Newsletter/ nawaros®
04/03
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11th C.A.R.M.E.N. Symposium Biomass and Sun - Energy and Natural
Substances
Expert Forum
A Project in Straubing
C.A.R.M.E.N. Forum
High Oleic Rapeseed Oil
Biofuels EU Directive
New Brochure
Large-Scale Test Finished
Results of the Ecological Balance
Small Energy Installations
Rapeseed Oil Fuel
Free Access
Data Bank of Natural Fibres
C.A.R.M.E.N. Forum 2003, Biofuels - Biolubricants - Biogas Plants
On June 26th, 2003, C.A.R.M.E.N. invites politicians, scientists, and representatives of local and national authorities to the 11th C.A.R.M.E.N. Symposium in Straubing. The conference will be held in the Joseph von Fraunhofer Halle at the fairgrounds "Am Hagen".
There, the symposium "Within the Cycle of Nature - Natural
Substances for Modern Society" will be taking place, dealing with the
subject "Biomass and Sun - Energy and Natural Substances". The Deutsche
Gesellschaft für Solarenergie e.V. (DGS) ('German Society for Solar Energy,
registered association'), Munich, could be won as a co-operation partner
for the Symposium.
In the morning, the Bavarian Minister of Agriculture, Josef Miller, is
going to give a report on the present state and the need for action in
the field of biomass use. His lecture will deal with the results achieved
by biomass experts on a forum taking place the day before. In the afternoon,
lectures on the energetic and the industrial use of renewable raw materials
and on combined solar and biomass heating systems are scheduled.
The first lecture on the energetic use of biomass deals with "contracting"
from a regional and supraregional point of view and with practical experiences.
Subsequently, the focus is on "combustibles": Wood waste, by-products
of sawmills, logistics concepts, and the wood pellet market will be looked
at.
Dealing with the industrial use of biomass, general surveys will give
reports on the present situation of renewable resources in Germany and
in Japan. Carbohydrates will be presented as renewable raw materials.
The second part is devoted to practical tests with miscanthus (elephant
grass), frame oils, and compostable mulch films.
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Solarenergie organises the session "Solar
Energy in a Double Pack". First, the technical principles of solar heating
and the combination of biomass-fuelled heating systems with solar thermal
facilities will be dealt with. Then, lectures on practical applications
and future prospects of biomass will follow.
The 2nd International Expert and Consumer Fair for Renewable Raw Materials
and Solar Energy "biomasse 2003" will also be taking place at the fairgrounds
"Am Hagen" in Straubing from June 26th to 29th, 2003. The whole product
range of renewable resources and solar energy for private households and
industry is presented to the visitors. The fair is under the auspices
of the Bavarian Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Josef Miller.
Information: C.A.R.M.E.N. and biomasse GmbH, e-mail: info@biomasse-gmbh.com (http://www.biomasse-gmbh.com).
Expert Forum
An international commission of biomass experts will be meeting in advance of the 11th C.A.R.M.E.N. Symposium in Straubing on June 25th, 2003. It is the target of this meeting to determine the present state of biomass use and to analyse the future need for action. The results of the forum will be presented to the public by the Minister of Agriculture, Josef Miller, at the opening of the C.A.R.M.E.N. Symposium on the next day. The following persons have already promised to come: Dr. Heinz Kopetz, Österreichischer Biomasseverband ('Austrian Biomass Association'), Graz; Dipl.-Forsting. Christoph Rutschmann, Schweizerische Vereinigung für Holzenergie ('Swiss Association for Wood Energy'), Zurich; Prof. Dan Asplund, President of AEBIOM, Finland; Dr. Christian Rakos, Energieverwertungsagentur (EVA) ('Agency for Energy Utilisation'), Vienna; Kent Nyström, Vice-President of the Swedish Bioenergy Association (SVEBIO), Stockholm; Karl Kellner, Directorate-General for Energy and Transport of the European Commission, Brussels.
Information: C.A.R.M.E.N., Karl Hanglberger, e-mail: kh@carmen-ev.de.
A Project in Straubing
From May onwards, compostable biowaste bags on the basis
of starch will be handed out free of charge to the households in the rural
district of Straubing-Bogen. This action is a project of the Zweckverband
Abfallwirtschaft Straubing Stadt und Land (ZAW-SR) ('waste management
union of the city and the region of Straubing'). It is supported by C.A.R.M.E.N.
and funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Agriculture (see nawaros® 08/2002).
By means of accompanying tests, the project, which is planned
for two years, is to show whether compostable starch bags are suited for
collecting biowaste. Apart from information on the permitted contents,
the compostable starch bags bear a lozenge-shaped pattern all through,
an unambiguous logo and the imprint "Ich bin kompostierbar"
("I am compostable"). Thus, consumers and dustmen can tell the
difference between starch bags and conventional plastic bags.
