Eco-Energetics – Biogas and Syngas. Technologies, Legal Framework, Policy and Economics in Baltic Sea Region

Eco-energetics is related to the sustainable generation of electric and heat energy. Only such production can be called sustainable when we consider the interaction with the environment and the welfare of future generations. Even the use of renewable energy sources is not always sustainable, e.g. our mixed feelings raise centralized energetics based on biomass resources, which leads to a decrease in combustion efficiency, problems with logistics, biomass market degeneration, etc.

Large objects on the energy market purchasing large quantities of biomass, change and degenerate its market, inhibiting the development of local, distributed energetics, which according to our knowledge is the most effective renewable energy system that stimulates the local economy and increases energy security. So, when considering sustainable energetics, we should take into account resource (substrate) and energy efficiency, biodiversity (e.g. in biomass production), influences on climate and environment (pollutions), social and economic aspects (food security, heritage and prosperity of local communities, market and energy security).

Eco-energetics is related to the sustainable generation of electric and heat energy. Only such production can be called sustainable when we consider the interaction with the environment and the welfare of future generations. Even the use of renewable energy sources is not always sustainable, e.g. our mixed feelings raise centralized energetics based on biomass resources, which leads to a decrease in combustion efficiency, problems with logistics, biomass market degeneration, etc. Large objects on the energy market purchasing large quantities of biomass, change and degenerate its market, inhibiting the development of local, distributed energetics, which according to our knowledge is the most effective renewable energy system that stimulates the local economy and increases energy security. So, when considering sustainable energetics, we should take into account resource (substrate) and energy efficiency, biodiversity (e.g. in biomass production), influences on climate and environment (pollutions), social and economic aspects (food security, heritage and prosperity of local communities, market and energy security).

One option of eco-energetics is related to biogas production, which is supported by Governmental Program “Innovative Energy – Energy Agriculture”. Plantation and utilization of energy plants may stabilize agricultural production and bring considerable income, especially when standard agricultural production is unstable and prices are low. Green energetics can stimulate the Pomeranian economy, especially in rural areas.

The goal of the Baltic Biogas Forum, organized in the frame of the South Baltic Gas Forum, is to highlight the importance of energy safety in Baltic cross-border regions by raising awareness of the sustainable management of existing biomass and biogas sources (both agricultural biomass and municipal waste). Biogas utilization in co-generation and by using other technologies is another important issue. The Biogas Forum is organized by the Baltic Eco-Energy Cluster and its members, including The Marshall Office of Pomorskie Region, The Szewalski Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery Polish Academy of Sciences, Gdansk University of Technology and Gdansk College of Administration. The POMCERT and IMPLASER companies support these institutions in matters of organization, especially in relation to other industrial partners. The main sponsor of the Forum was ENERGA-BIO. Radio Gdańsk as well as the journals Czysta Energia and Przemysł-Zarządzanie-Środowisko have decided to take over the media patronage. The event is organized under the honorary patronage of the Marshal of the Pomorskie Region.

Three sessions of the Baltic Biogas Forum: scientific, training as well as a session on policy and capacity development are organized and supported by various national and international projects, including EU BSR „Bioenergy Promotion” and „Public Energy Alternatives”, both partly financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument), RPO WP 1.5.2 project „Support of creation and development of cooperative relationships in the Key Cluster of Pomorskie Region – Baltic EcoEnergy Cluster” partly financed by European Regional Development Fund in the frame of RPO WP during years 2007-2013, and the strategic program of scientific research and experimental development of the National (Polish) Centre for Research and Development: „Advances Technologies for Energy Generation”; Task 4. „Elaboration of Integrated Technologies for the Production of Fuels and Energy from Biomass as well as from Agricultural and other Waste Materials”.

I. Policy, Legal Framework and Economics

1. Agricultural biogas plants in the actions of Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
2. Incremental cost method in cost-efficiency evaluation of renewable energy sources
3. The role of biogas in Poland: misconceptions and opportunities
4. Thermal conversion of waste biomass in light of polish law
5. Biogas in regional environmental management system
6. The financial attractiveness of renewable energy projects in Zachodniopomorskie Province

II. Biogas and Syngas Technologies

1. Pretreatment of plant biomass for hydrolysis enhancement in anaerobic digestion
2. Sewage sludge and municipal waste pyrolytic gasification used in decentralised energy systems
3. The ejector based new solution for solar air-conditioning system
4. Micro biogas plants
5. Biomass resources and their utilization for energy purposes
6. Small-scale biogas systems for small and medium-sized farms – technical and economic problems
7. From waste to syngas – industrially applicable technology
8. Thermal conversion of biomass as a source of fuel for electricity generation
9. Development of efficient methane fermentation process and biogas plant technologies
10. The PPM Technology Group – your competent partner for customized and turnkey biodiesel, biogas and cogeneration unit plants
11. Optimizing the anaerobic digestion Process
12. Upgrading biogas to natural gas quality – Technologies, costs, European situation
13. Physicochemical properties of biomass used for energy purposes
14. The effect of co-substrate type on biogas production from dedicated energy crops
15. Path to controllable and optimized syngas combustion
16. Optimization of low temperature biogas production from biomass by anaerobic digestion
17. Solid oxide fuel cells for distributed energy generation
18. Thermophilic anaerobic digestion for increased biogas production
19. Waste heat utilization from CHP biogas installation for local central heating
20. Yield of biomass and biogas profitability of raw material from special purpose energetic crops cultivation
21. GazEla – experimental plant for biomass gasification
22. Technologies of biomass gasification
23. Biogas studies at IVL and at Hammarby Sjöstadsverket
24. Methods of waste-biomass thermal-conversion in downdraught reactors – research review
25. Simulation investigations of biomass gasification processes