Newsletter/ nawaros^® 06/04

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Content

renewables 2004
World Conference in Rome
C.A.R.M.E.N. Expert Discussion on Biogas
C.A.R.M.E.N. Member Endows a Professorship for Biogas
Thurnau counts on Wood
C.A.R.M.E.N. Member Honoured
C.A.R.M.E.N. Symposium
C.A.R.M.E.N. Annual Report 2003
Biogenic Solid Fuels
Comparison Rapeseed Oil - RME
Monitors Made of Wood

renewables 2004
C.A.R.M.E.N. Presents Exhibition

From June 1st to 4th, 2004, representatives of 165 nations met in Bonn for the International Conference for Renewable Energies to discuss the increased use of energy from wind, water, sun, biomass, and geothermal heat in industrialised and developing countries.
C.A.R.M.E.N. presented their touring exhibition "Within the Cycle of Nature" at the conference. 'Bayern Innovativ', a company for innovation and knowledge transfer initiated by the Bavarian State Government, made it possible to present this exhibition at a joint stand.
Numerous guests from all parts of the world gathered information at the C.A.R.M.E.N. stand on various opportunities and products in the field of renewable raw materials already available on the market. The most prominent visitor was presumably Prof. Klaus Töpfer, director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). He gathered information on the association and its members from exhibition manager Walter Wallrapp. On the occasion of this meeting, C.A.R.M.E.N. was invited to present themselves on the internet portal http://www.energy-germany.de that is managed by the Bundesumweltamt (Federal Office of the Environment). Under the motto "Renewable and Efficient - Protecting the Climate with Energy", various opportunities for information and contact regarding the technical realisation of regenerative energies are interlinked. In the future, the portal will also refer to C.A.R.M.E.N. as an information platform.
The fact that this type of information platform will even gain in importance in the future became clear by the positive balance struck by the German Minister of the Environment, Jürgen Trittin, and the German Federal Minister for Economic Co-operation and Development, Heidemarie Wieczoreck-Zeul, after the "renewables 2004". "The conference was a great success," both emphasised. "The delegates jointly pointed the way to a global turning point in energy policy and to an increased development of regenerative energies in order to fight world-wide poverty and to protect the climate."
Source and information: C.A.R.M.E.N. and the press releases of the Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit (Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety): http://wwww.bmu.de

From May 10th to 14th, 2004, the 2nd World Conference and Technology Exhibition on Biomass for Energy, Industry, and Climate Protection was held in Rome, Italy. C.A.R.M.E.N. organised a joint stand for companies, associations, and organisations. The following exhibitors seized the opportunity to present themselves with C.A.R.M.E.N. to the international audience:
Arge RapsAsphalt, Bundesinitiative BioEnergie BBE (Federal Initiative for Bioenergy), biomasse GmbH, eta Energieberatung GbR, Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe, FNR (Agency of Renewable Resources), Messtechnik Schaller, Heizomat-Gerätebau GmbH, Institut für Biodiversität Bio Campus, KWB GmbH, Lopper Kesselbau GmbH, UFOP e.V. (Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants), Verband Deutscher Biomasseheizwerksbetreiber e.V. (Association of Operators of German Biomass-Fuelled Heating Stations).

Apart from biomasse GmbH and Bio Campus, Arthur Loibl GmbH, presenting their model for wood chip combustion, was another company from Straubing. This model can be visited in the future in Straubing in the Schulungs- und Ausstellungszentrum, SAZ (Training and Exhibition Centre).
The exhibitors were absolutely satisfied with C.A.R.M.E.N.'s organisation that enabled them to present themselves on an international platform without requiring a great deal of energy.
There was brisk demand for the kind of compostable biowaste bags that are presently used in a model project in Straubing, e.g. from Latvia, where the collection of biowaste is just being introduced, and from Denmark.
Information: C.A.R.M.E.N., Walter Wallrapp, e-mail: contact@carmen-ev.de

