ENK5-2002-00623 Energy Wood Production Chains in Europe - ECHAINE

Contacts
Website: WWW.echaine.org
Further Information



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Crops for Solid Biofuels : EESD (Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development) : Solid Biofuels

Type of Project	Research
Contract No	ENK5-2002-00623
Total Cost
EC Contribution
Start Date	01-10-2002
Duration	36 months
Scientific Officer	Garbine Guiu Etxeberria

Abstract

The future development of bioenergy in Europe depends to a large extent on the availability of resources and their possible impacts on the environment. The fast growing market for wood energy and other renewables in Europe in recent years have already raised questions about their influence on the environment. Some of these resources are already available in the physical form of residues from agriculture and forestry as well as from related industries. Most of the bark could be used internally in the forest industry for energy purposes. Increasing quantities of other by-products, mainly sawdust are used for the production of pellets, briquettes and powder for energy purposes. The marketable quantity of recycled wood and other waste materials is increasingly used as fuel. One Important aspect is that the assessment of these potentials in the appraisal of these resources plays a part in the setting of targets and limits for their practical utilisation. Another Important aspect is public opinion - how can the acceptability of renewables be improved? There are several other factors to take into account, e.g. noise, visual intrusion, environmental concerns as well as other non-technical barriers.

The main goal of the project is to provide data and deal with the key issues in the identification and evaluation of economical and environmentally and socially friendly supply chains for utilisation of energy wood sources for heat/power production. The main problems to be solved are:

• Optimisation of energy wood utilisation chains
• Reducing production costs of energy
• Improving the systems environmental friendliness
• Improving public acceptability of renewables and sustainable development
• Creation of market opportunities
• Use of new ICTs.

The project will be carried out by an international team comprising members from 6 Member States (Sweden, Finland, Germany, Portugal Spain, Greece, Switzerland, Bulgaria or Romania) plus three from associated countries (Bulgaria, Romania and Switzerland). The following team members offer a wide range of knowledge, covering the whole production chain from the raw material source to the chimney:

• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden (Co-ordinator)
• Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Greece
• University of Oulu, Finland)
• Centre for Renewable Energy Sources, Greece
• Escola Superior Agrada de Beja, Portugal
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung, Germany
• ETH Zürich, Switzerland
• Schlumbergersema Sociedad Anonima Espaņola, Spain
• Technical University of Sofia, Bulgaria
• Conception, Research and Design Institute for Thermal Power Equipment, Romania

Contacts

Coordinator

• Matti PARIKKA / Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Department of Bioenergy / SWEDEN