Newsletter/ nawaros^® 02/03

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Content

C.A.R.M.E.N. Forum 2003, Biofuels - Biolubricants - Biogas Plants
Biogas Looking Forward to a Great Future
Biodiesel for Public Passenger Transport
Regenerative Energy
Fit & Beautiful
Now Available at C.A.R.M.E.N.
Prize-Winning "RapsAsphalt"
C.A.R.M.E.N. at the Education Fair
Money from the State
Biodiesel, Facts - Arguments - Suggestions
Typical Statements - Objective Answers
Energy from Biomass
Oil Change
Published by ökom, Dealing with Environment Systems
Ecological Footprints
Climate Training

C.A.R.M.E.N. Forum 2003, Biofuels - Biolubricants - Biogas Plants

On April 7th, 2003, the Tenth C.A.R.M.E.N. Forum will be taking place under the motto "Economic Aspects of Biofuels, Biolubricants, and Biogas Plants". Not only plant constructors, energy technicians and consultants, environmental engineers and consultants, farmers, and representatives of the authorities are welcome at the forum but also all those interested in the subject. The place of conference is the Hall of Knights in the Ducal Castle of Straubing. "The enormous approval we met with on the last Forum, which focused on quality aspects of biogenic fuels, prompted us to deal particularly with economic aspects this year," says Hubert Maierhofer, project attendant at C.A.R.M.E.N. On three technical sessions of the conference (biofuels, biolubricants, and biogas plants) experts from industry, services enterprises, and from practice are reporting on their experiences.

Subsequent to the lectures, the speakers will answer questions. The Bavarian Minister of Agriculture, Josef Miller, opens the conference with a lecture on the topic "The Contributions of Agriculture and Forestry to the Mobility of Our Modern Society".
Starting the session "Biofuels", Philipp Schlüter from Südzucker AG in Ochsenfurt reports on the production of bioethanol. He assesses the opportunities of agriculture and sugar industry.
Dr. Jens Ehlert presents the requirements to future regenerative fuels as seen by Audi AG. Hans Dieter Hojnacki from WLS GmbH, Duisburg, gives an account of a forwarding agency's practical experiences with biodiesel.
On the session "Biolubricants", Karl Faust from BayWa AG, Munich, gives a lecture on the marketing and the competitiveness of biolubricants.
He is followed by Dr. Gabriele Peterek from the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe, ('Agency of Renewable Resources') in Gülzow.
She explains the new funding regulations for the market launch programme "Biogenic Fuels and Lubricants".
Guido Braunecker from Fuchs Petrolub AG, Mannheim, presents quickly biodegradable lubricants and hydraulic liquids.
Ulrich Keymer from the Bayerische Landesanstalt für Betriebswirtschaft und Agrarstruktur ('Bavarian State Office for Business Science and Agricultural Structure'), Munich, opens the session on "Biogas Plants". Dealing with the efficiency of biogas plants, Keyemer explains how the latter is to be achieved.
The lecture of Hubert Loick from the Energiegesellschaft Nachwachsende Rohstoffe ('Energy Association for Renewable Resources'), Dorsten, treats the question: "Is an agricultural biogas plant an investment that is interesting from a managerial point of view?"

Information on the C.A.R.M.E.N. Forum: On the internet: http://www.carmen-ev.de or at C.A.R.M.E.N., Carmen Weber, tel.: +49-9421-960-300. The participation is free, registration is necessary.

On January 21st, 2003, C.A.R.M.E.N. and the Zentrum für Rationelle Energieanwendung und Umwelt GmbH (ZREU) ('Centre for Rational Use of Energy and Environment Limited'), Straubing, arranged the expert discussion "Future Biogas Markets". Ronny Wilfer, Institut für Energetik und Umwelt ('Institute for Energetics and Environment'), Leipzig, explained the technical potentials for biogas in Germany. Robert Wager, project attendant from C.A.R.M.E.N., mentioned problems and approaches. In Germany, more and more biogas plants are installed. Bavaria has got the most biogas plants but was surpassed by Lower Saxony in the share of the installed output. Approaches such as an increase of the rate that small agricultural biogas plants get paid for feeding back electricity into the power grid or a specialisation into strictly agricultural or strictly waste-utilising plants were also discussed.