C.A.R.M.E.N. Expert Discussion on Biogas

- For Employees of Banks and Savings Banks
On June 23rd, 2004, C.A.R.M.E.N. and the regional sections of Lower Bavaria and the Upper Palatinate of the Fachverband Biogas e.V. (German Biogas Association) are holding a seminar in Straubing on the subject "The Financing of Biogas Plants" for experts of banks and savings banks.
The background to this seminar is the fact that experts are expecting a boom in the construction of biogas plants if the resolution of the German Federal Parliament to amend the Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz,EEG (Renewable Energy Sources Act) is implemented into national law. This prognosis can be explained among others by the plan to improve the financial position of smaller plants. Moreover, renewable raw materials exclusively cultivated for a biogas plant are to be remunerated at a cost-covering rate. In addition to that, the Renewable Energy Sources Act offers a so far unknown planning security to agriculture. Operators and investors will thus be able to rely on guaranteed receipts over a period of 20 years.
In the course of the expert discussion, the economic basic conditions of biogas plants will be presented to bank employees. It will also be explained how farmers ought to organise the conception, planning, and construction in the best possible way and how investors can check over their activities.

- For Farmers
In co-operation with the Bavarian Farmers' Association, C.A.R.M.E.N. organises four information events on biogas for farmers who want to get in on biogas projects. It will not only be explained how a biogas plant is planned and constructed, but also which aspects in the fields of tax and social law have to be observed for plant operation. Moreover, funding possibilities will be presented and experts will report on their practical experience.

Information: We ask you to register for the events. C.A.R.M.E.N., Robert Wagner,
E-Mail: rw@carmen-ev.de

C.A.R.M.E.N. Member Endows a Professorship for Biogas

Schmack Biogas AG company, Schwandorf, C.A.R.M.E.N. member since 2003, is going to endow a professorship for the field of "Biogas Systems and Sustainable Climate Protection" at the Technical College of Deggendorf (Bavaria).
According to Schmack company, this will be the first professorship German-wide endowed by the biogas industry. This way, the company wants to develop application-oriented know how in the biogas sector and to teach it at the college.

Ulrich Schmack, the chairman of the board of Schmack company, is convinced that the close co-operation with the Technical College of Deggendorf will produce well-trained biogas experts for the labour market within a few years.
Source and information: Schmack Biogas AG, Markus Ott, Bayernwerk 8, D-92421 Schwandorf, Tel.: +49-9431/751-286, Fax: -300, e-mail: Markus.Ott@schmack-biogas.com (http://www.schmack-biogas.com)

Thurnau counts on Wood

On Friday, June 11th, 2004, the Bavarian Minister of Agriculture, Josef Miller, officially put the new biomass heating plant in Thurnau into operation. The core of the plant is a biomass boiler with an output of about 400 kilowatts. When completed, the heating station will be fuelled with approximately 610 tons of regional natural forest and left-over wood.
The investment amounting to about 935,000 euros is subsidised with about 250,000 euros from state and EU funds. The operator and investor is BMH Fernwärme GmbH company.

So the market town of Thurnau relies on renewable raw materials for the heat supply of a combined nursing home and home for the aged and of a planned new housing estate. The plant saves about 225,000 litres of heating oil per annum, thus avoiding the emission of about 600 tons of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
C.A.R.M.E.N. drew up a project description of the biomass-fuelled heating plant of Thurnau for all those interested. It is available for free.

Source and information: C.A.R.M.E.N., Dr. Ruth Brökeland, e-mail: rb@carmen-ev.de, and press information of the Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Landwirtschaft und Forsten (Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry: http://www.stmlf.bayern.de

C.A.R.M.E.N. Member Honoured

The "Forst & Sullivan Award 2003" for product innovations was awarded to Novamont company, a leading manufacturer of biodegradable polymers and a C.A.R.M.E.N. member for many years. The prize pays tribute to the outstanding achievements of Novamont regarding product and technology innovations: The multi-purpose use of Mater-Bi, the biodegradable material on the basis of starch, had promoted the demand for these environment-friendly products. Various possible applications in agriculture, industry, and food production proved its versatility.

