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ALTENER
Bioenergy in Finland - AFB-NET Project under the ALTENER Programme |
AFB-NET on Agricultural and Forestry Biomass.
Introduction
The AFB-net is an EU-funded (ALTENER DG XVII)
network established to co-ordinate information and personnel exchange between
National Biomass Energy Programmes on Agricultural and Forestry Biomass. The
AFB-net involves 14 member states of the EU and links all national biomass
programmes and groups representing all facets of the biomass supply and use
chain. Each participating country is represented by a National Coordinator as
detailed below. This network, that started in 1995, is managed by ETSU (UK), who
also maintains a web site and database. In 1998 a Newsletter was initiated,
produced by the Austrian national coordinator (BLT Wieselburg).
Objectives
The objectives of this network are to share experiences in the development of biomass energy across the EU, to compare and coordinate National Biomass Programmes, to promote the development of communication, contact and collaboration between biomass professionals in the EU, to identify barriers to biomass energy and to develop possible solutions. The ultimate aim of all this work is to assist in making biomass energy competitive at the market in the EU and to enable greater deployment of environmentally friendly technologies. The AFB-net brings together industry representatives from 14 European Union countries in a 'whole chain' approach to stimulate the commercial and industrial exploitation of biomass energy in Europe. Established in January 1995, and is supported by ALTENER (DGXVII).
Aims
Activities
Meetings during the formation of the network (Phase I) provided a forum for debate on key political, strategic and financial constraints and initiatives. These meetings provided unique opportunities for issues to be discussed by representatives from a wide range of the industry sectors, including forestry, agriculture, biomass fuel merchants, equipment providers, project developers, marketers, financiers, local authorities and environmental groups. A number of barriers constraining the development of the bio-energy industry were identified, and proposals to overcome these were put forward. Information on various markets, policy aims and incentives in different countries was collected, analysed and disseminated. This helped participants to improve their understanding of how other's experiences could be used to achieve their national needs. It also led to the identification of opportunities for their national industries in other countries.
Phase II was initiated to develop ways of tackling key areas of constraint and to take advantage of the opportunities identified. This included personnel exchange between the European nations to initiate and develop contacts amongst the industry. The network has provided a forum to enable industry to give their views on requirements for market development to decision makers. Information was also exchanged between those nations with an established industry and those trying to develop one. The need for varied actions to implement solutions highlighted by the national teams was recognised. It also became clear that effort should be concentrated on specific market issues.
In Phase III, a market sector approach was adopted. Business opportunities in the power and heat sectors were explored and genuine commercial activity began to take place as a result. Workshops brought together industry members at operational plant, and co-operation agreements between biomass centres were developed.
The Current Phase
With several hundred companies and organisations now involved with AFB-net, the number of industrial and commercial sales and links which have resulted from the activities of the network are continuing to grow. Activities during 1988 (Phase IV) are building on this success and the network is developing new partnerships between diverse industry players. The aim of the activities is to stimulate the commercial adoption of biomass energy and to facilitate trade between nations. Activities are addressing immediate business needs, as well as working towards sustainable business development for the longer term.
Current activities are wide ranging and include:
The ultimate aim of the network is the earlier realisation of the potential of biomass. Bioenergy has an important contribution to make to the European energy and environment targets as set out in the recent EU White Paper Energy for the Future: Renewable Sources of Energy - White Paper for a Community Strategy and Action Plan).
Newsletter
In early 1998 a AFB-Newsletter was initiated, with the first three issues in May, July and October. Contributions on special items of energy from Biomass, abstracts of projects, data of events etc. are welcome and can be submitted through national coordinators. It is published by the Austrian representative organisation (BLT), which is also the national representative for NF-2000.
AFB-net on the World Wide Web
The AFB-net Web site contains information on areas of relevance to the
bio-energy industry including information on forthcoming activities and events,
a large number of contacts, and links to other relevant Web sites. This
information can be found at
http://www.etsu.com/Europ/AFB/contents.htm
Information can be added to the directory or advertising pages by
contacting Nicola Hinds
Contacts
Contact
© Copyright 2006 Policy Statements
Updated
by CPL Press:
25/07/2007
- biomatnet@biomatnet.org
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