Newsletter/ nawaros®
11/02
European Biomass Days of the Regions
2002
Workshop on biodiesel
Grain combustion for half a year
Expert meeting on biodiesel
Biogas plants - a conference report
C.A.R.M.E.N. expert discussion on the clean air directive
Bio-lubricants
From science
Resi on tour
Biodiesel: Production and marketing
Studying regeneration
European Biomass Days of the Regions 2002:
A summary
From the 29th September to the 6th October 2002, the European Biomass Days of the Regions took place (see also nawaros® 08/2002). They were officially opened on a press conference in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the 25th September. Politicians, media and biomass organisations attended. Werner Döller, C.A.R.M.E.N.'s executive secretary, thanked for the support the subject of biomass meets with on the European level. By 2010, twelve per cent of the energy used in the EU should be won from regenerative sources of energy, Markus Ferber, member of the European Parliament, explained. Especially in private and communal institutions (indoor swimming pools, schools, etc.) an enormous potential for a change to regenerative sources of energy was available, Ferber said.
Martina Sumenjan from the Slovenian Biomass Association
(Slobiom) explained the importance of biomass for the European future
and for climate protection. As a member of the Association of European
Biomass Organisations (AEBIOM) she read a statement drawn up by C.A.R.M.E.N.
and the AEBIOM and presented this position paper to Dr. Ingo Friedrich,
Vice-President of the European Parliament.
Dr. Ingo Friedrich thanked for the paper and announced the official start
of the Europe-wide action. He promised the further support of the European
Parliament to future activities around the Biomass Days. These Europe-wide
activities served to safeguard the sustainability of the whole continent,
Friedrich said. He wished the European Biomass Days to be well received
by citizens and initiatives.
The approval the Biomass Days met with is shown by the
following compilation of C.A.R.M.E.N.: A total of 434 participants from
ten European countries is not bad at all. Apart from 378 officially participating
projects from Germany, various events from Austria, Italy, France, Switzerland,
Sweden, Finland, Croatia, Slovenia, and Belgium were registered at C.A.R.M.E.N.
Almost 90 per cent of the registered actions dealt with the subject of
renewable energies. However, European companies, institutions, and organisations
also presented projects on the industrial use of renewable resources,
such as fibres, lubricants, and plant cultivation.
In the course of the Biomass Days numerous C.A.R.M.E.N. employees took the opportunity to gather information on innovations in the field of renewable raw materials. Karl Hanglberger, employee in the public relations department of C.A.R.M.E.N., had quite a long journey to do that. Together with Dr. Rupert Schäfer from the Bavarian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Hanglberger visited the "4th International Slobiom Conference" in Ljubljana (Slovenia) on the 30th September and 1st October. Subjects of the Conference were biomass and other renewable energies for Southeastern Europe.
The Conference was organised by the Slobiom, Jarenina.
The participants came from numerous countries, e.g. Finland, Germany,
and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The programme included not only lectures on the
basic conditions for the development of renewable energies with the main
focus on biomass but also on experiences of countries where the use of
biomass is further advanced.
In Slovenia, the potential for the use of biomass is enormous and still
underdeveloped. The forest area makes almost 60 per cent of the complete
surface of the country, but this forest potential is not much used. The
same applies to Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The wastes of the food
industry are also only scarcely used. However, there are first steps in
the direction of a utilisation of biomass. In the close future, the first
Slovenian production site for wood pellets is going to start operating.
In some large animal keeping facilities, pilot projects for the production
of biogas are being built.
In the EU candidate countries the agricultural and rural development is
supported by the programme "Sapard". Indebted countries having
agreed on a 'joint implementation' can bring up to ten per cent of their
annual repayments into a fund that is to contribute to the improvement
of the environmental conditions of their countries. The fund is attended
by experts of the donor countries. Thus, these means can also be used
for the development of biomass.
Information: C.A.R.M.E.N., Karl Hanglberger, e-mail: kh@carmen-ev.de and Slobiom, Martina Sumenjak, tel.: +386/31-579551, e-mail: sol.biomass@usa.net (http.//www.slobiom-zveza.si).
Workshop on biodiesel
Within the scope of the Bavarian-Croatian co-operation,
C.A.R.M.E.N. employee Hubert Maierhofer gave a lecture on behalf of the
Free State of Bavaria on a workshop in the Croatian Ministry of Agriculture
on the subject "biofuels". The main focus of his lecture was
biodiesel as a fuel.
Approximately 40 persons from ministries, universities, economy, and the
public authorities took part in the event. The most important oil crop
in Croatia is soya (50 per cent), followed by sunflower (30 per cent)
and rapeseed (20 per cent). In Croatia, the production of biodiesel from
rapeseed oil meets with great interest. As "super diesel" the
fuel is either to be added to conventional diesel or to be used as a pure
fuel for ecologically sensitive fields.