According to a press release of the American management consultancy Forst & Sullivan, a continuous investment in new production capacities and innovations proved Novamont's forward-looking market orientation.

Sources and information: http://chemical.press-world.com/v/60722.html, and http://www.novamont.com

C.A.R.M.E.N. Symposium

Under the title "Biomass and Sun - Effective Climate Protection", C.A.R.M.E.N. invites all those who are interested for its 12th Symposium "Within the Cycle of Nature - Natural Substances for Modern Society" in Würzburg on July 5th and 6th, 2004 (see nawaros® 05/04).

The opportunities and targets of climate protection will be presented in a common plenary session, in parallel expert sessions on the energetic and industrial use of renewable raw materials and on a solar conference. In the morning of July 5th, 2004, numerous companies will be presenting their latest products and technologies in the framework of an innovation exchange that is offered for the first time this year.

Information and programme: C.A.R.M.E.N., e-mail: cw@carmen-ev.de, or under http://www.carmen-ev.de. Abstracts of the lectures are already available there.

C.A.R.M.E.N. Annual Report 2003

The Annual Report of C.A.R.M.E.N. for the year 2003 is available can be ordered for free from now on. Information and ordering: e-mail: contact@carmen-ev.de.

Biogenic Solid Fuels

If realised carefully and in a target-oriented way, the standardisation of biogenic solid fuels can help to make use of these fuels in an easier and more favourable way. During the past four years, the bases for the standardisation of biogenic solid fuels were analysed in Germany. By means of technical and legal regulations along the whole process chain (consisting of the cultivation, provision, and use of the fuel, of plant operation and ash utilisation), the relevance of various fuel characteristics was determined. For that, cultivation tests, analytical ring tests, and combustion tests were performed.

The project results are included into the European standardisation process serving as standards requirements for biogenic fuels in order to assure that the European standards can also be applied in Germany in a comprehensive and realistic way. By the end of the year 2004, the European standardisation processes ought to be completed, thus making the European biomass markets easier and more transparent and giving it fresh stimuluses.

The project was funded by the Bundesministerium für Verbraucherschutz, Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, BMVEL (Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture) and the Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V., FNR (Agency of Renewable Resources).
The results were published in German language in the series "Nachwachsende Rohstoffe" ('Renewable Raw Materials'), vol. 23 (Härdtlein, M., Eltrop, L., Thrän, D.: Voraussetzungen zur Standardisierung biogener Festbrennstoffe) of the Agency of Renewable Resources and can be ordered via the internet under: http://www.fnr.de.

Comparison Rapeseed Oil - RME

In October 2001, the Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung, IFEU (Institute for Energy and Environmental Research) rendered and published the expert opinion "Ecological Comparison of RME and Rapeseed Oil". The Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe, FNR (Agency of Renewable Resources) had commissioned the opinion.
In 2003, the design engineering office "SGS-Ingenieure" was commissioned to prepare a statement on the IFEU opinion and an ecological comparison of rapeseed oil and RME.
Information: The expert opinion is available at IFEU. An abridged version will be mailed to you on request by IFEU at no charge. IFEU - Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung GmbH, Tel.: +49-6221/4767-0, Fax: -19, e-mail: ifeu@ifeu.de.

Monitors Made of Wood

The Swedish company Swedx in Sollentuna offers environment-friendly alternatives to conventional monitors, computer mice, and keyboards.
The base material is wood cultivated in China which degrades much more quickly than plastics. The price of these environment-friendly alternatives is about 30 per cent higher than for the plastics versions but Swedx is still convinced that the demand will increase.
Information and sources: Newsletter "Umweltbrief" of May 5th, 2004 (http://www.umweltbrief.de), and Swedx, Tel.: +46(8)4418-444, Fax: -441, Domherrev 14, S-192 55 Sollentuna, E-Mail: info@swedx.com (http://www.swedx.com).