Klaus Nürnberger from the Southern German technical control board (TÜV) explained CO2 certificate trading. Alexandra Babeck from ZREU presented different EU funding possibilities for biogas plants. Gerhard Huppman, MTU Friedrichshafen, gave a lecture on the use of biogas in high-temperature fuel cells. It is an advantage of the molten carbonate fuel cell that in the internal reforming of methane the carbon dioxide contained in the biogas takes part in the reaction as a reactant. This fuel cell can provide surplus heat at a temperature of approximately 400°C. Josef Konradl, ZREU, explained that thermal conductions already get very expensive at relatively short distances. There are ideas to convey the heat from the biogas producer to the consumer by means of road containers. The advantage is that containers can be used for various consumers. Manfred Reuß, ZAE Bayern, presented the possibilities of seasonal heat storage. In this respect, biogas plants have things in common with solar thermics.

Further Information: C.A.R.M.E.N., Robert Wagner, e-mail: rw@carmen-ev.de. Conference proceedings can be ordered from C.A.M.E.N. for EUR 10.- (plus VAT and shipping charges).

Biodiesel for Public Passenger Transport

On January 23rd, C.A.R.M.E.N. organised an expert discussion in Ochsenfurt for all those concerned with public passenger transport. Being non-sulphorous and having a soot-reducing effect, biodiesel is an ideal fuel for city traffic. Hubert Maierhofer, project attendant at C.A.R.M.E.N., welcomed the representatives of municipal undertakings, integrated transport systems, bus companies, and travel organisers. He reported on the exemption from mineral oil tax for biofuels. Rupert Schmid, manager of Campa®-Biodiesel, Ochsenfurt, gave a lecture on the "Production and Quality Control of Biodiesel".

250 tons of biodiesel and about 25 tons of pure glycerine are daily produced from 250 tons of vegetable oil with 25 tons of methanol and a catalyst added. "The Behaviour of Emissions and Emissions After-Treatment Systems" were the subject of Hubertus Borgmeier, HJS Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH & Co. Menden. Minimising odour and noise nuisance, the "Oxi-Kat" helps to reduce the emissions of diesel engines by up to 70 per cent. The combination with biodiesel can be considered ideal and has been in use at Hagener Straßenbahn AG for two years now.

Helmut Hoffmann, public utility Heinsberg, talked about his "Experiences with Biodiesel in Scheduled Service". In 1996, the filling stations of the public utility had to install new exhaust dust removals and additional collecting zones. Natural gas was then weighed against biodiesel instead of conventional diesel fuel. The decision was taken in favour of biodiesel. Now, the complete bus fleet is biodiesel-powered and is thus more economical. "We would again switch to biodiesel," Hoffmann resumes.

Because of the lively exchange of data, information brochures, and addresses it is to be expected that more bus fleets take the first and decisive step towards a mobility without fossil fuels. The meeting was finished after a tour through the Campa methyl ester plant led by Rupert Schmid.

Information: C.A.R.M.E.N., Hubert Maierhofer, e-mail: hm@carmen-ev.de. A free folder on the methyl ester plant in Ochsenfurt is available at C.A.R.M.E.N.

Regenerative Energy

On January 23rd, the Verband landwirtschaftlicher Fachschulabsolventen ('Association of Agricultural Technical College Graduates') in Trieb (rural district of Lichtenfels/Bavaria) organised a seminar on "Regenerative Energy". The cultivation of rapeseed becoming more and more attractive for farmers, C.A.R.M.E.N. project attendant Robert Wagner talked about the energetic use of rapeseed oil. In 2002, rapeseed as a renewable raw material was almost as frequently cultivated on basic areas as on set-aside land.

Wagner explained the production of rapeseed oil fuel and biodiesel and emphasised that the total balance of biodiesel is also completely "bio". Basically, both fuels can be energetically utilised in three ways: for pure heat production, for stationary cogeneration, and for motor vehicles. Rapeseed oil fuel and biodiesel are particularly suitable for mobility because they can economically compete with diesel fuel. For large-scale use there is biodiesel. Everybody who buys a vehicle permitted for biodiesel can save up to 25 cents per litre. Rapeseed oil fuel is the obvious choice for a decentralised production and for agricultural use. In order to assess the practical suitability of series-produced new tractors that can be powered by rapeseed oil, the German Ministry of Agriculture initiated the "100 Tractors Programme".

Information: C.A.R.M.E.N., Robert Wagner, e-mail: rw@carmen-ev.de.

Fit & Beautiful

Metzeler Schaum GmbH has developed a bath sponge on the basis of sunflower oil. According to Metzeler, this product is the first bath sponge from vegetable oil world-wide. The "soft and tender pleasure" is already available at bedding specialists, where the cold-foam mattresses developed by Metzeler are also offered (see nawaros® 05/2002).

Information: C.A.R.M.E.N., Dr. Bettina Schmidt and Metzeler Schaum GmbH, tel.: +49-8331-830-0, fax: -259, E-mail: info@metzeler-schaum.de.

Now Available at C.A.R.M.E.N.

The fourth extended and revised edition of the C.A.R.M.E.N. handbook "Holzpellets und Pelletheizanlagen"('Wood Pellets and Pellet Heating Plants') is available for download on the internet (http://www.carmen-ev.de). A printed version that has to be paid for is planned.

'Price Trends of Rapeseed Oil as a Fuel' ("Preisentwicklung für Rapsöl als Kraftstoff") can now be watched on the C.A.R.M.E.N. website: http://www.carmen-ev.de.

Information: C.A.R.M.E.N., Gilbert Krapf, E-Mail: gk@carmen-ev.de, and Hubert Maierhofer, e-mail: hm@carmen-ev.de.

Prize-Winning "RapsAsphalt"

The prizewinners of the contest "Intelligent Applications of Renewable Raw Materials" within the Austrian impulse programme "Economising and Sustainability" are now clear. The Austrian company Vialit was awarded a prize for its product "RapsAsphalt" ('rapeseed asphalt'; see nawaros® 03 and 06/2002).

Information: C.A.R.M.E.N., Dr. Bettina Schmidt, and Vialit Ges.m.b.H. und Co.KG, tel.: +43-7722-62977-28, e-mail: office@vialit.at (http://www.vialit.at).

C.A.R.M.E.N. at the Education Fair

Special Presentation "Agriculture and Food - Learning from Experience"
From March 31st to April 4th, C.A.R.M.E.N. and nine further associations and organisations will be presenting a comprehensive range of teaching and information material at the education fair in Nuremberg.
At the "Pillar of Renewable Raw Materials", alternative products such as tableware from starch, bags for biobins, paints and lacquers on the basis of linseed oil, car door interior panellings from flax fibres, and a vegetable oil-fired district heating station can be felt and touched. In this connection C.A.R.M.E.N. will be organising various events on Tuesday, April 1st, 2003.

In co-operation with the company Novamont, C.A.R.M.E.N. gives information on the subjects "Tableware from Starch for the School Fete" and "Biowaste Bags for Each Household".
A discussion with Hubert Maierhofer from C.A.R.M.E.N. and Dr. Ludwig Trautmann-Popp from the Bund Naturschutz ('Association for Nature Protection') deals with the question "What is the point of using biodiesel?" School experiments on both subjects will be shown. Respective test descriptions with background information and manufacturers' addresses are available at the stand (number 608, hall 7A).

Please note: The first ten readers who get in touch with C.A.R.M.E.N. after reading this article will be given free admission vouchers for the education fair 2003 in Nuremberg!

Infos: C.A.R.M.E.N., Monika Benz, e-mail: mb@carmen-ev.de, and on the internet: http://www.carmen-ev.de.