The energy generation from wood was also a topic of the programme (see
also nawaros® 02/2002 and 07/2002). Belisce AG, a manufacturer
of raw paper and packagings, plans to replace a natural gas-fuelled steam
boiler by a biomass-fuelled steam boiler with an output of 30 t/h. In
the city of Gospic there are plans for building a wood chip-fired heating
plant for the heat supply of administration buildings and of a school
with a multi-purpose hall. The total heat requirement amounts to about
2 MW. The national forest administration also plans to convert the heat
supply of further buildings to wood.
Further information: C.A.R.M.E.N., Hubert Maierhofer, e-mail:
hm@carmen-ev.de.
Grain combustion for half a year
Due to the weather-dependently bad quality of large amounts
of grain this year, the Bavarian Ministry of the Environment has decided
to permit grain to be co-combusted at a rate of thirty per cent in wood-fired
facilities. The initiative came from the Bavarian farmers' association.
According to the small firing installations ordinance, grain is no standard
fuel. Normally, it must not be combusted without a special permission.
It is necessary to make an application for a special permission for the
co-combustion of grain at the Rural District Office. In case of a positive
decision the latter gives a temporary permission for a period of six months.
There are two preconditions: On the one hand, it must be proved that the
grain cannot be used as a foodstuff or animal fodder. On the other hand,
the manufacturer of the firing plant must confirm that the plant is suitable
for grain combustion.
If 30 per cent of grain are added to the wood fuel, the legal emissions
limit is expected to be kept. Due to its ingredients, the fuel itself
produces distinctly higher emissions than wood fuels. Moreover, there
is the danger of boiler corrosions that can be caused by the chlorine
contained in the grain. At the moment, long-term experiences are wanting
here.
Information: C.A.R.M.E.N., Dr. Ruth Brökeland, e-mail: rb@carmen-ev.de (http://www.carmen-ev.de --> Publikationen --> Infoblatt Heizen mit Getreide).
Expert meeting on biodiesel
The Forschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft in Braunschweig
(FAL) ('Research Institute for Agriculture') in Braunschweig and the technical
college of Coburg organised the second international expert meeting on
the subject "Biodiesel: Potentials, Environmental Effects, Practical
Experience" on the 16th and 17th September.
In the course of this meeting, experts from research, industry, and practice
reported on their ideas on the present state and the future development
of the use of biodiesel. The requirements of the manufacturers of vehicles
and engines and the efforts of the producers of biodiesel to improve the
quality were also dealt with. With the emissions standards becoming constantly
stricter, a further improvement of the diesel-engine combustion and thus
the fuel quality is required.
Information: Institute for Technology and Biosystems Technology of the FAL, Prof. Dr. Axel Munack, e-mail: axel.munack@fal.de.
Biogas plants - a conference report
C.A.R.M.E.N. project attendant Robert Wagner attended the expert meeting "Biogas Plants - Requirements for Air Quality Conservation" at the Bayerisches Landesamt für Umweltschutz (LfU) ('Bavarian State-Level Environment Agency') in Augsburg on the 17th October 2002.
The "Present State of Biogas Technology in Bavaria" was explained by the diploma'd engineer Mathias Effenberger from the Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landtechnik ('Bavarian State Agency for Agricultural Engineering') in Freising. Dr. Martin Sklorz from the Bayerisches Institut für Angewandte Umweltforschung und -technik ('Bavarian Institute for Applied Environmental Research and Technology') in Augsburg presented "Studies on the Use of Oxidation Catalysts in Agricultural Biomass Combustions". Particularly the problems of sulphur and soot were treated.
For the ATZ-EVUS (Entwicklungszentrum für Verfahrenstechnik) ('Research Centre for Process Engineering') in Sulzbach-Rosenberg, diploma'd engineer Ralf Schneider discussed different techniques of removing hydrogen sulphide (H2S) from biogas. By chemical-physical methods very good results were achieved, but they were very expensive. Biological methods were cheaper and obtained passable removal results. For economic reasons a combination of biological and chemical-physical H2S removal steps was appropriate, Schneider said. First that should be tested in a research project, though.
Bernhard Zell (LfU) reported on biogas-fuelled district heating power stations. For economic and emissions-reducing reasons a regular maintenance of the engines was necessary, Zell emphasised. Modern pilot injection engines were also able to keep the emissions standards; operators should undergo training.
On behalf of the LfU, Mr. Reitberger analysed the emissions along the whole chain of biogas plants. For ecological reasons biogas technology was better as compared to simple slurry storage and application. There were further possibilities to save emissions of various kinds, e.g. a tight covering of the final disposal site and the application of the fermentation residues by means of the trailing hose or trailing shoe technology.
Diploma'd engineer Robert Plechinger from the industrial inspection board of the rural district of Munich explained the requirements of the new safety regulations for agricultural biogas plants. Joachim Knoche, LL.D., from the University of Munich reported on the licensing requirements of biogas plants. In the course of the subsequent discussion it was emphasised that the waste or non-waste characteristic of substrates or fermentation residues is not clearly defined.
