Reducing Europe’s dependence on energy imports

Congress "BIORaffiniert V – Integrated Bio-Refinery Technologies" in Oberhausen on 24 -25 March offers solutions

On 12th January, European energy ministers met to find a solution to Russian Energy supplier Gazprom’s boycott on gas deliveries and the consequences resulting for Europe. The newly emerged conflict on gas supplies demonstrates to what extent Europe relies on supplies of raw materials. In order to improve the supply situation, many critics call for a clear reduction of European dependence on gas and oil imports and for a strengthening of the role of renewable resources instead. But what exactly is the contribution of integrated utilization of biomass as a source of energy and materials for the substitution of crude-oil based chemicals, materials, and fuels? Answers to this question will be supplied on the congress BIORaffiniert V – Integrated Bio-Refinery Technologies in Oberhausen on 24 -25 March, 2009. The congress will be organized jointly by Fraunhofer UMSICHT, the nova institute, the Energy Agency North Rhine-Westphalia.

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in Oberhausen on 24 -25 March, 2009
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In 2007, Russia was Germany’s main supplier of raw materials. Roughly 43 percent of gas and 31.7 percent of the total import volume of crude oil were delivered by the Russian Federation. Africa, Norway, Great Britain and the Middle East countries followed as oil suppliers. Regarding natural gas, Norway and the Netherlands are among the top-3 suppliers to Germany1. Whoever is affected by scarce resources, is well off if alternative sources can be exploited for the satisfaction of the demand.

But what exactly is the role of integrated utilization of biomass as a source of energy and materials for the substitution of crude-oil based chemicals, materials, and fuels? Answers to this question are given on the congress BIO-Raffiniert V, held in Oberhausen from 24 to 25 March 2009. The congress will present the manifold possibilities of industrial utilization of renewable resources, giving ample consideration to all diverse points of view.

It will present the entire spectrum of biomass utilization ranging from pilot developments to marketable services and products. Technological trends, applied technology, basic conditions of biomass utilization, fund raising and perspectives for economic growth will be covered comprehensively.

On the first congress day the focus will be on the frame conditions of market supply with the raw material “biomass”, the emerging markets of new sustainable product lines, as well as on ecological aspects. The range of subjects discussed runs from market studies on bio-based chemicals and materials to genetic engineering in plant breeding, to mention only examples.

At the panel discussion, moderated by Dr Christian Patermann (Bonn), expert counsellor of the regional government of North Rhine Westphalia for the area of knowledge-based bio-economy, the role of renewable resources will be discussed among participants from industry, politics, engineering sciences and ethics: Renewable resources – do they present the green economic miracle, opportunity for technical innovations – or are they market price drivers for the raw material markets and food competitors?

The second congress day will be dedicated to technological issues. Biorefinery technologies will be presented in an overview, plant providers will report on practical experiences and technological trends will be highlighted. Topics range from the benefits of a bio-based economy, as suggested and furthered in the Netherlands, over practical experiences made with the bio-refinery concept in Sweden, to decentralized production of bioethanol. Topics also include a presentation on the potentials of algae for the Blue Biotechnology. To round of the program efficient networks for the specific fields and funding tools will be introduced.

The congress will be a platform for bringing together actors from industry, politics and society and experts from research and development along the value-added chain of renewable resources. For the convenience of international guests, simultaneous translation service (German-English) will be offered on both congress days, 24 and 25 March, 2009.

Weitere Informationen

Kontakt
Fraunhofer-Institut für Umwelt-, Sicherheits- und Energietechnik UMSICHT
Iris Kumpmann
Osterfelder Straße 3
46047 Oberhausen
Germany
Tel.: 0208-85 98-12 00
Fax: 0208-85 98-12 90
E-Mail: iris.kumpmann@umsicht.fraunhofer.de

Source

Fraunhofer UMSICHT, Pressemitteilung, 2009-01-13.

Supplier

EnergieAgentur.NRW
Fraunhofer-Institut für Umwelt-, Sicherheits- und Energietechnik (UMSICHT)
nova-Institut GmbH

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