Money from the State

"Geld vom Staat fürs Energiesparen" ('Money from the State for Saving Energy') is the title of a publication compiled by the Federal German Ministry for Environment, Nature Protection, and Nuclear Safety in co-operation with the Bine Informationsdienst. Basing on Bine's data base "Fiskus", approximately 400 funding programmes of the EU, the federal German government, the German lands, municipalities, and power supply companies are presented. The internet pages http://www.energie-foerderung.de also provide information on this.

The publication is available at the Federal German Ministry for Environment, Nature Protection, and Nuclear Safety (BMU), public relations department, 11055 Berlin, e-mail: service@bmu-bund.de (http://www.bmu.de).

Biodiesel, Facts - Arguments - Suggestions

A recently published brochure provides information on the technical background, on environmental advantages, restrictions, and perspectives of biodiesel. The publication bases on research reports, studies, and experiences of the Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e. V. (UFOP) ('Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants, registered association').

The information can be downloaded as a pdf file at http://www.ufop.de/2791.htm.

Typical Statements - Objective Answers

In spring 2002, the UFOP made a survey on the subject of biodiesel at vehicle manufacturers. The answers are compiled in a brochure that is available for download on the internet: http://www.ufop.de/Freigaben.pdf.

Further information: UFOP, Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e.V., Godesberger-Allee 142-148, 53175 Bonn, fax: +49-228-8198-203; e-mail: info@ufop.de.

Energy from Biomass

In the series "Nachwachsende Rohstoffe" ('Renewable Raw Materials') of the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe FNR ('Agency of Renewable Resources') the publication "Biomasse als erneuerbarer Energieträger" ('Biomass as a Regenerative Energy Source') came out.
It is a target of the book to contrast various possibilities of biomass utilisation with other regenerative energies such as solar thermal heat gain, photovoltaic electricity generation, wind and water power in a comprehensible way and to give a realistic assessment. The possibilities of renewable energies as compared to fossil energies are analysed from different angles such as physical and technical bases, technologies and methods, environmental characteristic values, cost, potentials, and utilisation.

Information and ordering: FNR, tel.: +49-3843-6930-0, fax: -102, e-mail: info@fnr.de (http://www.fnr.de).

Oil Change

In the foreseeable future, the world will be running out of mineral oil. It is time to consider alternatives. Published by the Global Challenges Network, Munich, the book "Ölwechsel" ('Oil Change') deals with this problem. In the sections "geology", "politics", "the current debate", and "structural break" questions on the origin and production of mineral oil are answered. Conflicts and interests are analysed and elements of a sustainable energy supply such as sun, wind, water, and biomass are presented.

Information: "Ölwechsel!", Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag GmbH & Co. KG (dtv), 280 pages, ISBN 3-423-24321-X, 15.00 euros, and Global Challenges Network e.V., Munich, tel.: +89-359-8246, fax: -0456, e-mail: info@gcn.de (http://www.gcn.de).

Published by ökom, Dealing with Environment Systems

The book "Umgang mit Umweltsystemen" ('Dealing with Environment Systems') is of interest to all those who are willing to find sustainable solutions for ecological problems. By means of practical examples the authors can show that problems are subjectively perceived, culturally determined, and complex. A good knowledge of the natural environment and human interaction are essential.

Information: "Umgang mit Umweltsystemen", P. Frischknecht, B. Schmied, ISBN 3-928244-97-3, 20 euros, 158 pages.

Ecological Footprints

The children's book "Auf der Suche nach dem Ökologischen Fußabdruck" ('In Search of the Ecological Footprint') is about resource conservation. Amply illustrated and suitable for children, the book shows the use of resources.

Information: "Auf der Suche nach dem Ökologischen Fußabdruck", M. Hannig, ökom Verlag, Munich, ISBN 3-936581-00-2, 17 pages; ordering: Michaela Hannig, e-mail: michaela@heh.uni-hannover.de (minimum purchase three copies at a price of 11.40 euros).