From a plant constructor's angle, diploma'd engineer Alfons Himmelstoß from the Umwelt-Technik-Süd GmbH Dresden finally commented on practical problems of the licensing procedure of biogas plants.
Information: C.A.R.M.E.N., Robert Wagner, e-mail: rw@carmen-ev.de.
The conference proceedings can be ordered at Bayerisches Landesamt für
Umweltschutz (LfU), tel.: +49-821-9071-0, e-mail: poststelle@lfu.bayern.de.
C.A.R.M.E.N. expert discussion on the clean air directive
The clean air directive was amended in June 2002. The amendment
became eventually effective on the 1st October (see nawaros® 09/2002).
However, new heating systems have already been approved according to the
amended clean air directive for some time now. The new emissions standards
also apply to technically outmoded plants. After a transitional period
these standards must be kept. Often retrofittings in the flue gas cleaning
are necessary for that.
On the 13th November, a C.A.R.M.E.N. expert discussion on the subject
"Licensing Law and the Impact of the New Clean Air Directive on Biomass
Heating Plants" will be taking place in the educational institution
of the Bavarian farmers' association in Herrsching. The expert discussion
is addressed to operators, design engineering offices, and approving authorities.
Not only the approval procedure and the pollution protection requirements
of biomass heating systems are analysed but also the ecologically relevant
characteristics of solid biomass fuels.
Registration: C.A.R.M.E.N., Carmen Weber, e-mail: cw@carmen-ev.de.
Bio-lubricants
The Federal German Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food,
and Agriculture published a new Bericht über biologisch schnell abbaubare
Schmierstoffe und Hydraulikflüssigkeiten ('Report on Quickly Biodegradable
Lubricants and Hydraulic Liquids').
The report was elaborated by the institute for fluid drives and control
mechanisms of the technical university of Aix-la-Chapelle and the Fachagentur
für Nachwachsende Rohstoffe (FNR) ('Specialised Agency for Renewable
Resources') in Güstrow. Not only general legal conditions are described
in a detailed manner, but also fields of application and subjects such
as supply costs, reoiling, and disposal.
Information: The 60-pages brochure can be obtained at the Federal German Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food, and Agriculture, public relations department, Postfach, D-53107 Bonn.
From science
Thermoelements can convert the heat of a wood stove
into electricity. Corresponding experiments at the University of Cardiff
(http://www.cf.ac.uk) prove that the
heat of a conventional stove can obviously produce enough electricity
to supply a light bulb or a TV.
It is true that such thermoelements have been known since the 70s, but
now they are heat-resistant and much more efficient. The use of these
elements seems especially interesting for developing countries where wood
stoves are widespread but where electricity supply is wanting.
British scientists try to use compost for the production of electricity by means of a "bacterial battery". Compostable kitchen waste is broken down in a handy microbial fuel cell. Here, the bacterium Escherichia coli produces hydrogen from which electrons are abstracted by means of chemicals. The optimisation of the chemical composition and the electric yield are still being explored.
Sources: bild der wissenschaft
in the internet from the 19th September 2002 and 10th October 2002 (Technik).
Resi on tour
A cow-shaped biogas plant named "Resi" is currently
on a advertising tour through Africa.
The Bavarian Minister of the Environment Werner Schnappauf said that the
"implanted" Bavarian environmental technology caused an improved
biogas production. The Bavarian Ministry of the Environment supports the
study group around Prof. Wilderer at the technical university of Munich
with 650,000 Euros. The object of this study group is the optimisation
of the biogas production.
The Gesellschaft für technische Zusammenarbeit (http://www.gtz.de)
('company for technical co-operation') considers biogas as a possible
means of supplying remote places in developing countries with electricity.
Information and source: Press release of the Bavarian Ministry of the Environment from the 25th October 2002.
Biodiesel: Production and marketing
The brochure Biodieselproduktion und Vermarktung in Deutschland - Situation und Perspektive ('The Production and Marketing of Biodiesel in Germany - Situation and Perspective') published by the Union zur Förderung von Öl- und Proteinpflanzen e. V. (UFOP) ('Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants, registered association') in June 2002 shows the capacity extension and the sales of biodiesel. Technical aspects and questions of agricultural and environmental policy are discussed. The brochure can be downloaded in English and German language from the internet page (http://www.ufop.de/2504.htm).
Information: UFOP, Bonn,
Germany, fax: +49-228-8198-203, e-mail: info@ufop.de.
Studying regeneration
As the journal Erneuerbare Energien reports in its issue 11/2002, more and more German universities offer lectures and seminars from the field "regenerative energies".
Information: Erneuerbare Energien (11/2002, p. 5), editorial office: tel.: +49-511-844-1932, fax: -2576, e-mail: info@erneuerbareenergien.de (http://www.erneuerbareenergien.de).
