Under the patronage of the Saxon State Minister for the Environment and Agriculture, Mr. Thomas Schmidt, the "Biomass to Power and Heat " conference was held for the seventh time at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences on 6 and 7 June. The event welcomed over 80 participants, who engaged in lively discussions on a wide range of issues relating to decentralized power and heat generation from solid biomass. The speakers and participants came from all over Germany, but also from Italy, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. 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.

For this reason, a specialist seminar entitled "Wood-Electricity-Heat - Rethinking Practice" was held for the first time this year. With the help of speakers from science and industry, important topics of practical relevance were discussed in detail, debated and recorded for future developments.

In addition to the aspects and possibilities of sustainable biomass provision and efficient energy use of biomass, the plenary event also focused on the presentation of different system solutions for combining Stirling engines with biomass firing. An insight into the political processes for the bioeconomy in Germany was also provided. In addition, extensive project results on the evaluation of biomass gasification plants in South Tyrol as well as possibilities for increasing efficiency and reducing pollutants in biomass combustion plants were presented. Finally, representatives from the Czech Republic and Switzerland presented the characteristics and potential uses of biochar from various processes.

Parallel to the two-day plenary event, various companies from the industry once again presented themselves in the form of small exhibition stands, providing conference participants with additional space for detailed questions and suggestions.

Conference chair Prof. Tobias Zschunke gave a positive summary of this year's "Biomass to Power and Heat":

"It is great fun to discuss biomass as an energy source for power and heat with practitioners and scientists and to learn about problems that arise and approaches to solutions. I am convinced that politicians will find a way to provide temporary, special support for biomass energy, which will allow the already strong technologies and process chains to be developed to the point of independent economic viability. Secured power from bioenergy is an indispensable building block in the modernization of the energy system."

A company exchange with online-based speed dating and laboratory tours at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences site rounded off the event program. Further information on the event can be found on the event website.

All photos: Beata Spychalska/HSZG