International biomass conference: focus on cooperation with neighboring countries to the east.
In June, Saxony's Minister of the Environment and Agriculture, Thomas Schmidt, opened the "Biomass to Power and Heat" conference together with the Rector of Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Albrecht, and the event director, Prof. Zschunke.
The "Biomass to Power and Heat" conference was first held in 2011 under the name "Electrical Energy from Biomass". It emerged from a session on biomass use in 2008 and has become a permanent fixture in the field of biomass energy use over the last five years. This year, the main focus was on the development of cooperation with neighboring countries to the east.
The event welcomed almost 90 participants, who primarily discussed issues relating to the efficient use of solid biomass as an energy source. The related issues of decentralized electricity and heat supply from biomass were discussed by the speakers from many different angles and thus laid the foundation for lively discussions during the breaks. On the one hand, the possibilities of sustainable biomass supply were presented, and on the other, the risks of storage and developments in conversion processes. Another focus was on the use of biomass as an energy source through concepts based on Stirling engines through to control and monitoring systems for increasing efficiency and reducing pollutants. In addition, representatives of the University of Prague presented the existing activities in the Czech Republic on the use of biomass for energy. The final block of presentations again dealt directly with technical solutions and issues relating to the thermochemical conversion of biomass.
The speakers came from all over Germany, but also from the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Austria and even Brazil. They mainly represented privately and publicly funded research institutions as well as specialist federal and state institutions.
Parallel to the plenary session, various companies and associations presented themselves this year at small exhibition stands, providing conference participants with additional space for detailed questions and suggestions.
The main focus of the event has always been the intensive exchange between science and practice - an added value that is appreciated both by the practice-oriented scientists at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences and by those companies and institutions that deal with the topic of energy from biomass on a daily and very practical basis.
Following the specialist colloquium, a conference volume will be compiled and published in collaboration with the individual speakers. The organizers intend to hold further events on this topic at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences in the coming years.
Organizational and financial support was provided by the following partners and sponsors: