. Weitere Nachrichten finden Sie auf der Internetseite der regionalen Bioenergieberatung www.bioenergie-portal.info sowie auf www.fnr.de

Biomass Heating in Upper Austria - green energy, green jobs

The report describes how modern, high-efficiency biomass heating presents great opportunities for local economic development, for decreasing energy costs and for climate and environment protection. The publication offers information on technologies , biomass supply chains and business models. It describes the policies and programmes which were implemented in Upper Austria to trigger a successful biomass market development. Project examples show the variety of biomass heating systems installed in Upper Austria. Download the report: "Biomass heating in Upper Austria - green energy, green jobs" (www.oec.at)

Bioenergy from Sustainable Forests - A Carbon Neutral Source of Energy

AEBIOM argues that biomass use can be increased while keeping carbon neutrality in sustainably managed and productive forests and saving CO2 by substituting fossil fuels. Key roles of forest: Forest plays important roles for the society and economy in Europe: 􀁸 It offers raw materials for the industry 􀁸 It delivers various forms of biomass for energy 􀁸 It secures a large number of jobs along the whole value chain 􀁸 It provides areas for recreation, leisure activities, wildlife and the preservation of the natural habitat, for the water natural cycles and the stabilization of the regional climate.

Good practice guidance on sustainable mobilisation of wood in Europe

FOREST EUROPE has published the brochure Good practice guidance on sustainable mobilisation of wood in Europe. The publication highlights the growing demand for renewable energy as one important driver for the increased attention to wood mobilisation. The European wood mobilisation potential is presented, and examples of concrete actions and measures with promising mobilisation potentials are showcased. A core message is that all mobilisation efforts should follow the principles of sustainability.

International Handbook From Extraction of Forest Fuels to Ash Recycling

Extraction of forest harvest residues (small trees, branches and tops) has increased in a number of countries in recent decades. With such whole-tree harvesting, the export of nutrients and acid-buffering substances from the growing site is increased, potentially affecting tree growth and the chemistry of runoff water. There is consequently a long-term need for compensatory fertilisation at many sites in order to maintain the chemical quality of the water in forest streams and lakes. Compensation is particulary important on sites with weak mineralogy, e.g. on organic soils, at severly acidified sites or sites exposed to high nitrogen deposition. Wood ash contains acid-buffering substances as well as most nutrients and is suitable for such compensation.

Sustainable Use of Forest Bioenergy

In November 2009 there were a cross-fertilization and research seminar "Sustainable use of forest bioenergy" was held in Helsinki 24.11.2009 organized by Tapio and Finnish Forest Research Institute. Programme: Opening Bio energy resources in Finnish Forests and criteria for sustainable production (4,7 Mb) Intensive production of woody biomass Preserving biodiversity in bio energy harvesting Energy wood harvesting and nutrient balances Effects of energy wood harvesting on forest damage (2,6 Mb) Perspectives of using the research findings for the further work in Bioenergy Promotion-project

Better use of Biomass for Energy - Position Paper and Background Report

On 15 December 2009 lEA RETD and lEA Bioenergy presented the key findings from a joint project on ‘Better Use of Biomass for Energy’ during the RETD side event at the COP15 in Copenhagen. The project identified opportunities for bioenergy to achieve better greenhouse gas reduction, and for climate policies to achieve better bioenergy development. - ‘Good’ biomass for energy could diversify energy supply at reasonable cost, improve trade balances, and provide rural income and employment. Bioenergy could help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuels. - Biomass for energy could be ‘Bad’ if no safeguards are placed against GHG emissions and biodiversity loss from land use change, food insecurity, overuse of water, and mismanagement of soils. - ‘Better’ biomass for energy is needed to increase sustainable energy in all countries, taking into account costs and efficiency.