The biobags introduced in Straubing consist to about 50 per cent of the renewable raw material starch. They are intended to be used in the small household bio-bin. The compostable biobags are expected to remain longer stable than paper bags when filled with humid contents. This way, it should be possible to collect organic compostable kitchen waste in a clean way. Moreover, biowaste is prevented from freezing in the big bin and odours are reduced.
Information: ZAW-SR, Gudrun Späth, Straubing, tel.: +49-9421-9902-0, fax: -22, e-mail: g.spaeth@zaw-sr.de, and C.A.R.M.E.N., Hubert Maierhofer, e-mail: hm@carmen-ev.de.
C.A.R.M.E.N. Forum
The 10th C.A.R.M.E.N. Forum on "Economic Aspects of Biofuels, Biolubricants, and Biogas Plants" took place in the Ducal Castle of Straubing on April 7th, 2003. More than 240 participants from agriculture, technology and consulting, representatives of the authorities and interested experts informed themselves about the latest findings on economic aspects.
At the beginning, the Bavarian Minister of Agriculture,
Josef Miller, presented "Contributions of Agriculture and Forestry
to Mobility in Modern Society". Philipp Schlüter, Südzucker
AG, Ochsenfurt, opened the session on "Biofuels". He reported
on the opportunities that are opened up for agriculture and sugar industry
by the production of bioethanol.
Dr. Jens Ehlert described the demands on regenerative fuels as seen by
Audi AG. He did not only talk about the properties and market analyses
of biodiesel and ethanol but also about the opportunities that are opened
up by sun fuel. Sun fuel is a fuel from biomass which is produced by gasification
and synthesis. It shows a higher degree of efficiency and a lower amount
of pollutant emissions than conventional fuels.
Hans-Dieter Hojnacki, WLS GmbH, Duisburg, reported on the practical experience
of a forwarding agency with biodiesel. WLS GmbH is exclusively in charge
of the purchasing and distribution of all food and non-food articles of
Mc Donald's in Germany and Luxembourg. The whole company switched to biodiesel.
The use of biodiesel begins to pay if biodiesel is at least 10 cents cheaper
per litre than mineral diesel.
In the session "Biolubricants" Karl Faust, BayWa
AG, Munich, commented on the economic aspects of biolubricants. Lower
costs in case of possible accidents in ecologically sensitive areas are
a point in the favour of bio-oils.
Dr. Gabriele Peterek, Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe ('Agency of
Renewable Resources'), Gülzow, presented the new funding regulations
for the market launch programme "Biogenic Fuels and Lubricants".
Guido Braunecker, Fuchs Petrolub AG, Mannheim, explained the types of
lubricants used in agriculture and their necessary properties. He also
made ten suggestions for an easy shift from petroleum-based hydraulic
oil to a quickly biodegradable alternative from renewable resources.
Ulrich Keymer, Bayerische Landesanstalt für Betriebswirtschaft und
Agrarstruktur ('Bavarian State Office for Business Science and Agricultural
Structure'), Munich, opened the session on "Biogas Plants".
His lecture dealt with the "Efficiency of Biogas Blants". It
was desirable to use only renewable raw materials, liquid manure and dung
in agricultural biogas plants, Keymer said. Because of costs, however,
the operators of agricultural biogas plants were forced to use also other
organic remnants. The lecture of C.A.R.M.E.N. member Hubert Loick, farmatic
biotech energy ag, Nortorf, treated the question: "Is an agricultural
biogas plant an investment that is interesting from a managerial point
of view?" He was convinced of biogas technology. Loick emphasised
the importance of a realistic calculation of the operating costs and showed
that the construction of collective agricultural biogas plants absolutely
paid.
Information: The conference proceedings can be ordered from C.A.M.E.N. for EUR 12.- (plus shipping charges).
High Oleic Rapeseed Oil
Under the crop name "Nexera", a High Oleic (highly
rich in oleic acid) rapeseed crop has been admitted in Europe for the
first time. The oil which is produced from this crop consists to approximately
75 per cent of oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid and contains about
2.5 per cent of the polyunsaturated linolenic acid.
High Oleic Oil is more stable than conventional rapeseed oil. Because
of that, many applications are possible. The new High Oleic rapeseed oil
can be used for food and non-food products. Technical applications, e.g.
as lubricants, but also other applications where high oleic sunflower
oils are already used, are also feasible. Presently, High Oleic rapeseed
is cultivated in England and Denmark. It is planned to extend the cultivation
to Germany. "Nexera" is a non-transgenic crop that has been
cultivated by means of conventional methods such as hybridisation and
selection.
Information: Dow AgroSciences GmbH, Peter Schlotter, tel.: +49-89-45533-126, fax: -111, e-mail: PSchlotter@dow.com.
