The 26th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition started on Monday 14th May in Copenhagen with an inspiring opening session featuring ambitious industrial initiatives, policy updates and a lively panel discussion on the vital role of biomass for climate protection and sustainable development.
Attendance at this 26th edition confirmed the importance of this event for stakeholders of the biomass sector: more than 800 plenary, oral and visual presentations, 74 conference sessions, 8 industry oriented sessions, and moreover parallel events, workshops and networking events. In addition to the scientific content, the EUBCE includes an international Exhibition gathering companies from 14 countries.
The conference is organized with the scientific support of the European Commission Joint Research Centre. “We need to get the best out of biomass, we need to prioritize the most effective bioenergy pathways that deliver robust GHG reductions that maximise our contributions to the climate and energy goals”, said Piotr Szymanski, Director of Energy, Transport and Climate of the EC Joint Research Centre, opening the first session.
“Bioenergy is an indispensable part of the future energy supply in the short-term and the long-term. EUBCE is a perfect setting for discussing research and technological development as well as the sustainability of bioenergy, in order to maximize its contribution to mitigate climate change”, said Michael Persson, Head of Secretariat, Danish Bioenergy Association, this year’s Conference General Chairman. “The EUBCE has a very important role for biomass”, continues Persson, “it is a fundamental platform to disseminate knowledge in this sector among science, business and the political world. I am very happy that this event takes place in Denmark”.
Dorte Nøhr Andersen, Deputy Permanent Secretary Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate, Denmark, remarked that the country has a strategy to become independent from fossil fuels by 2050 and that biomass will be an important resource to achieve this. Today 43% of the Danish electricity production comes from wind, while bioenergy accounts for two thirds of the final supply of renewable energy.
Kyriakos Maniatis, policy officer EC DG Energy, presented the status of the revised Renewable Energy Directive, which will provide a clear roadmap for the future development of the EU bioenergy sector. He gave an overview of the positions of the Commission, the Parliament, and the Council in the final months of negotiation, which could be finalized by the end of 2018.
Among the representatives of the industrial world, Jennifer Holmgren, Chief Executive Officer of LanzaTech, presented the company’s current projects in Europe and worldwide, based on the recycling of carbon from industrial waste gases. “It is time to treat carbon as an opportunity not a liability, and carbon-smart technologies exist today that can do just that”, she said. “We need to act and we need to collaborate, any sustainable solution works. We need to move quickly enough and not be afraid to fail. Our Steelanol project is a great example of how Europe is utilizing public-private partnerships, to lead the transition to a low-carbon future while creating jobs and economic growth.”
“The sustainability challenge of our time requires bioenergy as a necessary component to achieve a decarbonised transport system”, Urban Wästljung, of Scania CV AB, said “We need to reduce emission by 50% every decade from now to 2050, we know how it can be done and we are sure this can be done”. The approach of Scania to reduce carbon emissions from heavy duty transports is based on increasing energy efficiency, using alternative fuels and electrification, but also on developing smart and safe transport.
Claus Sauter, CEO of Verbio, also introduced the vision and plan for sustainable long-haul transport based on biomethane from 100 per cent straw, used with the new generation of CNG or LNG trucks. “Technologies are there, local feedstock is there but there is still no legal framework”, he remarked.
“The EUBCE programme once again displays the tremendous innovation potential of biomass conversion, and the fact that technologies are ready to be rolled out for new investments”, says Marko Janhunen, UPM Biofuels, Director Public Affairs and LSB Chair. “What the industry once again calls for is predictable and long-term policy framework in which companies can invest and operate”, he added.
As a novelty, the audience could ask questions through an online platform.
(Article by: http://www.eubce.com/)
Rehap are currently attending the prestigious EUBCE and are presenting two posters on the project's current groundbreaking studies. More information on Rehap's attendance to follow.
