Many uses for biomass ends EU Conference

June 25, 2012, Milan, Italy – he 20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition ended on Friday, June
22, 2012. Conference General Chairman, Dr.-Ing. B. Krautkremer
Fraunhofer Institute IWES, Head of Bioenergy System Technology concluded
at the EU BC&E Closing Session: "Biomass is multi-usable for energy
as well as for material use. The technologies are quite advanced and
the industry well-established. This gives hope to come up with the
challenges we are facing in these times of transition of our energy
system. Biomass will obviously play a key role towards a sustainable
supply".

The Conference Programme was defined and structured under the
guidance of the Technical Programme Coordination group Dr. Heinz
Ossenbrink, Dr. David Baxter and Dr. Jean-Francois Dallemand, all from
the European Commission, DG Joint Research Centre. Dr. David Baxter
highlighted in his summary: "Biomass conversion technologies have
progressed rapidly in the last year. In some cases technologies have
made giant steps forward and expect to achieve commercial reality well
with the next 5 years, way ahead of the 2020 target in Europe. The best
example of the latter is lignocelluloses ethanol where commercial-scale
plants are already under construction. This is not to say there are many
challenges and R+D will be needed for a long time to come. So, the
European Biomass Conference will need to focus on supporting
exploitation of new ideas as well as refining the technologies close to
market".

"Primary energy supply from biomass could triple by 2050 in a
scenario compatible with an increase of average world temperature by two
degrees Celsius" said Dr. Paolo Frankl, Head of the Renewable Energy
Division of the International Energy Agency, during his presentation of
the IEA Roadmap on Bioenergy for Heat and Power at the 20th European
Biomass Conference and Exhibition held in Milan this week. "Modern
bioenergy technologies would also play a crucial contribution for the
achievement of the objectives of the UN Secretary General initiative
"Sustainable Energy For All" presented and discussed at the Rio+20
conference", he added.

The European Biomass Conference ranked on top level of the world's
leading events in the biomass sector. 332 keynote, plenary, oral and
parallel events presentations, 12 parallel events were held during the
week, covering all aspects of biomass and bioenergy. The Exhibition
showed the newest products and technological developments in the biomass
sector with 64 exhibitors and 28 exhibitors' presentations. The
discussions focused on current topics like Biomass Resources, R&D on
Biomass Conversion Technologies for Heating, Electricity and Chemicals
R&D on Processes for Solid, Liquid and Gaseous Fuels from Biomass,
Industrial Demonstration and Business Concepts, Biomass Policies,
Markets and Sustainability.

The "Johannes Linneborn Prize" for Achievements in Biomass Development was awarded to Professor Hermann Hofbauer

The prize was awarded to Professor Hermann Hofbauer, Vienna
University Technology, for his outstanding contribution and leadership
for over 30 years in developing and in market introduction of several
important technologies for energy carrier production and sustainable
energy generation from biomass by thermochemical methods. Especially his
work on producing syngas from biomass by dual zone circulating fluid
bed gasification attracted worldwide attention and admiration.

Its implementation for combined cycle energy generation in Güssing
was an important step in reaching a share of almost 100% renewable
energy in this South East Austrian town, provided hundreds of new jobs,
flourishing businesses attracted scientists and business people from all
over the world and even enhanced tourism.

Professor Hofbauer has been and still is active in many
international networks and advisory committees, chairman of scientific
boards, in the different IEA-groups as member or Austrian delegate and
in the executive committee. He is also key-researcher at the competence
center "Bioenergy 2020" Gasification. Hermann Hofbauer is often invited
at international congresses on biomass and appreciated as an
authoritative speaker, a friendly and wise colleague and an effective
promoter of biomass energy.

Next to all this he also paid a lot of attention to educating young
people, had leading positions in management of education and general
administration at the University of Technology in Vienna.

EUBIA – European Industry Biomass Association Industry Award

The 10th EUBIA Award was delivered this year on the occasion of the
20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition recognising World
Thermal Service AB Powder Burners for its 'outstanding contribution to
the development of the Biomass Energy Sector and its market'. The prize
was officially awarded on the 20 June, by Tord Fjällström, EUBIA
President, to Björn Forsberg, during the Parallel Event 'Biomass
Opportunities in Sweden'.

WTS main business is powder burners, multi-fuel burners for powder,
oil, and gas. WTS carries out dry calculations for upgrades of existing
and new dryer systems before change over to powder burning. WTS also do
consulting regarding biomass handling and combustion primary on dry
biomass.

About the EU BC&E

For over 30 years now, the European Biomass Conference and
Exhibition (European BC&E) has combined a very renowned
international Scientific Conference with an Industry Exhibition. The
European BC&E is held at different venues throughout Europe and
ranks on top of the world's leading events in the Biomass sector. It
provides an high-level scientific programme and parallel events which
attract participants from a wide ranging background: Researchers,
engineers, technologists, standards organisations, financing
institutions and decision makers.

Such a global exchange platform of current knowledge in turn
attracts industrial exhibitors, making the conference events a
significant tool for technology transfer and innovation. This event is
supported by European and international organizations such as the
European Commission, UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization, Natural Sciences Sector, the Italian Ministry
for the Environment, Land and Sea, Regione Lombardia, WCRE – the World
Council for Renewable Energy, EUBIA – the European Biomass Industry
Association, and other organisations.