Biofuels EU Directive
The European Parliament and European Council have issued
a directive on biofuels. It fixes indicative targets for the replacement
of otto and diesel fuels by biofuels. According to this directive, EU
member states should make sure that biofuels represent at least 2 percent
of the petrol and diesel used in transportation by 2005. The draft then
sets up a schedule that gradually increases this percentage to 5.75 percent
in 2010.
Biofuels must be produced from biomass. The directive mentions among others:
bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas, biomethanol, biodimethylether and pure
vegetable oils from oil seeds if they meet the emission standards. Biofulels
can be traded in pure form or blended. The member states shall make sure
that the general public is informed about the availability of renewable
fuels. They can give priority to those biofuels with a very good environmental
balance.
The member states annually report on the funding measures taken to promote
the use of biofuels and other kinds of bioenergy. In their first report
they shall fix national indicative targets until the end of 2005.
Information: The directive is available on the internet pages of the European Council, document number 6795/03. It is the interinstitutional dossier: 2001/0265 (COD). The internet address of the directive in English language is: http://register.consilium.eu.int/pdf/en/03/st06/st06795en03.pdf.
New Brochure
C.A.R.M.E.N. has published a brochure on the project "Biomasseheizwerk im Staatlichen Arnold-Gymnasium" ('Biomass Heating Station in Arnold State Grammar School') in Neustadt, rural district of Coburg. The grammar school possesses a heating station for the grammar school, a gymnasium, and a secondary school with an annexe. The fuel is supplied by local foresters.
:Information: The free brochure can be ordered from C.A.R.M.E.N.
Large-Scale Test Finished
According to an information of the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe (FNR) ('Agency of Renewable Resources') of March, the model project in Kassel was successfully finished. The method practised in Kassel to dispose of compostable packagings via the bio-bin proved to be suitable for everyday life. Now it is up to the politicians to act because the present packaging ordinance makes it difficult for compostable packagings to gain ground. The project was funded by the Federal Ministry for Consumer Protection.
Source and information. Press release of FNR, March 11th, 2003 (http://www.fnr.de, http://www.modellprojekt-kassel.de).
Results of the Ecological Balance
The first complete ecological balance on compostable packaging chips was prepared by the Bayerisches Institut für Angewandte Umweltforschung und -technik (BIfA) ('Bavarian Institute for Applied Environmental Research and Technology'), Augsburg, and the Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung (IFEU) ('Institute for Energy and Environment Research'), Heidelberg. The final report is available for download on the internet pages http://www.bifa.de and http://www.ifeu.de.
Source: Press information of the Bayerisches Institut für Angewandte Umweltforschung und -technik GmbH, Augsburg, tel.: +49-821-7000-181/-195, e-mail: ewuerdinger@bifa.de.
Small Energy Installations
Heating with wood becoming more and more attractive in private households and small firms, the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe (FNR) has published a new book. The free Handbuch Bioenergie-Kleinanlagen ('Handbook for Small Energy Installations') was compiled by the Technology and Promotion Centre in the Competence Centre for Renewable Raw Materials in Straubing.
Information and ordering: FNR, fax: +49-3843/6930-102, e-mail: bioenergie-kleinanlagen@fnr.de.
Rapeseed Oil Fuel
The Technology and Promotion Centre in the Competence Centre for Renewable Raw Materials in Straubing has published conference proceedings on the subject Rapsölkraftstoff in Traktoren und Blockheizkraftwerken ('Rapeseed Oil Fuel for Tractors and District Heating Power Stations'). The background for that was an international expert forum that met in Straubing in February 2003. The conference proceedings (ISBN 3-8322-1194-2) are obtainable at the book-seller's at the price of 26.80 euros or are available for download on http://www.shaker.de/Online-Gesamtkatalog at the price of 3 euros.
Information: TFZ, Schulgasse 18, 94315 Straubing, tel.: +49-9421-960300-210, fax: -211, e-mail: poststelle@tfz.bayern.de.
Free Access
Since April 2002, the news portal http://www.nachwachsende-rohstoffe.info has been offering current information on renewable raw materials. Access is free until the end of April under the user name "Experte" and with the password "frei".
Information: nova-Institut GmbH, Hürth, e-mail: contact@nova-institut.de.
Data Bank of Natural Fibres
Presently, a data bank of characteristic values, market data, and knowledge on natural fibres and plastics reinforced with natural fibres is being developed. It is a community project funded via the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe (FNR) by the German Ministry for Consumer Protection, Food, and Agriculture. A public presentation of the project takes place in Aix-la-Chapelle on May 8th, 2003.
Information: nova-Institut GmbH, tel.: +49-2233-943684, e-mail: contact@nova-institut.de, and M-Base Engineering + Software GmbH, Aix-la-Chapelle, tel.: +49-241-963-1450, e-mail: info@m-base.de.
